What are the growing habits of chrysanthemums? A complete guide in one article with the latest detailed explanation

In winter the stems of chrysanthemums wither, and they overwinter by their perennial roots, while the rhizomes continue to develop underground. After the beginning of spring, buds sprout at the stem nodes near the roots, and as the stem nodes elongate, many fibrous roots grow densely at the base. Growth is slow during the seedling stage; after the seedlings reach 10 cm in height, growth speeds up, and after 50 cm they begin to branch. The plant grows until mid-September, when it stops increasing in height and branching; it buds in late September, flowers in mid-to-late October, and enters full bloom in early-to-mid November. The flowering period is 30-40 days. After winter sets in, the aboveground stems and leaves die, and the roots in the soil send up underground stems. The following spring new shoots sprout again and grow into new plants. Generally, the mother plant can live 3-4 years.

Chrysanthemums love cool conditions and prefer sandy loam rich in humus with good drainage. A neutral or slightly acidic pH is best. They are not suitable for cultivation in low-lying saline-alkaline land. Continuous cropping is avoided, and soil that has already been planted cannot be reused. Chrysanthemums by nature fear waterlogging; the common saying “dry orchids, wet chrysanthemums” only means that chrysanthemums like moist soil, not that they are not afraid of waterlogging. Chrysanthemums are drought-tolerant, but excessive drought is also bad for growth. They like warmth, with an optimum growing temperature of 10 degrees. They are cold-tolerant and can overwinter at low temperatures of 5-10. In southern China, they can overwinter in the open ground; north of the Huai River, they are mostly overwintered in pots or kept indoors.

Chrysanthemums are short-day plants. Only when the photoperiod is below 12 hours and the nighttime temperature drops to about 10°C can flower bud differentiation be promoted. In the Beijing area, only vegetative growth is possible in spring and summer, and flower buds cannot form. Entering mid-to-late August, when the photoperiod decreases to 1. hours and the minimum temperature drops to about 15°C, flower bud differentiation begins; when the photoperiod continues to shorten to 12.5 hours and the minimum temperature drops to about 10°C, the flower buds gradually elongate. This is the period of vigorous growth for autumn chrysanthemums, and by mid-October they successively burst into bud and show color. By using this characteristic, shading autumn chrysanthemums or extending the light period can control the flowering period, making them bloom earlier or later.

Chrysanthemums like sunlight, but in summer they should be properly shaded under strong sunlight. The light requirements of chrysanthemums often vary with the variety and the growth and development status of the individual plant. In general, with ample sunlight and air circulation, growth is robust; otherwise, if light is insufficient, especially for varieties such as thin-tubed and long-tubed types, the branches tend to grow leggy. The intensity of light is also closely related to the flowering period and flower color. For most varieties, slight shading during the flowering period can appropriately prolong the flowering period. For some varieties, such as “Green Peony”, giving proper shade when they open can keep them delicate and fresh green, enhancing the ornamental effect.