Class Dicotyledons, subclass of Asteris, order Astrocenaceae, Asteraceae family, Astro subfamily, perennial or annual - all this is about chrysanthemum. It is used in landscaping as a valuable late-flowering plant, and is also a leading crop crop, ranking second after rose in popularity.
The story of the Golden Flower
In the culture of China - literature and painting, floral symbolism is of great importance. An archaeological find has survived to this day - a vase with the image of chrysanthemums, which is 2500 years old. Noble persons cultivated the then few species of chrysanthemums as evidence of their noble origin.
Golden yellow inflorescences, which almost did not differ from wild ones, were used not only as ornamental, but also as medicinal and edible plants.
In landscape design, green species of chrysanthemums are popular, a photo of which is presented here.
The Chinese associate many images with chrysanthemum. Yellow - symbolizes serene happiness. Chrysanthemums in hoarfrost - stamina and sublime loneliness. In China, it is customary to give drawings on holidays with the image of various types of chrysanthemums as a sign of the wish for wealth and abundance.
In VII, chrysanthemum came to Japan, where it became an unofficial state symbol. "Kiku" is the sun, as the Japanese call it. The sharp petals, of which there are always 16 in the image, indicate the sun's rays that give life. Kiku is a sign of divine power, longevity and happiness, a symbol of perfection.
In the XVIII century, the chrysanthemum finds its fans in Europe and America.
Karl Linney, the founder of the classification system for species of all life on Earth, gave the flower the name chrysanthemum, which means “golden flower” in Greek.
Species, names of chrysanthemums and varieties for long years of selection work have increased significantly.
For a long time, breeders preferred large varieties of flowers. Hybrid Korean or garden chrysanthemums are growing more and more.
Chrysanthemum Description
Rhizomes are branched, thickened, located at a depth of 25 cm. Stolons are formed on them under the ground - elongated lateral shoots on which shortened stems with leaves develop. The shoots are erect, often branched, with a height of 25 to 150 cm. The leaves are dissected, smooth or pubescent.
Reed flowers in baskets determine the shape of the bud. Description and types of chrysanthemums are presented in the international classification of the Dresden Institute of Horticulture. They are divided into 2 groups - simple and terry. Groups are divided, in turn, into classes. The group of simple chrysanthemums includes 3 classes - non-terry, terry and anemone. Terry ones are bent down hanging, flat, hemispherical, spherical, curly, pompom, arachnid.
All modern varieties are divided:
large-flowered - when removing the side buds, it is able to form 1 inflorescence with a diameter of up to 30 cm;
bouquet (branchy) - have the form of a bush with large baskets (10–20 cm);
miniature;
decorative - using various methods of formation, they achieve a bouquet or large-flowered form.
Chrysanthemums are dependent on daylight hours. Long daylight helps to increase the vegetative mass of the plant, short - 14 hours, the rapid growth of inflorescences. Highly sensitive and medium-sensitive to longitude of the day cultivars are grown indoors. Neutral varieties are suitable for open ground.
By flowering time, varieties are distinguished:
early - bloom from August to October;
medium-late - from October to November;
later - from November to December.
Flowering in open ground continues until the frosts.
Promising varieties
Gardeners are aware of 2 groups of chrysanthemums - Indian and Korean. Bush chrysanthemum (its species are more resistant to cold temperatures and suitable for growing in unprotected soil) is not afraid of light frosts.
Description and types of chrysanthemums promising for growing in a temperate climate can be seen below:
Aisa - a variety of early flowering, non-double. Gentle salmon flowers, 5 cm in diameter.
Evening lights are a curb variety. Inflorescences have a transitional color: from saturated red at the edges to yellow in the center.
Koreanochka - blooms plentifully from July to the end of September with light orange baskets.
Malibish-kibalchish - bright lilac inflorescences are placed on a compact, spherical bush. Early flowering.
Amethyst - changes the color of flowers from pink-yellow in July to pearly pink in October.
Svetozar - milky white inflorescences, terry. Mid-late variety.
Rowan hen - there are a lot of dark orange flowers on the column- shaped bush with yellow edges of the petals, 4 cm in diameter.
Fortress - a border grade. Blooms profusely to frost with dark yellow baskets.
An ampel variety of Morifolium Cascade chrysanthemums gives small, daisy-like flowers.
Alec Bedser - cultivated in protected ground. Blooms in September with a single yellow-cream flower, 14 cm in diameter.
The crowned vegetable chrysanthemum is an annual plant. It is eaten as a source of vitamins, minerals and biologically active substances. Topped Chrysanthemum has a delicate aroma and piquant taste. The green mass of plants goes into food. The content of the antioxidant complex is comparable to ginseng root. Garden chrysanthemum (species, varieties and hybrids) is cultivated in greenhouse conditions.
As a result of selection, many varieties have been created that differ in shape and color of inflorescences, in terms and duration of flowering.
Growing conditions
Chrysanthemum, its species and varieties are preferred by slightly acidic soils well-fertilized with compost or dry mullein. It does not tolerate waterlogging. On excessively fertilized humus, it actively grows vegetative organs, flowering is worsening. It grows well in tall flower beds, in lit warm places.
Planting material in the form of rooted cuttings is planted in the soil at the end of frost in May-June. The root neck is placed at ground level. For planting work, choose the cool time of day or cloudy days. Freshly planted chrysanthemums are covered with an awning from the sun. On the first day, remove the growth point - make the first pinch. The next pinch after 2 weeks is breaking out of the upper part of the shoot.
Chrysanthemums will bloom earlier if you create a blackout for them from 18 hours to 8 in the morning. Abundantly watered in dry weather and during shoot growth.
Care
For more than 2-3 years, you can not grow any kind of chrysanthemum in one area. And care for the substrate must be thorough. In the soil, the supply of nutrients is reduced and there is a risk of infection. In the first month, an intensive formation of the bush occurs - the plant requires loosening the soil. Before the first bud appears, the bushes are watered 3 times a week. Mulching protects chrysanthemums from pests and fungal diseases. Pine needles and crushed bark or straw are used as mulch.
It is necessary to do 3 dressings over the summer - before budding, at the beginning of budding and during lush flowering.
To get a lush bush, shorten the stems. Nipping is done throughout June. In plants with large flowers, lateral shoots are removed, ensuring the growth of the main ones. Large-flowered leaves have 1 or 2 stems.
Wintering
Some varieties of Korean chrysanthemum tolerate winter well in open ground in dry areas. Wintering on wet soil is detrimental to the flower. Chrysanthemums are made high or low, under the root, pruning and spud. Then covered with spruce branches. Can be covered with wooden crates, and wrap with old blankets on top. With the onset of spring, old stems and shoots are removed. Underground side shoots will give new life to the flower.
Large-flowered thermophilic chrysanthemums winter in a bright room at a temperature of 5-7 ° C. Highly trimmed plants are placed in boxes. With the advent of sprouts moderately watered.
Breeding
Seeds are sown in moist soil at the end of winter. It is not necessary to sprinkle with earth - the seeds germinate in the light. The resulting sprouts are placed in pots, planted in soil in May, in the holes.
When grafting by varieties, uterine bushes are selected. Cut stem cuttings in the fall, planted in boxes and stored at first warm for 10 days, moderately watering. Then placed in a cool room. In spring, apical offspring appear from the roots, from which cuttings are taken for propagation. To get a multi-stem bush, cuttings begin to be harvested from March to April. From May to June, they stock up on material for growing single-stemmed large-flowered plants.
When propagating by division, they dig a bush in the spring, take it apart and plant it in a new place. In addition, each sprout has its own roots. It is recommended once every 3 years to divide the bush and plant. This will have a beneficial effect on flowering.
Pests and diseases
White rust is caused by the parasite Puccinia horiana, which is a quarantine object. White spots appear on the leaves, which then turn brown. Sick leaves fall off. The plant ceases to bloom.
Exposure to anamorphic fungi causes spotting of leaves and stems.
Buds and inflorescences are affected by alternariosis.
California thrips, greenhouse aphids, spider mites harm chrysanthemums in greenhouses and in open ground.
The cucumber mosaic virus is transmitted during vegetative propagation. Leaves with light green spots die and fall off. Deformation and dwarfism of plants develop.
To control pests and fungi, fungicides and insecticides are sprayed.
The gall nematode is a dangerous pest. Fighting her often does not lead to success. Experienced gardeners are advised to dig up infected bushes and burn.
You can use folk remedies to combat insects. If the aphids have not expanded in large numbers, wash the bushes with soapy water.
Extract of garlic gives a good result: 50 g of chopped garlic is poured with 1 cup of water. After 30 minutes, filter and add 800 ml of water. 1.5 cups of extract are bred in a bucket of water and spilled bushes.
It is impossible to get rid of pests and diseases without preventive measures:
It is necessary to do an autumn deep digging of the site - wintering larvae and pupae die.
Weeds are destroyed not only near flowers and in greenhouses, but also throughout the site.
Disinfect garden equipment and all greenhouse constructions.
All leaves fallen from the bushes must be burned.
Potted chrysanthemums
For normal growth at home or on the balcony, flowers do not need a lot of sun. The optimum temperature is up to 15 ° C. Species of chrysanthemums in pots grow well on peat with low acidity. The composition of the soil for pot culture includes turf and humus land, burnt manure and 20% sand.
The sequence of actions during cultivation:
2-3 weeks with a long daylight at t more than 20 ° C;
when shortening daylight hours to 12 hours and lowering t to 18–20 ° C, flowering begins.
Well watered and sprayed. Growing flowers require transplantation into large containers. Any kind of chrysanthemum can be grown as indoor. The types of indoor chrysanthemums for growing in pots are best taken medium-sized - up to 50 cm, decorative and small-colored.
Greenhouse cultivation
You can grow in greenhouses in various ways:
The cuttings planted in boxes with the onset of heat are transferred to open ground. At the end of flowering, plants are planted in pots. Then sent to the greenhouse to continue flowering.
You can plant rooted cuttings in pots. When the bush grows, larger pots are required. Bushes are planted in a film greenhouse immediately, bypassing open ground.
Accelerated cultivation is based on the choice of variety and takes into account biological species characteristics. During vegetative growth, the daylight should be at least 14 hours, t 18–20 °. When buds are formed, the day is shortened to 10 hours, the temperature is reduced to 10 °.
With this technology, 2-3 blooms per year are possible. To receive flower production at the desired time, for the cultivation of all types of chrysanthemums, well-equipped greenhouses are needed, where the microclimate, dimming or electric lighting of the bushes, and the required humidity level are regulated.
A variety of colors differ garden species of chrysanthemums, photos of which are located at the top.
In southern California in the 30s of the 20th century, gardeners under industrial conditions tried to cultivate various types of chrysanthemums in hydroponic plants. And growing in this way was successful.
Sand and gravel are used as hydroponic substrates.
The advantage of the hydroponic method over the traditional one is that flowers produce strong shoots, bright leaves and richly colored inflorescences, and a powerful root system is formed.
Chrysanthemums, due to their medicinal properties, during abundant flowering, have beneficial effects on human health. All varieties and species - garden, greenhouse, bush and single stem - create a favorable microclimate around them. It releases bactericidal substances and essential oils, filling the air with a bitter aroma.
The healing properties of the flower have long been known. The leaves contain a large number of trace elements - K, Mg, Zn, Se, necessary for human life. In China, it is believed that chrysanthemum flowers, brewed with green tea, increase its refreshing, taste and healing properties.