How can chrysanthemums be made big and beautiful? A chrysanthemum-growing expert tells you why

"Its soaring fragrance penetrates Chang'an, the whole city clad in golden armor."

Every year in golden October

Wuhan turns into a sea of chrysanthemums

Now it is already mid-September

How are your chrysanthemums doing?

In this issue we have invited

a horticulture expert to explain

chrysanthemum growing techniques

so your chrysanthemums can shine brilliantly in autumn

Teacher Jin Quan

Landscape technician at Hanyang Park

Specialising in flower cultivation for 15 years

Fifth place in the 2017 Chrysanthemum Competition at the Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

First prize, second prize and excellence award at the 34th Wuhan Golden Autumn Chrysanthemum Exhibition

Regarding chrysanthemum growing, Teacher Jin Quan of Hanyang Park believes it is a matter of one link following another.

/November to February/

First, because single-stem chrysanthemums are inherently more nutritious, they are generally kept as stock plants for next year. Cut off the upper branch portion; by mid-November new basal shoots will emerge, and these should be kept and overwintered outdoors.

When the temperature is minus 8°C to minus 10°C, use straw to keep the chrysanthemum seedlings warm.Generally water once every 7 to 10 days, preferably after 10 o'clock and before 14 o'clock.

/March/

After entering March, the chrysanthemum seedlings grow vigorously, and at this time the seedlings farther from the roots are the sturdier ones. Just as when our hair grows to a certain length, the nutrients below can no longer keep up and it splits, so to give the hair a healthy growth pattern we need a haircut. At this stage, we need to give the chrysanthemum seedlings a "haircut". At the same time, we should pay attention to increasing flower fertiliser according to the condition of the leaves.

/April to August/

Around 20 April, we select the uppermost part of the chrysanthemum seedling as the cutting, and the seedling chosen for cutting must not be fibrous, because such seedlings root more slowly.

After about 15 days, you can consider potting the chrysanthemum seedlings; generally the potting is finished around 10 May.

Around 20 May, the chrysanthemum seedlings need to be pinched back again.

It should be noted thataround 20 July is the last time for pinching back; if pinching back is done after that, it will affect the flowering period.

/August to October/

Around 10 September, we need to increase the intensity of fertiliser and water. From 10 September to 10 October,the water and fertiliser management during this one month determines how well the chrysanthemums bloom。

At this stage, be careful not to burn the roots by applying too much fertiliser. Here is a little trick to check whether your water and fertiliser are appropriate: if the leaves spread out, it proves the fertiliser is appropriate; if too much fertiliser is applied, the chrysanthemum seedling leaves begin to wither from the edges; if the fertiliser is insufficient, the chrysanthemum seedling leaves will be relatively small and light green in colour.

/Chrysanthemum care/

Regarding watering, Teacher Jin explains that from mid-May to mid-June, water should be strictly controlled, as long as the chrysanthemum leaves show an upward-growing tendency, and afterwards the intensity should be increased.

As for the soil, humus sandy soil is preferable.

As for pests and diseases, Teacher Jin advocates prevention first; after the plum rains stop and the long periods of rain end, we need to add the treatment to the potting soil.

"It is not that among flowers I favour the chrysanthemum, but that once this flower has bloomed there are no more flowers!"

The chrysanthemum is the protagonist of autumn and winter that braves frost and snow

Its refreshing fragrance

is the best companion for refreshing the spirits in autumn and winter

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Do you love chrysanthemums?

You are welcome to leave a comment sharing why you love them~