Phlox Flower is Glory of Summer Garden

Well, most people are familiar with the tall garden phlox that is the glory of the summer garden, with its big clusters of red, pink, salmon, lavender, purple or white blossoms. Although there’re also a number of earlier and shorter varieties some less than a foot tall, that are well worth exploring. Phlox paniculata, the standard garden phlox, usually grows 2 ½ to 4 feet tall and looks best massed in large clumps of one color each. Good varieties include the bright red “Starfire” pink “Dondo Hanbury Forbes” and salmon “ Sir John Falstaff, Carolina Phlox (P. Carolina or P. suffruticosa) slightly shorter, with looser flower clusters, and starts blooming earlier, usually the end of June. Miss Lingard is the common white variety, Rosalinde is pink. 

Low growing phlox include the spring blooming wild blue phlox (P. divaricate), which prefers light shade; and moss pink (P. subulata) with pink, purple, red or white blooms. Both are excellent as edging plants and in rock gardens. Well, to grow Phlox, then you need all phlox like light, fertile soil with ample organic matter to retain moisture and good drainage. Provide adequate air circulation around the plants by not crowing them. This will help to forestall the white mildew that often disfigures the leaves of the tall garden phlox; fungicides may also help. Divide clumps of tall varieties every few years, replanting the side shoots. Clumps also flower best when thinned to about five stems. Remove spent blooms to prevent plants from going to seed (Seedlings will all be magenta).  Source: Charismatic Planet

Blue Vanda Orchid

Vanda is a genus in the orchid family (Orchidaceae) which, although not large (about fifty species), is one of the most important florally. This genus and its allies are considered to be the most highly evolved of all orchids within Orchidaceae. The genus is very highly prized in horticulture for its showy, fragrant, long lasting, and intensely colorful flowers. Vanda is widespread across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and New Guinea, with a few species extending into Queensland and some of the islands of the western Pacific.

Geranium or Pelargonium

Tender perennials grown as tender annuals north of Zone 8, these are the much loved bright geraniums seen on windowsills, on terraces and in gardens everywhere. Most are varieties of Pelargonium x hortorum (zonal geranium), which forms a large, shrubby plant in frost free climates but grows about two feet tall in colder ones. The large flower clusters can be red, pink, salmon, orange or white. Martha Washington geraniums (P. domesticum) are shorter, with pink, red or white flowers. The flowers in each cluster are large, rather like those of azaleas, often with a blotch of a darker shade. Ivy geranium (P. peltatum) is a trailing plant often used in window boxes. There are also a number of species grown less for their flowers than for their leaves; these have various scents such as apple and lemon and are popular in herb garden. 

Well, if you want to grow Geranium then seeds can be sown indoors in later winter or early spring in soil kept warm for better germination. Growing from seed can be slow, and therefore several gardeners prefer to buy a few plants the first year, and then take cutting each year for next year crop or for a supply of bright houseplants in winter. On the other hand, growing from seed is apt to produce plants that are free from the diseases that cause leaves to yellow. These diseases may be carried over if geraniums are propagated from cuttings. Seeds of a number of hybrids are now available. 

Geraniums are warm weather plants and relatively drought tolerant, but intense heat can be fatal to them, and cool nights are best. Martha Washington geraniums need a period of cool weather to bloom and thus are not satisfactory for hot climates. All like full sun but can take a bit of shade, especially in hot areas. Plant in not overly fertile as well drained soil, 12 to 15 inches apart in the garden. Cut them back to half their height in later winter or early spring in climates where they are perennial. Give pot grown geraniums plenty of light so they will not be leggy. Often a large pot with several plants looks best. 

 Source: Charismatic Planet

Forget-Me-Not or Myosotis Sylvatica (M. alpestris)

Hardy biennials often grown as hardy annuals, forget-me-nots are typically bright blue but sometimes pink or white. Usually no more than a foot tall, they’re often grown between spring bulbs or are naturalized in wood land and water gardens. They also make good edging plants. There’re many ways to grow forget-me-nots. But easily grown from seed, they may be sown in fall when spring bulbs are planted, to germinate in spring for spring and early summer bloom. They may be sown in later summer in a cold frame to produce seedlings that will winter over in a protected setting. Or they may be sown indoors in March and transplanted outside later in the spring. Plants do not need thinning, and often self-sow under their favorite conditions moist, hummus soil in light shade. These cool weather plants will not bloom during the heat of August, but a self-sown crop may appear in fall in warm climates. Source: Charismatic Planet

Delphinium has Magnificent Flower Spikes in Their Own Way

An idea of luxury is to always have plenty of delphiniums. They’re not reliable in hot climate, so you must replace several of them each year. But it is gladly, not only for their magnificent flower spikes in the garden, but also for summer bouquets. They need extra attention, but they earn it. The most stunning ones are hybrids of Delphinium elatum, which are tall grand often upwards of five feet. Among these are the “Giant Pacific” series, which come in many shades and are often bicolored each flower along the spike having the center, or bee in a contrasting color. The vivid blue verities such as Blue skies are favorites, but always grow a purple, too such as King Arthur, and mauve, such as Astolat. The dwarf Blue Fountains hybrids are similar but only two feet tall.

Many delphiniums are a bit more reliable and very beautiful in their own way. Belladonna (light blue) and Bellamosum (dark blue) are three to five feet with an open from spike. Connecticut Yankee is a bushy 2 ½ feet in a number of shades. Chinese delphiniums (D. Chinese) are less than two feet and a very intense blue. Well to grow delphinium, prefer climate with cool summers, where their stems grow tall and strong, and where they are free from diseases that attack them diseases aggravated by hot muggy weather. Select a sunny location if possible one protected from the wind. Even there they will perhaps need to be staked. The stake should reach to the point where the flower spikes starts. Give them a very rich, alkaline soil. I dig a cupful of lime into the hole before planting, and top areas established clumps with a cup of lime each spring. I also top dress with a balanced granular or liquid fertilizer in spring and after the plants bloom. You must avoid mulching around the crowns (the place where the stems join the roots), moreover this can cause rot. Further remove all but five of the strongest stems in each clump in the spring and cut off spent flowers after they bloom in early summer. Then cut back the stems when you see new growth start to appear. Most will bloom a second time in later summer, but will tall verities the blooms from the second flowering will be shorter. Delphiniums will bloom the first year from seed. Source: Charismatic Planet

Coleus is loved for its dramatically variegated Leaves

A perennial flower grown as a tender annual, coleus is loved for its dramatically variegated leaves in shades of green, red, yellow, and white. Bothe shapes are markings and the shapes of the leaves vary from variety to variety and can be effective in mixture or in plantings of one color. They are often used in planters, pots and window boxes as well as in beds. Tall varieties grow as tall as three feet, shorter ones as low as six inches. Well, to grow coleus, it is best to buy started plants in the colors and leaf from you desire. Growing coleus from seed is slow. If you want to try it, sow indoors as early as ten weeks before the last expected frost. Sprinkle the tiny seeds on top of the soil and gently press them into it rather than covering them, and keep the soil moist and war during germination. Transplant seedlings into the permanent location after danger of frost have passed. Coleus plants should be spaced at least a foot apart; they can grow quite broad. Young plants can be pinched to make them compact and bushy. A Warm weather plant, coleus can grow in full sun in some climates, but part shade will prevent wilting in hot weather and produce stronger colors. Light mulch will help keep the soil moist, but don’t mound the mulch around the plants stems. 

 Source: Charismatic Planet