Re: Phlox Starfire
- Subject: Re: Phlox Starfire
- From: E*@aol.com
- Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 11:06:08 EDT
In a message dated 8/6/02 8:09:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
corgilover@wi.rr.com writes:
<< I have a very large clump of Starfire in front of my living room
window. I love it, but it's quite prone to mildew. The flowers look
fabulous, but the leaves look ratty and crispy. I prefer Sandra, as
she seems to have overcome these problems and still give me that
*loud* accent. >>
I'll keep an eye for' Sandra', I have not been up-to-date on Phlox until last
spring when I dug and composted nearly all the Phlox here. I kept David and
Starfire. Starfire attracts visitors as they do not know it is Phlox until
they have close look. Mine is far from the house but is easily picked out in
the landscape, a very large clump. It was orginally a chunk from another
gardener. I think many Phloxes are healthier now if you make it point to
check each cultivar.
I also kept one unnamed pink which is healthy and strong and ordinary but a
reliable plant.
Then I went about looking for three or four good ones to start over. None
have mildewed this year, in fact there is the least mildow I have seen in a
while because it has rained a lot. Usually I have lost all the pulmonaria by
now. All cut flat to the soil and regrowing to sometimes mildew a second
time.
FWIW, you keep a so/so Phlox looking good by cutting out the center stems,
making the clump "loose" and seeing that it gets enough water while the plant
is of mature size. Mildew needs a cool, dry surface to ruin a plant, or
perhaps I should say most garden plants. Some of the most beautiful older
Phloxes mildewed regardless of how you cared for them but all the new one I
acquired have been healthy.
Once I understood the clump only looks good and blooms well with water while
forming buds, I got better looking Phlox. In my case the water is lugged by
me from strategically placed water barrels.
Has anyone a purple, a real dusky purple Phlox that you love for the color.
The one I purchased is lavender, nice but not purple.
Claire Peplowski
NYS z4
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