How to take care of newly bought phlox

1. Lighting

Place the newly purchased phlox in a place with sufficient diffuse light for 2 days. After the plant has adapted to the new environment, increase the light to full sunlight. Adequate light is beneficial to the growth and flowering of the plant. Lack of light will cause the phlox to bloom less and the flower colors will not be bright.

2. Temperature

Phlox is slightly cold-resistant but not heat-resistant. The most suitable maintenance temperature is around 15℃. When the temperature is below 10℃ in winter, the growth rate of the plant will slow down. When the temperature is high in summer, it should be placed in a well-ventilated and relatively cool place to overwinter.

3. Watering

As an herbaceous flower, Phlox cannot lack water, nor can it accumulate water during its growing period. You can weigh the weight of the soil in the pot frequently. If it feels noticeably lighter, water it thoroughly. If you wait until the leaves droop before watering, the plant may recover, but it will be detrimental to its growth.

4. Fertilization

The newly purchased phlox are usually potted plants that are in bloom. It is not recommended to fertilize during the flowering period. If you buy phlox seedlings, you can apply balanced nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during the plant growth period to promote growth, and use phosphorus and potassium fertilizers before flowering to promote flowering.

5. Seed Retention

As an annual herb, Phlox will produce seeds after each flowering under well-ventilated conditions. We wait until most of the fruits turn yellow, then harvest the seeds, dry and thresh them, and wait until the next spring or autumn to sow them. It is recommended to sow in autumn.

6. Pruning

If you don't want to keep seeds, cut off the remaining flowers and branches after the first batch of flowers fade to promote the sprouting of new buds. During this period, water the plant with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers once every half a month to promote the plant to bloom again.