Chrysanthemums are one of the most popular potted flowers in the fall season. They look great placed on the balcony or in front of the house entrance. Potted chrysanthemums bloom until the first frost and are easy to care for. Learn more about growing these fall flowers. Here's how you can overwinter a chrysanthemum in a pot and which varieties are most suitable for pots.
Potted chrysanthemums
The genus chrysanthemum, or chrysanthemum, includes over 200 species and over 5,000 varieties. These plants are characterized by basket-shaped flowers growing at the top of the shoots.The flowers can be of almost any color. Chrysanthemum leaves are dark green, lobed and have a characteristic smell.
These potted flowers need a short day to bloom, therefore their flowering period is from September to November. For sale, the largest selection of potted chrysanthemums is in the fall, when the chrysanthemums are in flower. It is worth knowing, however, that most of them will only be a temporary decoration, and only a few varieties are suitable for further cultivation in the garden or in a pot on the balcony or terrace. So how do you find the right ones?
How to buy potted chrysanthemums?
Purchasepotted chrysanthemumsshould be made in a reputable nursery or a good garden center so that the seedlings are of the best quality and do not have any diseases or pests. It is also important that the plant has a variety designation, because not every plant will be suitable for pot cultivation.Usually, chrysanthemums sold at marketplaces and cemeteries cannot be counted on for too good wintering and keeping a compact plant habit. Often these are greenhouse-grown plants that will not tolerate well being left outdoors. Whengrowing potted chrysanthemums , it is worth knowing that nurserymen, in order to obtain a compact and impressive shape of these flowers, use specialized chemicals that limit the growth of plants. This process is called dwarfing. Dwarfism could not be carried out in home conditions, so you should choose varieties that are dwarf by nature.
Growing potted chrysanthemums
These fall flowers like a rich soil with many minerals. A good place to growpotted chrysanthemumsis bright but not in direct sunlight. Flowers in pots bloom the longest if they are placed in a cool place, at a temperature of 13-16 ° C. Let's also remember about watering. Usually, several chrysanthemum cuttings are planted in one pot, so the roots quickly outgrow the pot.The soil in the pot should be kept moist, but not excessively wet. The soil in the pot must not be allowed to dry out. When growing chrysanthemums, it is also worth remembering about regular fertilization - the faster the chrysanthemum is to grow, the more intensively we fertilize it.
What to do to make the chrysanthemum in a pot bloom?
If you wantpotted chrysanthemumto bloom, use the darkening process. So we shorten the day and lengthen the night. You should shorten the day to 10 hours for 5 days and extend the night to 14 hours, e.g. by covering the chrysanthemum with cardboard (large enough). After 5 days, we stop the process, peel the shoots and allow the plant to strengthen and branch for the next 3 days. Then again shorten the day and lengthen the night until colorful buds appear.
Wintering chrysanthemums in a pot
If you want these beautiful flowers in pots to survive the winter, move after flowering potted chrysanthemumfor a cool and bright room.This place must be sheltered from frost. During wintering, chrysanthemum should not be fertilized. Watering should also be kept to a minimum, watering only as much as not to dry the root ball.Transplanting chrysanthemums
In the spring, the chrysanthemums should be transplanted into a new pot with a fresh, well-fertilized substrate, preferably rich in compost. When transplanting, you should also reduce the root ball and, at the same time, trim the shoots for balance between the above-ground and underground parts.
Potted chrysanthemums
Varieties of pot chrysanthemums
Since chrysanthemums are species of large plants, it is worth remembering to use dwarf varieties for growing these flowers in pots. Such varieties keep a small size without any care procedures. Nurserymen do not have to follow dwarf varieties due to the dwarfing process, which is not possible in amateur cultivation.
A great facilitation is also distinguishing by nurserymen a group of varieties, the so-calledpotted chrysanthemums , which are specially grown for growing in pots.
Recommended varieties of pot chrysanthemums:
Cultivars from the 'Amico' group - they have large flowers, red, purple, etc.
'Avalon Red' - a very good variety with red flowers
Varieties 'Conaco' - multi-colored varieties, flowering in early October
'Elda White' - a proven variety with white flowers
'Etoile d'Or' - these are beautiful flowers in a pot with lemon-yellow, full flowers
'Mary Wootton' - this variety has pink flowers.
Katarzyna Matuszak
