Notes on Seed Propagation and Daily Care of the Snow Chrysanthemum (White Crystal Chrysanthemum)

The white crystal chrysanthemum is propagated by seed, usually sown in autumn from September to October, with an optimum germination temperature of 15°C to 20°C

White crystal chrysanthemum. When sowing, after sowing, it is advisable to shade with reed curtains; do not cover with plastic film. Mix the seeds evenly with a small amount of fine sand or potting soil, then broadcast them on the seedbed or in a seedling tray. Cover with soil to a thickness that just hides the seeds, keep moist, and they will germinate in 5 to 8 days. After the seedlings are established, apply a little topdressing to promote robust seedling growth. When two or three leaves have grown, transplant for the first time, bare-rooted without the original soil. After 4 to 5 true leaves have grown, move them into a seedbed or nutrient pots for cultivation. At the end of October, water thoroughly once; when the bed soil is neither sticky nor crumbly, lift the seedlings as clods and store them in a sunny cold frame to overwinter, covering with cattail mats at night to protect against the cold. Although the white crystal chrysanthemum is cold-tolerant, in winter the seedlings are best placed in a plastic greenhouse or a cold room, letting them continue to grow, watering and fertilizing in good time, and promptly removing flower buds to encourage a larger crown diameter. In early spring of the following year, move them outdoors or into flowerbeds, which can enhance their ornamental effect. It likes warmth, is relatively cold-tolerant, likes light, and also tolerates half shade. The optimum growing temperature is 15-25°C.

For those transplanted once or twice in autumn, they can be directly planted in flowerbeds in spring when flowers appear. For those that have been divided in autumn but not transplanted to another bed, in spring they should be maintained in a bed with sufficient base fertilizer until they take shape, then planted in flowerbeds or shipped to market. When planting, apply leaf mold or barnyard manure as base fertilizer, with a plant spacing of 15 cm. After planting, water once every 7-10 days. Fertilizing need not be too frequent; apply dilute manure water once every 2-3 weeks, cultivate the soil once a month, and after flowering in February, stop fertilizing.

Also: during the growing period, the white crystal chrysanthemum likes plenty of sunlight and does not tolerate shade. After autumn sowing and strengthening, if there has been no seedling division or transplanting, the seedlings can be lifted out at the end of October, separated, with the root clumps retaining a little of the original soil, then take a handful of previously prepared moist, fertile soil rich in humus and slightly sticky, place one or two seedlings in the center of the soil, squeeze firmly into a clod, and store them one by one in a sunny cold frame, spraying to keep moist, to encourage vigorous fibrous root growth and small but sturdy plants, so that in the coming spring they can be directly planted in flowerbeds or sold on the market without easily wilting. Tip: the white crystal chrysanthemum blooms poorly during the hot summer period and easily dies; if dug up and transplanted to a cool place, it can still bloom again in autumn.

The best cultivation soil is fertile loam or sandy loam rich in organic matter, with good drainage and sunlight; insufficient sunlight leads to poor flowering. Normally the potting soil should be kept moist; drought leads to poor growth. After the flowers fade, immediately cut off the spent flowers, which can encourage new shoots to emerge and bloom again. It likes warmth and dislikes high temperature and excessive moisture. The optimum growing temperature is 15-25°C. During the plum rain season, take care to avoid prolonged dampness that causes rot; this can extend the flowering period.

In warm regions, sow in autumn; in North China, spring sowing is the main method. The optimum germination temperature is 15-20°C. Germination occurs in 5-8 days. Flowers appear 11-12 weeks after sowing.

Propagation is by sowing. In the flatlands of Taiwan, China, autumn and winter are the sowing period, and in high cold regions spring sowing is also possible. The optimum germination temperature is 15-20°C. Mix the seeds with a small amount of fine sand or potting soil, then broadcast evenly on the seedbed, cover with a little soil, keep moist, and they will germinate in about 5-8 days. When 5-7 true leaves have formed, transplant into flowerbeds at a spacing of 15-20 cm, or plant in 17 cm pots. For large-scale cultivation in flowerbeds, direct sowing can also be used: first prepare the land, bury base fertilizer in advance, then broadcast the seeds on the soil surface, and after the seedlings are established, transplant or thin them according to the plant spacing.

Care and Pest Prevention

Because the white crystal chrysanthemum has a long flowering period, apply topdressing once every 20-30 days during the growing or flowering period, so normally the potting soil should be kept moist. After the flowers fade, immediately cut off the spent flowers, which can encourage new shoots to bloom again.

White crystal chrysanthemum

Pest and disease control: common diseases include leaf spot and stem rot, which can be sprayed with 65% zineb wettable powder. Pests include plant bugs and leaf miners, which can be killed by spraying with 25% carbaryl wettable powder at 1500 times dilution.