Many gardeners love to decorate their summer cottages with unusual flowers. Some write out hybrid seeds and bulbs for themselves, others change with the neighbors they like. Recently, phloxes can be found more and more often in summer cottages. At the same time, they have all kinds of colors and shades and delight the eye with their flowering for a long time.
General information
Phlox is a perennial herbaceous plant that looks like a small bush. It is suitable for decorating the site and creating a colorful flower bed, used as a separate planting. Phlox is distinguished by a thin, strong stem, the height of which can reach 100-130 cm. But there are also undersized representatives that form a dense bush and look like a flowering ball. Such phloxes grow up to a maximum of 50 cm.
On the branches are densely oval oblong leaves with a pronounced central vein. They are painted in dark green or emerald tone. Flowers are collected in large inflorescences, their size and color depends on the variety.plants.
Phlox "Sorbet Cocktail"
Breeders involved in the creation of new varieties of flowers, each year presented with unusual hybrids. They can stand out in shape, color or unusual leaves. Phlox "Sherbet Cocktail" refers to just such novelties. The color of the flowers makes it original, in which for the first time in the history of this species a yellow color appeared.
The bush of this variety is characterized by an average height. Its branches are extended by 70 cm. The leaves are oblong, densely filling the stems in the upper part. Medium-sized flowers: up to 2.5 cm in diameter. They have 5 petals, painted in pink tone with a bright "sunny" edging. The flowers are collected in a dense inflorescence and outwardly resemble a hydrangea. Before blooming, the bud is completely yellow in color and looks contrasting with burgundy bracts.
Planting and care
Require a special approach. To plant a plant called Sherbet Cocktail phlox, you need to choose a place where the flower will be slightly covered from the sun and completely protected from wind and drafts. With prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, the flowers fade and lose their decorative effect. The soil should be loose, fertilized and well drained.
Phlox "Sherbet Cocktail" is an unpretentious variety, but it still needs timely watering, especially during the dry season of the summer months. It is also necessary to regularly loosen the soil so that air freely penetrates to the root system. The plant responds well to top dressing. Therefore, it is periodically necessary to bring under the rootorganic and mineral fertilizers.
Reproduction
Planting is carried out in mid-April or early May, depending on weather conditions. To choose the right variety, for example, Sherbet Cocktail phlox, a photo and description of the plant must be found on the Internet. This way you will not make a mistake when buying seeds in the store: the presence of numerous packages with bright similar colors can confuse even an experienced gardener.
Phlox is propagated using green cuttings, seeds and dividing the bush. Cuttings are carried out at the end of June before flowering. Green stems are cut in such a way that after planting in the soil, at least 1 knot remains on the surface. Cuttings are buried in the prepared fertile soil by 3 cm, after which they are watered. The rooting site should be in partial shade, as seedlings can burn out in the sun. With regular care and sufficient watering, roots form in 30 days.
The simplest methods include reproduction by dividing the bush. This process is usually carried out in the spring. The plant is completely removed from the ground, carefully so as not to damage the roots, and is divided into the required number of parts. Each new bush must have at least 3 shoots.
Among the variety of flowers, many gardeners especially highlight the phlox "Sherbet Cocktail". Reviews about this plant are only positive and make it an additional advertisement. All phlox lovers certainly want to get a unique variety with an unusual yellow color.flowers.
