There are different methods to propagate phlox. When divided and propagated by cuttings, you get perennials that are identical to the mother plant. The seeds you collect yourself, on the other hand, are not true to the variety and will certainly surprise you.
How can I propagate phlox?
Phlox can be propagated by division, cuttings or seeds. Divide the plant in spring or autumn, plant cuttings in potting soil, or sow purchased or collected seeds in the garden. Please note that self-collected seeds are not true to the variety.
Reproduction by division
You can not only sow phlox but also propagate it by dividing it. The best times for this are spring and autumn. As a rule, there are no problems with this. Simply divide the perennial with the spade and replant the sections. To ensure that they grow and sprout well, add a portion of well-rotted compost to the planting hole and water the plants well.
Propagation by cuttings
If you would like to plant cuttings, cut off the shoot tips that are at least 10 cm long and remove the lower leaves. The shoots should not have any flower buds. Place the cuttings in a pot with sowing soil (€6.00 on Amazon) or substrate and water the young plants well. After a while roots will have formed and you can plant the plants.
Propagation by seeds
You can of course easily buy the seeds. Seeds for numerous varieties of phlox are available in specialist shops. You can choose between creeping ground covers and tall perennials in a wide variety of colors. When you buy seeds, you know exactly what growth habit and flower color you can expect. Things are different with seeds you collect yourself. They are not true to the variety.
Perennial Phlox likes to self-seed if you don't cut off the finished inflorescences. You don't have to do anything else. Alternatively, you can also collect the seeds and scatter them. So you can choose the location and also create new beds. You can sow annual phlox directly outdoors from mid/end of April or plant it in pots earlier.
The most important propagation tips:
- Simplest method: division
- collected seeds not necessarily of the same variety
- Planting cuttings in potting soil
Tips & Tricks
Do you like random products and a colorful garden? Then let the phlox sow itself or simply scatter the collected seeds into the bed.
