Garden chrysanthemum is a wonderful representative of the Compositae family, which came to us from China and Japan. This magnificent plant has won the hearts of Russian gardeners, because it is distinguished by its beauty, long flowering and, most importantly, unpretentious character.
Border chrysanthemums
It is easy to get confused in the variety of chrysanthemums, because breeders have bred more than 2 thousand varieties of this magnificent flower. In addition, they differ in the shape and size of the inflorescences, but still the height of the bush is the 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. Semi-double buds with a diameter of 4–5 cm are painted in lilac-pink tones.
- Talisman. Pink semi-double inflorescences with a diameter of 2 cm densely cover the bush, turning it into a flowery ball.
- Lucy. This small-floweredsemi-double variety is valued for the unusual color of the buds. In the middle, the peduncles are yellow, and at the edges they acquire a rich raspberry-lilac hue. 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 distinguished by their unpretentious nature, and even a novice gardener can grow them.
Medium-sized spray chrysanthemums
Such perennial garden chrysanthemums reach 30 to 50 cm in height and are used in landscape design to decorate flower beds and decorate household plots. In addition, they get along with other cultures, so they are grown to create flower arrangements. Best varieties:
- Dune. Terry buds reach 7 cm in diameter. Their color is changeable, ranging from pale yellow to golden orange.
- Lelia. Dark crimson buds of the variety reach 3.5 cm in diameter. But their small size is more than offset by the number of inflorescences.
- Swan song. Flat, fluffy chrysanthemum inflorescences reach 5–6 cm in diameter. The petals are pure white, but over time the tips become a soft pink.
Such varieties are frost-resistant, so they are suitable for growing in the northern regions.
Tall varieties of garden perennial chrysanthemums
Varieties reach 60–100 cm in height. They are grown mostly for cutting. But they are often used inlandscape design for site zoning.
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. Up to 50 inflorescences are formed on one plant per season.
- Amber Lady. Terry buds, 6-7 cm in diameter. Petals are painted in golden-orange tones. The variety is frost-resistant and winters in open ground.
- Umka. Pompom buds up to 7 cm in diameter are painted white with a yellowish or pink center.
When choosing these varieties, remember that such flowers need additional support, as fragile stems cannot support the weight of the inflorescences.
Choosing a location for a flower garden
Garden chrysanthemums are photophilous plants. Therefore, choose the most illuminated area for them, because in the shade the stems of the culture will stretch out, and the buds will become smaller. In addition, due to the lack of light, the duration of flowering 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 stagnant moisture at the roots. Therefore, you can not plant them in a lowland or in wetlands. It is better to choose a site on a hill. Then your flowers will definitely not rot from the spring thaw.
Garden chrysanthemums: planting and care
You can plant chrysanthemums in spring and autumn. But experienced flower growers recommendstart planting in late May - early June. Then the bushes will have time to take root before the cold weather, besides, they will please with flowering this autumn. Choose a cloudy or rainy day for planting. Or plant flowers in the early morning or evening.
So, how to plant garden chrysanthemums:
- Dig up the area and remove the weeds. If the soil is clay and sandy, add a bucket of peat or compost per square meter.
- Dig holes with a diameter of 30-40 cm. For low and medium-sized varieties, keep a distance of 25 cm between plants. Plant at a distance of 50 cm for tall varieties.
- Pour a solution of potassium permanganate into each recess and pour a 10-centimeter layer of drainage.
- Carefully remove the chrysanthemums from the pots and place in the hole along with the earthy clod. Don't forget to immediately set up a support near tall plants.
- Fill the voids with soil, lightly compact and moisten with warm water. To speed up the rooting of flowers, pour "Kornevin" or "Epin".
Give your plants gentle care after planting. 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 feeding, and they will surely thank you with beautiful and long flowering.
Irrigation
Regular and moderate hydration is the basic rule of care. Perennial garden chrysanthemums need frequent watering only during activegrowth. In the future, reduce moisture and water the flowers only after the top layer of soil has dried. But at the same time, it is advisable to spray the bushes in the evening and morning.
One day after watering, do not forget to loosen the soil under the bushes. Otherwise, a crust will form on the ground, which will block the access of air to the roots.
Feeding
Perennial garden chrysanthemums, the photos of which are presented in the material, respond well to fertilizers. Therefore, do not forget to feed the flowers. And do it several times a season:
- In the spring, in order for the flowers to grow "green mass", give them nitrogen fertilizers.
- In the middle of summer, feed the flowers with an infusion of rotted mullein or bird droppings.
- During the development of buds, feed the shrubs with potassium-phosphorus compounds.
- After the flowers appear, cancel all fertilizers.
- In autumn, when digging, add peat to the soil at the rate of 25–30 kg per 1 square meter.
Fertilize flowers the day after rain or watering. At the same time, make sure that the solutions do not fall on the foliage of plants. Otherwise, the culture will get burned. Remember that it is better to underfeed the chrysanthemum, because an excess of nutrients will harm the flower. So fertilize sparingly.
Mulching
Garden chrysanthemums, photos of which you will find in the article, respond well to mulching. Thanks to this agricultural technique, you will protect shrubs from weeds, pests and fungal diseases. It will also help the plant retain moisture.roots. Use sawdust, pine needles, or shredded bark as mulch for chrysanthemums.
Propagation by cuttings
This breeding method is quite simple, and even an inexperienced grower can handle it. For cuttings, choose green shoots from the top, which have 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 leaf soil in a ratio of 2:1:1. Fill pots or containers with this mixture. And on top, pour a 3-centimeter layer of sand.
- Use a sharp knife to cut suitable cuttings 1–2 mm from the node. Remove the lower leaves and cut the upper leaves by a third.
- Depth the shoots 1.5 cm into moist soil. Keep 3 cm spacing between shoots and 4 cm spacing between rows.
- Cover the planting with glass or polyethylene so that the covering material is 30 cm above the tops of the plants.
- Place the greenhouse in a warm, bright spot.
In order for the plants to take root, do not forget to ventilate and spray the planting with warm water from a spray bottle 2-3 times a day. 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 another 7 days, transplant the seedlings into separate pots filled with sand, humus and soddy soil (1:2:2). Feed the seedlings twice a month with a s altpeter solution.
When the shoots have 5-7 leaves, pinch the top. Harden off plants 2 weeks before planting. To do this, take them outoutside, 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 disinfect the soil before planting. To do this, bake it in the oven or hold it over steam.
It is desirable to treat flower seeds with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then you protect them from disease. How to germinate chrysanthemums:
- Pour a centimeter layer of drainage into shallow boxes or a container. For these purposes, use expanded clay, broken brick or fine gravel.
- Pour prepared soil over the drainage and moisten well.
- Spread the seeds over the surface of the soil and press lightly.
- Spray the planting with warm water from a spray bottle and cover with glass.
- Place the greenhouse in a room with a temperature of +23…+25 °C.
- Ventilate the planting daily and moisten the soil with a spray bottle.
The first shoots will appear in 1, 5-2 weeks. Once this happens, move the seedlings to a bright, warm spot. Gradually adapt the seedlings 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 the flowers during the pick. For this, before the procedurebe sure to moisten the soil abundantly.
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. Once every two weeks, feed the sprouts with nitrogen preparations. And don't forget to keep the soil moist regularly.
Two weeks before planting in open ground, start hardening 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. Don't 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 flower stalks.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
This growing method is suitable for plants that have reached the age of 3 years. Start breeding in early June, when young shoots appear on the bushes. As a last resort, carry out the division in late August - early September. Choose strong, pest-free shrubs for propagation.
Stages of work:
- Carefully dig in the bush and pull it out along with the earthy clod, being careful not to damage the roots.
- Gently shake off the soil and wash off the 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 weakpotassium permanganate solution. Shorten the tall shoots, and also do not forget to remove the central, lignified branches.
- Plant seedlings in moist soil. Make sure the growth bud is at the same depth as the mother plant.
Give your plants regular care in the future. If you propagate chrysanthemums in the fall, then before the cold weather, be sure to cover the crops with spruce branches or lutrasil. Otherwise, they will not survive the cold.
That's all the simple rules for growing the "Queen of Autumn". Follow these tips and keep your flowers as minimal as possible, and your garden chrysanthemums will give you an attractive look for a long time.
