Detailed Explanation of Cultivation Management and Shaping Techniques for Large Chrysanthemums

With scientific cultivation management, large potted chrysanthemums can reach a shaped diameter of 2-4 m, with dozens, hundreds, or even over a thousand flowers, large and uniform, making them appear noble and magnificent, standing proudly among other flowers.

Large chrysanthemums have very strict requirements for cultivation management techniques; if management is even slightly extensive, flowering will be uneven, flowers will be small, and they may even fail to bloom or die midway. Cultivating large chrysanthemums in Guangdong Province is even more difficult, because Guangdong Province has a tropical and subtropical climate, with many storms, and high temperature and humidity. After each storm, pests and diseases break out, increasing the difficulty of cultivation. The temperature difference between winter and summer is large, and the difference in light duration is large, making it relatively difficult to control the flowering period. Therefore, in Guangdong Province, originally only a few large cities such as Guangdong City, Zhongshan City, and Foshan City had the cultivation because of abundant funds and strong technical forces, and only local citizens could enjoy the magnificent and noble large chrysanthemums. Through years of cultivation management, we have explored experience in growing large chrysanthemums and succeeded in cultivating them in Zhanjiang City, enabling the people of the port city to enjoy this artistic rarity.

The cultivation techniques and experience are summarized as follows for everyone to exchange and learn from each other, so as to promote large-scale cultivation of large chrysanthemums and enable people in more places to enjoy this plant.

1. Selection of varieties

China has a great many chrysanthemum varieties, but not all varieties are suitable for cultivation into large chrysanthemums. Varieties with strong stress resistance, vigorous growth, well-developed root systems, sturdy non-hollow main stems, relatively soft branches, appropriately longer internodes, and large, colorful, and vivid medium-to-large flowers should be selected, such as 'Lüzhuqiu', 'Taoshan Daigui', 'Jinjinglu', 'Huowu', 'Yingchunwu', 'Junhe Baiyun', 'Lühua Hongdang', and others.

2. Taking buds and raising seedlings

The time for taking buds should be determined according to the number of flowers to be cultivated for the large chrysanthemum. If 800-1000 flowers are needed, seedlings should be raised in September, and they can bloom at the next Spring Festival; if 600-800 flowers are needed, seedlings should be raised in November; if 200-400 flowers are needed, seedlings should be raised in January to February. There are the following two methods for taking buds:

1. Basal buds

Select robust and large tender buds growing from the base of vigorous plants free of pests and diseases, commonly known as basal buds, cut off the buds with roots using a blade, and plant them in small pots with a diameter of 8 cm.

2. Cuttings

Select a thick, well-grown top growing point of the plant, cut off the top 7 cm with a blade, dip it in rooting powder, and insert it into clean river sand, then drench thoroughly with a 1000-fold chlorothalonil solution to prevent fungal infection. Water regularly and increase air humidity. After 10 days, plant them in small pots with a diameter of 8 cm.

For both methods of taking buds, during the initial planting period (7-10 days), the buds must be placed in a shade shed for maintenance, and moved into sunlight after normal growth. Fertilize with a diluted solution of fully composted and decomposed human urine once every 10 days. As the chrysanthemum seedlings grow, the fertilization concentration should be increased accordingly. When the seedlings are 12-15 cm tall, transfer them into clay pots with a diameter of 15 cm. When the seedlings are 20-22 cm tall, transplant them into clay pots with a diameter of 20 cm, and at the same time insert a solid round bamboo pole about 1 cm in diameter and about 100 cm long close to the plant. Tie the plant to the bamboo with hemp fibers so that it grows upright. Note that it must not be tied too tightly, otherwise its growth will be affected.