phlox shoots rooting right now

I have about 8 various phlox most of which I bought on sale last year and are still growing in their gallon
pots. Last year I took off shoots of a blue one and ended up with a huge number of little rooted
plants. This year all the new ones from a sale late last summer are filled with shoots and off-shoots
(already growing roots.) I took about 15 from phlox # 1 and 8 from phlox # 2 (forgot the colors.)
each one has a whole new crop of baby shoots ready to replace the bigger ones.

In addition, after pulling one from its one gallon pot, I discovered that some of the roots morph into little plants with a leaf tip on one end and a root tip on the other. Wow! There are a lot of them in a root ball. Next year I will have so many phlox blooming that it will be hard to find places for them. Already I have about 30 shoots rooting from two or three and two big bake pans filled with morphing roots. I still have about 5 phlox which are a little late developing shoots. I am completely sold on propagation. I am even trying to grow poppies from root cuttings now.

Good job. I can see your big smile from here.

gloriag, thanks for reminding me. I had intended to snip some of the runners to expand my phlox area but had gotten caught up with all the other Spring joys. I will clip some today.

Paul

Gloriag..can you explain that process you did with your phlox more. Or do you have a picture of your phlox shoots or off-shoots. How do you remove them from parent plant? I don't understand.

sorry, I've been away a couple of weeks.

All the shoots are now sturdy little plants. Pippi, I may have used a sharp little cheap knife to cut the shoots (just any of the shoots can be used) I think I finally resorted to just using my index and forefinger to snap off the shoots. It didn't seem to make any difference.

Then I read about root cuttings and took a bunch of ordinary looking thin roots and laid them horozinatally and covered them up with a thin layer of growing medium. They are
a lot slower to root, but I see a few very tiny plants developing.

Now the original phlox are ready to be plucked again, but really how many phlox can
one use? However, it is very tempting to do it all over again.

I had good success with chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, and shastas daisies. I really can't think of another thing to propagate.

WOW, an unending source of plants...I can see why you are having so much fun...that inspires us all. Thanks a bunch!

Evelyn