Chrysanthemum is a relatively tough perennial perennial perennial herbaceous flower with a wide variety of varieties, including those suitable as cut flowers and those that can naturally grow into spherical shapes. After September, it is suitable to directly start planting chrysanthemum seedlings. As long as the environment is suitable, they can gradually bloom after one month.
Tip:
When raising chrysanthemums, it is important to ensure that there is sufficient sunlight at home (at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day). If there is a lack of light at home, it is not recommended to buy chrysanthemums, otherwise their growth will be weak and they will not bloom.
.A flower enthusiast asked about the difference in maintenance methods between cut chrysanthemums and ball chrysanthemums, whether they need to be topped or not, and whether topping is acceptable, depending on personal choice.
.If you want to grow tall and slender, cut chrysanthemums should not be topped after the end of September. They can be topped before mid to late September, and in southern China, this time can be postponed for one or two months.
. When cut chrysanthemum plants grow too tall, they need to be supported by inserting poles. During the peak growth season, ball chrysanthemums usually need to be topped 3-6 times to promote the growth of a large number of branches and make the entire plant fuller. Some weak branches and small flower buds at the bottom of the plant that cannot be exposed to sunlight can be removed in advance. The plant of the ball chrysanthemum is short and does not require support.Quick tips for growing small seedlings in chrysanthemum hole pots:
1. Prepare pots and soil in advance
If you are growing potted chrysanthemums on the balcony, it is recommended to choose 1-2 gallon pots, such as root control pots or red pottery pots.
.Try to choose loose and breathable sandy soil and humus soil with good drainage, and choose high-quality formula nutrient soil.
. For example, using peat soil, humus soil, and appropriately mixing 20% to 30% perlite or coarse sand. Planting:2. Potting and potting soil
The purchased chrysanthemum seedlings should be promptly repotted, and the original soil balls should be retained when repotting.
. As for the size of the pot, it depends on the environment. If it is an outdoor environment for maintenance, it can be moved to a larger container, such as planting in a flower pot with a diameter of 20-25 centimeters.Image
If you are raising on a balcony and the environment is not well ventilated and translucent, then choose a flower pot with a diameter of 12-15 centimeters.
. You can wait until the root system is fully grown in the pot and gradually transition to a larger pot. The outdoor environment has good sunshine and ventilation, and the soil in the pot dries quickly, so it can be quickly transferred to a large pot. This should be tailored to local conditions.Tip: Be careful not to detach from the pot, do not let the soil scatter, gently bury in a new pot, water thoroughly (root fixing water), first place in a bright and scattered light area to slow down the seedlings for a few days, gradually increasing the light exposure.
.3. Give sufficient light
In the future, it is necessary to keep potted chrysanthemums in a sunny location, with at least 4 hours of direct sunlight every day. Except in summer when the temperature exceeds 33 degrees, appropriate shade should be provided to avoid continuous sunburn and yellowing.
. As long as the temperature is around 15-30 degrees, you can try to bask in the sun as much as possible.Image
4. Give sufficient fertilizer and water
Watering potted chrysanthemums is very simple. During the growing season with particularly good weather, especially in autumn and spring, keep the soil slightly moist but do not accumulate water.
.Before watering each time, you can remove the topsoil and check if it is about three centimeters below the soil. When it dries, water it thoroughly.
. After the successful seedling recovery, the seedlings adapt to the new soil and begin to sprout new leaves. They can be supplemented with water-soluble fertilizer every one or two weeks.Before flowering, apply universal water-soluble fertilizers such as Huaduoduo No.1 or other universal fertilizers.
. When the flowering period comes, especially after the beginning of autumn, you can start supplementing potassium dihydrogen phosphate every one or two weeks to promote flower bud formation and make the flowers bloom more brightly.Image
5. Topping
To make potted chrysanthemums grow more branches and have a more robust and full crown, you can pinch the top regularly.
. The first topping is to pinch the top once when the seedlings have grown to 4-6 leaves, while keeping the bottom 3-4 leaves. Next, wait until 5-6 leaves grow from the lateral branches before topping. After late September, it's time to stop topping and accumulate nutrients to promote flower bud formation.6. How to safely survive the winter? There is a difference in cold resistance between potted chrysanthemums and ground grown chrysanthemums, and ground grown chrysanthemums are very cold resistant during maintenance. Its roots can withstand temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius, or even lower. After frost, parts of the ground will turn yellow and wither, but the roots can survive and will germinate again in the warm spring of the following year. For example, in the North China region, chrysanthemums grown on the ground only need to be covered with some dead leaves or soil on the ground, and can even survive the winter outdoors without protection. In the Northeast region, chrysanthemums grown on the ground need to be covered with straw, fallen leaves, and other materials to survive the winter. The key to safe winter for chrysanthemums is to protect their roots from freezing through. After the ground part withers in winter, the withered part can be cut off and covered with a covering. Chrysanthemums cultivated in pots are prone to frostbite at the roots due to the lack of soil in the pot, which greatly reduces their cold resistance. Growing in a larger pot, chrysanthemums can withstand temperatures as low as minus 5 to minus 6 degrees Celsius. When the temperature is particularly low, they should be protected appropriately or moved to a cool indoor location for winter. In areas where the lowest temperature in winter is not less than 5 ℃, potted chrysanthemums can overwinter outdoors.
7. Maintenance Tips
The difficulty of maintaining chrysanthemums is relatively low, and the most important thing is to give them as much sunlight as possible.
. During high temperatures and humidity in summer, it is important to increase ventilation and avoid living in excessively hot and humid environments. Adequate shade should be provided during midday and afternoon to prevent exposure to strong sunlight. On the other hand, watering should be done reasonably to avoid soil waterlogging, which can easily cause root rot. In autumn, it is important to replenish water in a timely manner to avoid excessive soil drought.Picture
Many flower enthusiasts encounter the problem of low flowering or dull color, usually due to insufficient light or phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.
.When flowers are about to wither, it is important to cut off the remaining flowers in a timely manner, otherwise too much nutrients will be lost. Generally, when the flowers are about to change color, they should be cut off in a timely manner. Do not wait for the flowers to completely wither before cutting off.
. In addition to ensuring at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day, it is also important to supplement with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate, every one or two weeks during flower bud development, and after flowering.8. Attention to pests and diseases
Flower lovers who have raised chrysanthemums will find that they are still relatively easy to be infected with pests, especially common aphids and whiteflies. They will gather at the tender buds and absorb the sap of plants. They can be sprayed with common insecticides such as imidacloprid and imidacloprid in a timely manner to remove them. If insecticides are not available, they can be washed away with pressurized water first to greatly reduce pest infestations.
.When spraying insecticides, pay attention to spraying evenly, especially focusing on the back and flower buds, as well as the edges of the pot soil and flower pot. You can easily spray the potted plant on the back of the leaves by placing it down.
. Chrysanthemums are prone to root rot and stem rot during hot and humid seasons. This can only be prevented in advance by avoiding water accumulation, improving ventilation, and ensuring loose and breathable soil. Once rotten roots or stems are found, they should be promptly removed and soaked in a sterilizing agent for half an hour before changing pots and soil.