What are the key points of the planting method for potted chrysanthemums?

“Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I gaze serenely at the southern mountains.” The chrysanthemum is one of Tao Yuanming's favorite flowers and appears frequently in his poems. The chrysanthemum is also one of the Four Gentlemen, with a unique appearance and many varieties; the common ones include yellow chrysanthemums and small daisies. We often see them in parks, and growing them as indoor potted plants is now very popular too. So what are the key points of the planting method for potted chrysanthemums?

1. Properly control fertilizer application

The chrysanthemum is a flower that loves fertilizer. If you want it to grow well, you must fertilize scientifically. Improper fertilization can easily affect the flower shape, plant shape, and so on.

For example, if you fertilize too early, the leaves will be rather small and yellow, most likely due to a lack of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer causing these symptoms.

If you fertilize too much, the chrysanthemum will have few leaves but the whole plant will be rather tall, resulting in excessive vegetative growth. When applying base fertilizer to the soil, mainly use phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer.

During the flowering period of the chrysanthemum, keep the fertilizer sufficient, and the concentration should be slightly stronger, so that the flowers produced have a truer color.

2. Water scientifically

When watering potted chrysanthemums, properly control the amount of water. Whether during the vigorous growth period or at other times, generally you only need to decide the frequency and amount of watering based on the moisture level of the potting soil. In summer or autumn, you can spray water on the leaves every morning and evening to lower the temperature and increase air humidity.

3. Pinch back at the right time

Pinching back at the right time is very necessary. This step is mainly to reduce the overall height of the chrysanthemum and promote the growth of new leaves on the side branches. The specific number of pinchings and the timing of pinching should be decided according to your purpose in growing it.

4. Properly change the potting soil

During the growth process of potted chrysanthemums, they should be repotted according to their growth stage. During the seedling stage of the chrysanthemum, you only need a small pot for care, but by the strong seedling stage the small pot can no longer contain its growth, so repotting is necessary. As the flower shape and plant shape grow larger, the potting soil should be changed according to the growing space.

5. Soil requirements

Potted chrysanthemums have higher requirements than open-field cultivation, and need well-drained, fertile soil, so a mixture of sandy soil and humus soil is generally better.

6. Thin out flower buds

During the vigorous growth period of the chrysanthemum, promptly cut off the excess young shoots so that the main stem can maintain nutrient absorption and grow better. During the bud stage, also cut off the excess flower buds and keep the top buds, so that the flowers produced are larger and the plant shape is more attractive.

In summary, the key points of the chrysanthemum planting method are mainly the above six points, and you should always pay attention to these details. Potted chrysanthemums are not only beautiful but can also purify the air, making them very suitable for placing in newly renovated rooms or places with a lot of furniture. Why not try growing them yourself?