How to grow chrysanthemums that are short and sturdy
The editor answers for everyone how to grow short and sturdy chrysanthemums and the knowledge about the management and cultivation techniques of chrysanthemums, followed by a comprehensive introduction.
Chrysanthemum Cultivation and Management Techniques
Chrysanthemum is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Compositae family, which can not only be used for ornamental purposes but also has medicinal properties, including wind-dispelling, heat-clearing, liver-soothing, eye-clearing, and detoxifying effects. Regularly drinking chrysanthemum tea can help regulate myocardial function and lower cholesterol. Cultivating a certain area of chrysanthemums can yield considerable economic benefits.
1 Requirements for Growing Environment
Chrysanthemums prefer a warm climate and a sunlit environment, can tolerate cold but not drought. Chrysanthemums are short-day plants, which can bloom earlier under short-day conditions. They sprout in spring, grow in summer, bloom in autumn, and overwinter underground in winter. The optimal growth temperature is 18°C to 21°C, with a maximum of 32°C and a minimum of 10°C.
2 Cultivation Techniques
2.1 Site selection and soil preparation. Chrysanthemums are not very demanding about soil, but waterlogged or heavily saline-alkaline land is not suitable for planting. After selecting the site, it needs to be carefully prepared for a good harvest. First, deeply till the soil 20 to 25 cm, and apply 2,000 to 2,500 kg of compost or decomposed manure per mu, mixed into the soil as a base fertilizer. Then level and rake the soil, create high ridges 120 to 130 cm wide, and ensure proper drainage around the plot.
2.2 Propagation Methods
2.2.1 Division propagation. After harvesting chrysanthemums in November, cut the stems and dig out the roots to plant in the field, apply soil manure, and keep warm for overwintering. In the second year, before sprouting in spring, water with manure. When the seedlings grow to about 15 cm tall around Guyu (Grain Rain), pull out the seedlings and divide them into several plants, then plant them immediately and water them to settle the roots. The general transplanting time should not be later than mid-May.
2.2.2 Cutting propagation. Perform cuttings from April to May or June to August. Cut the branches in the middle, retaining the upper part, cut into sections 20 cm long, each section should retain one leaf bud, the top part should retain the terminal bud, then treat with plant hormones, proceed with cutting, with a spacing of 6 to 7 cm, press firmly and water thoroughly, wait for 20 days for rooting, and after survival, water with manure once.
2.3 Field Management
2.3.1 Cultivation and weeding. Generally, 4 to 5 weeding sessions are carried out before the chrysanthemums form buds, it should be shallow rather than deep, usually cultivate every 2 months, and hill up soil to prevent lodging.
2.3.2 Top-dressing. Chrysanthemums like fertilizer, in addition to base fertilizer, top-dressing is also required during the growing period, usually 3 times. The first time is after transplanting and the seedlings turn green, applying 10 to 15 kg of urea per mu to promote seedling growth; the second time is when the plants branch out; and the third time is during the bud formation stage, with the amount not too large, similar to the first time.
2.3.3 Bud removal. Removing chrysanthemum buds can increase yield. In late May, when the seedlings are 25 cm tall, remove 1 to 2 cm of the top heart on a sunny day, then repeat every half month, stopping in mid-to-late July; otherwise, too many branches with poor nutrition may affect the yield and quality of the chrysanthemums.
2.4 Disease and Pest Control
2.4.1 Root rot. The roots rot, appearing as dry rot or tangled hemp, the leaves turn yellow and wither, usually occurring before and after flowering. Control methods: water moderately, drain in case of waterlogging, and aerate the soil.
2.4.2 Leaf spot. Initially, the plant leaves show yellow and dark brown circular or oval spots of varying sizes, followed by small black dots in the center of the lesions, yellowing and drying of the basal leaves, and gradually the upper leaves and flower buds become infected. Control methods: avoid excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer, ensure proper drainage and ventilation, and promptly remove diseased leaves. Use 80% wettable zinc omethoate 500 times liquid or 1% Bordeaux mixture for control, spray 2 to 3 times per month for prevention before the disease, and spray once every 7 days during the outbreak.
2.4.3 Downy mildew. Caused by a flagellate fungus. It mainly affects the leaves, and when the air is humid, a霜-like mold layer can be seen on the back of the leaves, sometimes spreading to the leaf surface, and in severe cases, all outer leaves turn yellow and die. Control methods: In the early stage of the disease, apply 60% mefenoxam wettable powder 800 to 1000 times liquid and 65% zinc omethoate wettable powder 500 times liquid spray. During the rainy season,排水 promptly. Avoid consecutive cropping, and practice crop rotation with cereals for more than 3 years.
3 Harvesting and Processing
Generally harvested from Frost's Descent to the beginning of Winter. White chrysanthemums (including Mo Chrysanthemum, Huai Chrysanthemum, Sichuan Chrysanthemum) are bent down, tied into small bundles, hung upside down to dry in the shade, then the capitulum is cut off and sorted, packaged, and sold.
This article shares how to grow short and sturdy chrysanthemums and the methods of management and cultivation techniques of chrysanthemums, which can be used as a reference suggestion for everyone.