How to germinate chrysanthemum seeds
If you want to understand how to germinate chrysanthemum seeds and the characteristics and cultivation skills of chrysanthemum, the following article will introduce the relevant experience in flower planting for everyone.
Shen Zhou of the Ming Dynasty wrote in his poem "Chrysanthemum" that "The flowers begin to bloom at the root of the fence full of autumn, but they flourish from indifference." This indicates that chrysanthemums bloom late, not until autumn! But there are also spring chrysanthemums that bloom in spring!
When summer comes, chrysanthemum tea is essential for clearing heat, reducing internal fire, and detoxifying. A cup of chrysanthemum tea in front of us is probably the scene we think of when we think of chrysanthemums! Today, Old Li will tell you about a different kind of chrysanthemum!
Different chrysanthemums have different meanings. Chrysanthemums are known as the "gentleman among flowers," symbolizing noble sentiments. Because the ancient Chinese poet Tao Yuanming was fond of chrysanthemums, he was also known as the "hermit." It implies a carefree and reclusive lifestyle, but the meaning of the color of the flowers should be understood, or else you might make a fool of yourself when giving chrysanthemums! White chrysanthemums symbolize sorrow, while yellow ones have the implication of soaring success. Therefore, attention should be paid to the color of the flowers in different situations!
Since both red and white occasions can have chrysanthemums given, let's also talk about how to plant chrysanthemums! Flower friends who cultivate chrysanthemums can pick a flower when they bloom and give it as a gift.
There are many varieties of chrysanthemums, about 30,000 in total, and the cultivation methods are mostly similar. With modern special cultivation techniques, they can bloom all year round. Today, we will mainly learn about the general pot cultivation method.
How to germinate chrysanthemum seeds
Chrysanthemums belong to the asteraceae family, which is a perennial herbaceous plant. Therefore, if you see chrysanthemums wither in winter, you might think they are dead and throw them away. However, the roots of chrysanthemums are valuable and are used as Chinese herbs. Different chrysanthemum varieties can treat different symptoms and most are edible.
Chrysanthemums prefer slightly acidic soil, so when preparing the soil, it should be slightly acidified. Use decayed leaf soil and also adjust the local available soil to make it slightly acidic, adding some well-rotted soybean cake, cooked rice, beans, steamed bun crumbs, etc., and mix in some Styrofoam to increase aeration (Styrofoam is easy to obtain, like the anti-collision Styrofoam blocks from buying a TV, crumbled into small particles).
Chrysanthemums are photophilous plants and also shade-tolerant, so they should be placed in a sunny location. If placed on a balcony, there's no need to shade them unless there's a glass focusing point. They only need to be shaded in summer because the most suitable growth temperature for chrysanthemums is 18-21 degrees Celsius. High temperatures in summer combined with midday exposure can easily sunburn the chrysanthemum plants. You can completely shade them from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in summer, which can also promote the formation of flower buds. This is because chrysanthemums are short-day plants, and flower buds can only form in seasons with shorter daylight. Complete shading simulates the light duration of autumn (usually less than 12 hours, set at 10-12 hours) to promote flower bud formation and make them bloom earlier.