A very practical chrysanthemum dwarfing method
The editor answers your questions about the experience of chrysanthemum plants, a very practical chrysanthemum dwarfing method, please see the detailed introduction below.
Agricultural proverbs say: "Chrysanthemum stems do not expose the body, chrysanthemum height does not exceed a foot." What is "chrysanthemum stems do not expose the body"? It refers to the base stems and leaves of a good chrysanthemum not turning yellow, rotting, or falling off. "Chrysanthemum height does not exceed a foot" refers to the dwarf nature of the plant, with beautiful branches and leaves. Only with a short plant can the flowers be large and lush, suitable for indoor display.
The cultivation and management of dwarf chrysanthemums by the lunar calendar month is: 3 parts, 4 topping; 5, 6 months controlling water flow; 7, 8 months more water and fertilizer; 9, 10 months flowering competition like绣球 (hydrangea).
"3 parts" refers to the division of roots and cutting propagation in the lunar month of March. Practice has proved that cutting chrysanthemums grow better than dividing roots. As long as the temperature is above twenty degrees, cuttings can be made at any time. Some can be cut in the greenhouse in February, but most are cut in the lunar month of March.
"4 topping" refers to topping in the lunar month of April. Topping can inhibit the upward growth of chrysanthemum stems. Controlling nutrient distribution reasonably, topping can also make the plant produce more branches, effectively controlling plant height and shape. When topping, only leave two large leaves at the base, and remove the rest. When new branches from the leaf axils grow about 5 or 6 centimeters long, leave two large leaves and cut off the top. This process is repeated continuously, but the last topping should be carried out at different times according to the variety of chrysanthemum and the time of flowering. Early flowering varieties such as Phoenix Plume, Snow Green Peony,金龙滚珠 (Golden Dragon Rolling Pearl), and Purple绣球 (Hydrangea) should be topped by the end of August, that is, half a month after "Li Qiu" (Start of Autumn); mid-season varieties such as Green Cloud, Green Peony, and Scholarly Purple should be topped five days after "Li Qiu" in mid-August; late flowering varieties such as Purple Lion Head, Yellow Buddha Facing the Moon, and Green Morning Cloud should be topped early, generally by the end of July, that is, ten days before "Li Qiu". This means that late flowering varieties should be topped early, and early flowering varieties should be topped late. This can make the flowering period of chrysanthemums basically consistent. After stopping topping, new buds that continue to grow from leaf buds can be removed at any time. After flower buds form, only one flower bud of similar size is selected on each branch, and the rest are removed to ensure uniform and large flower growth.
"5, 6 months controlling water flow" is to cultivate well-shaped chrysanthemums, before "Li Qiu", let the chrysanthemums "sit seedlings". That is, in the lunar months of May and June, control water and fertilizer. When the seedlings are about 10 centimeters tall, pot them. Initially, the potting soil should only fill one-third of the pot depth, and then gradually add soil to the pot as the chrysanthemum grows, filling the pot soil only before the rainy season arrives in July and August, to prevent waterlogging and root and leaf rot. Controlling water and fertilizer in the lunar months of May and June improves soil aeration, increases root respiration, and promotes vigorous growth. Maintaining suitable soil moisture, achieving a dry top and wet bottom, loose soil with sufficient air, creates a favorable environment for the growth and development of chrysanthemum roots, promoting the increase and deepening of roots; it also effectively controls the growth of stems and leaves above the ground. If too much soil is covered, it can be removed and exposed to the sun to control water, fertilizer, and soil, achieving the goal of "sitting seedlings".
"7, 8 months more water and fertilizer" means appropriate promotion of seedlings during the lunar months of July and August. After applying enough base fertilizer, no chemical fertilizers are applied during the entire growth period. Fermented cake fertilizer water is applied starting from the initial stage of budding, with a fertilizer-water ratio of 1:10, and the fermented solution is light yellow. Because at this stage, the stems and leaves grow vigorously, entering a period of concurrent vegetative and reproductive growth, the demand for water and fertilizer increases sharply, which is the peak period for chrysanthemums' water and fertilizer needs in a year. If this period is promoted well, the stems will be strong, the branches thick, and the flower buds large. If water and fertilizer are applied too early, the stems and leaves will grow too fast, causing steep growth. Applying fertilizer water during this period allows the fertilizer to be carried by the water and the water to support the fertilizer, integrating fertilizer and water, and adjusting fertilizer with water. The amount of cake fertilizer water should not be too much, keeping it moist but not wet.
"9, 10 months flowering competition like绣球 (hydrangea)" means that in September and October, chrysanthemums are basically shaped. If the growth of the same plant is uneven, when the flower buds are the size of soybeans, use low branches as a standard and prick high branches with general objects like large-headed pins, about 5 or 6 pins per branch, for a total of 3 to 6 times, with an interval of three days each time. This can make the chrysanthemum branches grow evenly. Because the pricking of the chrysanthemum stem inhibits the growth and development of the high branches. Through the above measures, the plant height can be reduced by 33-1%, and the diameter of the flowers can reach 10-5 centimeters.
Forcing flowering: To make chrysanthemums bloom earlier, short-daylight treatment can be carried out. The method is: only ten hours of daylight every day, and the rest of the time is placed in a dark room. Cover the light at six o'clock in the afternoon and open it at eight o'clock the next morning. This process can cause budding after 21 to 25 days and blooming after about 60 days. Chrysanthemums in the dark room should be ventilated at night to prevent heat and leaf fall.
The above is the complete introduction to the very practical chrysanthemum dwarfing method, hoping it can be helpful to you. Don't forget to visit more flower cultivation experience and common sense!