Tall garden phlox are not blooming

by Jan Bredehoeft
(Independence, MO)

In a 30+ year bed, my tall garden phlox stopped blooming 2 years ago. Again they are up, looking great, but I am afraid that as in the past 2 years, they will seem to form bloom heads, but then nothing else happens. They are not crowded, have always done well and are beautiful. I bought a variety of colors some years ago, and they have mostly reverted to one or two colors, but now do not bloom at all. No signs of disease as in some previous years...mostly mildew...Please Help!!! Suggestions needed.
Jan B.

Doug says when a plant stops blooming, it is under stress. It may have had conditions change - e.g. trees grow over top of it or ?? but something has changed.

It may be too overgrown - and requires dividing to rejuvenate it. Many gardeners don't "get" the fact they have to dig/divide most perennials every few years to keep them vigorous. There are only a few plants that go on from year to year with no work (and phlox aren't one of them for the most part although they're pretty good - figure divide ever 3-5 years)

So stress or overgrown - you get to pick on this one. :-)