Garden Chrysanthemum is an excellent representative of the family Asteraceae, who came to us from China and Japan. This magnificent plant has won the hearts of Russian gardeners, because it is distinguished by beauty, long flowering and, importantly, unpretentious character.
Chrysanthemum border
The variety of chrysanthemums is easy to get confused, because breeders have bred more than 2 thousand varieties of this magnificent flower. In addition, they vary in shape and size of inflorescences, but still the height of the bush is a parameter by which it is customary to classify perennial garden chrysanthemums.
Border varieties are especially appreciated by landscape designers. After all, cultures reaching up to 30 cm in height create a dense flower ball that fits into any composition. Popular varieties:
- Barbara Half-double buds with a diameter of 4-5 cm are painted in lilac-pink tones.
- Mascot. Pink semi-double inflorescences with a diameter of 2 cm thickly cover the bush, turning it into a flowery ball.
- Lucy. This small-flowered semi-double variety is appreciated for the unusual color of the buds. In the middle, the peduncles are yellow, and at the edges they acquire a rich raspberry-purple hue. The buds reach a diameter of 5-6 cm.
These varieties of garden chrysanthemums will be the best choice for decorating flower beds, garden paths and borders. In addition, they are characterized by an unpretentious nature, and a novice gardener can grow them.
Medium Bush Chrysanthemums
Such perennial garden chrysanthemums reach from 30 to 50 cm in height and are used in landscaping to design flower beds and decorate personal plots. In addition, they get along with other cultures, so they are grown to create floral arrangements. The best varieties:
- Dune. Terry buds reach 7 cm in diameter. Their color is changeable, ranging from pale yellow to golden orange.
- Lelia. Dark raspberry buds of the variety reach 3.5 cm in diameter. But their small size is more than compensated by the number of inflorescences.
- A swan song. Flat, fluffy inflorescences of chrysanthemum reach 5-6 cm in diameter. Petals have a snow-white color, but over time the ends acquire a soft pink hue.
Such varieties are frost-resistant, therefore suitable for cultivation in the northern regions.
Tall varieties of garden perennial chrysanthemums
Varieties reach 60-100 cm in height. They are grown in most cases for cutting. But often they are used in landscape design for zoning the site.
If you want to grow tall chrysanthemums, then pay attention to the following varieties:
- Rosetta's daughter. Flat terry buds reach 4 cm in diameter. Petals are painted in pale pink tones. On one plant, up to 50 inflorescences are formed per season.
- Amber Lady. Terry buds, 6-7 cm in diameter. Petals are painted in golden orange tones. The variety is hardy and hibernates in open ground.
- Umka. Pompom buds with a diameter of up to 7 cm are painted white with a yellowish or pink middle.
When choosing such varieties, remember that such flowers need additional support, since fragile stems do not withstand the weight of inflorescences.
Choosing a place for a flower garden
Garden chrysanthemums are photophilous plants. Therefore, select the most illuminated area for them, because in the shade, the stems of the culture will stretch, and the buds will be ground. In addition, due to a lack of light, the flowering time will decrease.
As for the soil, crops prefer loose, fertile and breathable soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction.
Remember that plants do not tolerate stagnation of moisture at the roots. Therefore, you can not plant them in a lowland or in wetlands. Better choose a site on a hill. Then your flowers will definitely not rot from the spring thaw.
Garden Chrysanthemums: Planting and Care
Chrysanthemums can be planted in spring and autumn. But experienced flower growers recommend starting planting in late May - early June. Then the bushes will have time to take root before the cold, in addition, they will please the flowering this fall. Choose a cloudy or rainy day for planting. Or plant flowers in the early morning or evening.
So, how to plant garden chrysanthemums:
- Dig a patch and remove weeds. If the soil is clay and sand, then add a bucket of peat or compost for each square meter.
- Dig holes with a diameter of 30–40 cm. For low and medium varieties, keep a distance of 25 cm between plants. Plant tall varieties at a distance of 50 cm.
- Pour potassium permanganate solution into each well and pour a 10-cm layer of drainage.
- Carefully remove the chrysanthemums from the pots and place them in the hole with an earthen lump. Do not forget to immediately establish a support near tall plants.
- Fill the voids with soil, slightly compact and moisten with warm water. To speed up the rooting of flowers, water with “Kornevin” or “Epin”.
After planting, provide gentle care to the plants. In the first two or three days, it is better to cover the flowers to protect them from sudden changes in temperature and direct sunlight. In the future, provide the plants with regular watering and periodic top dressing, and they will certainly thank with beautiful and long flowering.
Watering
Regular and moderate hydration is the main rule of care. Perennial garden chrysanthemums need frequent watering only during active growth. Further reduce moisture and water the flowers only after the topsoil has dried. But at the same time, it is advisable to spray the bushes in the evening and morning.
A day after watering, do not forget to loosen the soil under the bushes. Otherwise, a crust forms on the ground, which blocks the access of air to the roots.
Top dressing
Perennial garden chrysanthemums, the photo of which is presented in the material, respond perfectly to fertilizers. Therefore, do not forget to feed the flowers. And do it several times a season:
- In the spring, so that the flowers grow "green mass", give them nitrogen fertilizers.
- In mid-summer, feed the flowers with infusion of rotted mullein or bird droppings.
- During the development of the buds, feed the shrubs with potassium-phosphorus compounds.
- After the appearance of flowers, discard all fertilizers.
- In the autumn, when digging, add peat to the soil at the rate of 25-30 kg per 1 square meter.
Fertilize the flowers the day after rain or watering. In this case, make sure that the solutions do not fall on the foliage of the plants. Otherwise, the culture will get burned. Remember that it is better to underfeed chrysanthemum, because an excess of nutrients will harm the flower. Therefore, fertilize in moderation.
Mulching
Garden chrysanthemums, photos of which you will find in the article, respond perfectly to mulching. Thanks to this agrotechnical method, you will protect shrubs from weeds, pests and fungal diseases. And also help the plant retain moisture at the roots. Use sawdust, pine needles, or shredded bark as mulch for chrysanthemums.
Propagation by cuttings
This method of reproduction is quite simple, and even an inexperienced grower can cope with it. For cuttings, choose green shoots from the top, on which there are 2 internodes and 3-4 leaves. The length of the branches should reach 6–8 cm.
How to root cuttings:
- Mix river sand, humus and leafy soil in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Fill pots or containers with this mixture. And on top, sprinkle a 3-cm layer of sand.
- Use a sharp knife to cut suitable cuttings, 1-2 mm apart from the assembly. Remove the lower leaves, and cut the upper one-third.
- Deepen the shoots by 1.5 cm in moist soil. Keep the distance between shoots at 3 cm, the distance between the rows - 4 cm.
- Cover the landing with glass or polyethylene so that the covering material is 30 cm above the tops of the plants.
- Put the greenhouse in a warm, bright place.
In order for the plants to take root, do not forget to ventilate and spray the planting 2-3 times a day with warm water from the spray gun. Make sure that moisture does not get on the leaves, otherwise they will rot.
After 2-3 weeks, when the cuttings take root, remove the glass or film. And after 7 days, transplant seedlings in separate pots filled with sand, humus and soddy soil (1: 2: 2). Twice a month, feed seedlings with a solution of nitrate.
When the shoots appear 5-7 leaves, pinch the top. 2 weeks before planting, temper the plants. To do this, take them out onto the street first for 15 minutes, then for half an hour and so on.
Seed propagation method
Start growing garden chrysanthemums from seeds in late February - early March. For seedlings, prepare the soil, consisting of equal parts of peat, humus and leafy soil. Remember to decontaminate the soil before planting. To do this, bake it in the oven or hold it over steam.
Flower seeds are preferably treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then you protect them from disease. How to germinate chrysanthemums:
- Pour a centimeter layer of drainage into a shallow drawer or container. For these purposes, use expanded clay, broken brick or fine gravel.
- Spread prepared soil over drainage and moisten well.
- Spread the seeds on the surface of the soil and press down lightly.
- Spray the landing with warm water from the spray gun and cover with glass.
- Place the greenhouse in a room with a temperature of +23 ... + 25 ° C.
- Ventilate the landing daily and moisten the soil with a spray gun.
The first shoots appear in 1.5–2 weeks. Once this happens, transfer the seedlings to a bright, warm place. Gradually adapt the sprouts to the environment. To do this, remove the glass first for an hour, then for two, and then remove it completely.
How to grow seedlings
When 2–4 true leaves appear on the sprouts, transplant them into separate containers. Try not to damage the delicate roots of flowers during a dive. To do this, be sure to moisten the soil thoroughly before the procedure.
For seedlings, use soil with the same composition as when sowing seeds. After planting, treat the sprouts with Epin or Zircon. Then the seedlings will quickly take root in a new place.
Grow young plants indoors with a temperature of +16 ... + 18 ° C. Every two weeks, feed the sprouts with nitrogen preparations. And do not forget to regularly moisten the soil.
Two weeks before planting in open ground, begin to temper the seedlings. To do this, take them out for 1-2 hours to fresh air. In late May - early June transplant seedlings to a permanent place. Do not forget to pinch the top. And when the side shoots reach a length of 15–20 cm, repeat the procedure. Thanks to this, you will grow dense bushes, sprinkled with many peduncles.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
A similar cultivation method is suitable for plants over 3 years of age. Start breeding in early June, when young shoots appear on the bushes. In extreme cases, the division is carried out in late August - early September. For reproduction, choose strong shrubs that are not damaged by pests.
Stages of work:
- Carefully dig in the bush and pull it out with the earthen clod, being careful not to damage the roots.
- Gently brush off the ground and rinse off any remaining soil with a gentle pressure of water.
- With a sharp knife, divide the mother bush into several parts. Make sure that each of them has a strong root and 3-4 shoots.
- Treat each seedling with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Shorten the tall shoots, and also do not forget to remove the central, lignified branches.
- Plant seedlings in moist soil. Make sure that the growth bud is located at the same depth as the parent plant.
In the future, provide the plants with normal care. If you breed chrysanthemums in the fall, then before the cold weather, be sure to cover the crops with lapnik or lutrasil. Otherwise, they will not survive the frost.
That's all the simple rules of growing the “queen of autumn”. Adhere to these tips and provide flowers with minimal care, and garden chrysanthemums will long delight you with an attractive look.