Cultivation and Management Methods and Technical Key Points for Spray Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are one of the ten traditional famous flowers of our country. They can be grown in a wide range of regions, with many varieties, abundant flower colors, and changeable flower forms. They bloom proudly in the frost of late autumn when a hundred flowers have withered, and have high ornamental value. Potted spray chrysanthemums in particular are deeply loved by people because of their compact plant form, neatly arranged flowers, and ability to display varietal characteristics. How to grow spray chrysanthemums well - technique is the key.
1. Pot soil preparation
Whether chrysanthemums grow well and how they bloom is closely related to pot soil preparation.
Chrysanthemums dislike waterlogging and tolerate drought. They like a certain amount of fertility but cannot tolerate excessive fertility. Therefore, when preparing pot soil, attention should be paid both to the granular structure of the pot soil and to moderate fertility, with fertilizer effects that are slow and long-lasting. If the pot soil is too compacted, chrysanthemums are prone to root rot; if it is too loose, it does not easily retain water. When the pot soil fertility is too high, chrysanthemums tend to grow excessively, while when fertility is too low, it cannot meet normal growth needs. Therefore, when preparing pot soil, be sure to pay attention to the ratio among the materials.
The materials used include fully decomposed cow dung, cottonseed hulls that have been used to grow wood ear mushrooms or mushrooms and thoroughly composted with human excrement and urine, aged furnace slag, and sandy soil. These can be sifted and mixed evenly before use. The mixing ratio varies somewhat with the purity of each material, but the approximate ratio is cow dung : furnace slag and sandy soil : cottonseed hulls = 3:1:1.
2. Cultivation of spray chrysanthemums
The cutting time for spray chrysanthemums varies by region and is also closely related to varietal characteristics. Short varieties should be cut early, tall varieties should be cut late; those that branch easily should be cut late, and those that do not branch easily should be cut early. Cutting time should change according to place, time, and variety.
The cutting time for Kaifeng spray chrysanthemums is mostly between April 20 and May 20. If cuttings are taken too early, the vegetative growth period is long, the plants tend to age, and by flowering time they have already entered a weak old age stage, producing willow leaves and small flowers. If cuttings are taken too late, as the season changes and sunlight gradually becomes shorter, the plants enter the reproductive growth period too early, failing to meet the branching requirements for spray chrysanthemums and affecting flowering quality and ornamental effect.
The quality of cuttings is directly related to the later growth of chrysanthemums. When selecting cuttings, choose chrysanthemum tips that are free of pests and diseases, grow robustly, and have excellent and stable varietal traits for later use. After picking, immediately sprinkle with water to retain moisture, then use a blade to cut a cutting about 7 cm long from about 2 mm below the leaf petiole, insert it into a sand bed under full-light misting, and press it firm with water from a watering can. After about half a month of misting treatment, roots generally develop well and the cuttings can be potted up.
During the vegetative growth period of spray chrysanthemums, the process of potting up and repotting generally takes place. When potting up, first plant the seedlings into clay pots with a diameter of about 10 cm, with the growing soil accounting for half the pot volume. Using a small pot with little soil controls the amount of water and fertilizer, meeting the requirement of withholding water and fertilizer during the vegetative growth period of chrysanthemums. After the chrysanthemum seedlings are potted up, if there are no abnormalities, they can be pinched by leaving 3 to 4 leaves.
After the seedlings grow for a period of time and the chrysanthemum roots have filled the pot soil, the nutrients in the pot soil can no longer meet the growth needs of the chrysanthemums, so they should be repotted into pots with an inner diameter no greater than 24 cm. Repotting is best done in the afternoon before the hot season. Before repotting, water thoroughly in the morning. The chrysanthemum seedlings should be planted upright in the center, and the covering soil should be level with the surface of the original soil ball. Afterward, water thoroughly to help the seedlings recover.