How To Grow Phlox From Seeds
Phlox or Drummond's Phlox it's easy to grow and maintain, and once established, it has a fairly good tolerance to drought.
The flowers have separate petals, and a few specimens have ragged-edged petals. Most phlox share the same range in bloom colors, including magenta, pink, lavender, white, or peach. However, some cultivars are blue or purple. The blooms in some varieties are bi-colored, and most have a degree of shading.
Drummond's Phlox may be grown in full sun or partial shade. The plants will produce more flowers when they are grown in full sun.
Growing phlox from seeds is a great way to expand your garden.
In this article, we will discuss the steps on how to grow phlox from seeds successfully.
Step 1: Select the Right Seeds
The first step in growing phlox from seeds is to choose the right type of seeds. There are different varieties of phlox, so it is important to choose seeds that are suitable for your growing conditions. If you are growing phlox in your garden, choose seeds that are labeled as “perennial” phlox, as these will come back year after year.
Step 2: Prepare the Soil
Once you have selected the right seeds, it’s time to prepare the soil. Phlox prefers well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. To prepare the soil, mix compost or well-rotted manure into the soil to improve its fertility. If your soil is heavy clay, you may need to amend it with sand to improve its drainage.
Step 3: Plant the Seeds
Phlox seeds can be started indoors or outdoors, depending on your growing conditions. If you are starting the seeds indoors, sow the seeds in seed trays or pots filled with seed-starting mix.
- ✅ Sow phlox seed indoors 8 weeks before the last average frost.
- ✅ Sow seed 1/8 inch deep in seed starting formula.
- ✅ Keep the soil evenly moist.
- ✅ Seedlings emerge in 11-21 days at 60-70°F.
- ✅ As soon as seedlings emerge, move them on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night. Raise the lights as the plants grow taller.
If you are planting the seeds outdoors, sow the seeds directly in the garden in a sunny location.
The annual phlox dislikes root disturbance. Therefore, sow Phlox flower seeds directly outdoors into prepared soil in the late fall or spring. Scatter the flower seed evenly, rake into loosened topsoil to provide a good seed contact with the soil and cover lightly with 1/8″ of fine garden or potting soil. Water thoroughly once.
Be sure to keep your planting beds consistently moist with a mist sprayer or gentle hose setting while the seeds sprout. Once the plants have grown a few pairs of true leaves, you can scale back watering unless the phlox variety requires otherwise.
Step 4: Provide Adequate Water and Light
Once the seeds are planted, it is important to provide them with adequate water and light. Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soaking wet, until the seeds have germinated. Phlox seeds need light to germinate, so if you are starting the seeds indoors, place the seed trays or pots near a sunny window or under grow lights.
Step 5: Transplant the Seedlings
Once the seedlings have germinated and have developed their first set of true leaves, it is time to transplant them. If you started the seeds indoors, transplant the seedlings into individual pots or into the garden. If you are transplanting the seedlings into the garden, be sure to space them about 12-18 inches apart.
Before transplanting seedlings in the garden need to be “hardened off”. Accustom young plants to outdoor conditions by moving them to a sheltered place outside for a week. Protect them from wind and hot sun at first. If frost threatens at night, cover or bring containers indoors, then take them out again in the morning. This hardening off process toughens the plant’s cell structure and reduces transplant shock and scalding.
Step 6: Provide Adequate Care
Once the seedlings have been transplanted, it is important to provide them with adequate care. Phlox requires consistent moisture and well-drained soil. Water the plants regularly and fertilize them with a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks.
In conclusion, growing phlox from seeds is a great way to expand your garden with minimal cost. By following these steps, you can successfully grow phlox from seeds and enjoy its vibrant and beautiful blooms for years to come.
