How to grow potted chrysanthemums and points to note

Chrysanthemums are generally propagated by division, cuttings and layering. Division is best done in April-May; for cuttings, take disease-and-pest-free, healthy branches as cuttings, the soil should not be too wet when inserting them, and a planting depth of 5-7 cm is ideal; layering is best done on overcast and rainy days. The first time, around Minor Heat, first press the chrysanthemum branches down, cover them firmly with wet mud every 10 cm and pinch off the tips so that new shoots emerge from the leaf axils of the tips; the second time, around Major Heat, press down the newly grown shoots in the same way as the first time, and apply one topdressing of decomposed human and animal manure, and pinch off the tips around End of Heat.

1. Temperature:

For potted chrysanthemums, the suitable growing temperature is around 21°C; ornamental chrysanthemums are also cold-hardy and can overwinter safely at around 5°C. They are not heat-tolerant, however, and growth slows when the temperature rises above 32°C.

2. Light:

Chrysanthemums are typical short-day flowers; they form flower buds and bloom only when the daily sunshine is relatively short. When the sunshine is longer, they only grow stems and leaves and cannot form flower buds. Generally, during the vegetative growth stage they need 14.5 hours of sunshine per day, and during the flower bud differentiation stage they need 12 hours of sunshine per day.

3. Soil:

Ornamental chrysanthemums adapt to a fairly wide range of soil acidity and alkalinity. They can grow in soil from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. For potted chrysanthemums, choose a suitable potting soil; the soil should be loose, fertile and sandy.

4. Water:

Ornamental chrysanthemums have a relatively high water demand but are afraid of waterlogging. Especially during vegetative growth, when growth is fast and water demand is high, they easily run short of water. Water frequently, but be careful not to let water accumulate.

5. Fertilizing:

When fertilizing, be sure to scatter the fertilizer on top first and then water thoroughly, so that the fertilizer can fully seep down with the water to the chrysanthemum's root system, and only then will it be absorbed by the chrysanthemum.

6. Pinching and bud thinning:

When the chrysanthemum plant grows to more than 10 cm tall, begin pinching. When pinching, keep only 4-5 leaves at the base of the plant and remove all the upper leaves. Later, when new shoots with 5-6 leaves grow from the leaf axils, pinch out the growing tip again so that the plant keeps 4-7 main branches; subsequently grown branches and buds should be removed in time.

So how should we care for chrysanthemums in this season?

(1) Water reasonably

Whether watering is reasonable is closely related to how well chrysanthemums grow. Water at the right time. Chrysanthemums must be watered sufficiently to grow well and produce large, brightly colored flowers. The need for water is even greater after the flower buds appear.

(2) Fertilize in the right amount

Before fertilizing, loosen the soil a little; do not water, and apply the fertilizer solution when the potting soil is relatively dry. When fertilizing, never let the fertilizer water touch the branches and leaves, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow and wither. After fertilizing, promptly spray the seedlings with clean water from a spray can to wash off the fertilizer solution clinging to the leaves.

(3) Prune carefully

To make chrysanthemums grow evenly and keep their branches upright, stakes are often set up. Thin bamboo or reed stalks are commonly used as stakes; tie the chrysanthemum branches to the stakes with fine string, one stake for each branch. (After the flower buds open, white-flowered and green-flowered varieties should be moved to a shaded place, or other measures should be taken to shade and protect them, which can keep the flower color fresh green; otherwise the flower color will be off. When dark-colored flowers are budding, they need strong light and some organic liquid fertilizer to make the flower color deep and vivid.)

(4) Control pests

In autumn, potted chrysanthemums suffer from relatively many diseases and pests. At the early stage of the disease, spray with 1% Bordeaux mixture or 50% zineb powder plus 1200 times water, once a week, 3 sprays being enough.