From time immemorial, people grow flowers to decorate their homes and gardens. Flowers are given in honor of the holidays, just like that, to cheer up. In this article, we will reveal the secrets of growing blue chrysanthemums, which are not found in nature. Let's talk about what these beautiful flowers (of any color) symbolize. And also consider the Blue Chrysanthemum peony variety, learn how to grow it correctly and the nuances of care.
What kind of flower is a chrysanthemum?
Plants that not only decorate, but also benefit are most valued. Chrysanthemum is one of these plants. Whether blue, white, yellow or any other color, chrysanthemum purifies the air.
These colorful plants have been popular for over three millennia. The plant is especially valued in Japan, where the image of a flower can be found on coats of arms, seals and even coins. In the east the sages say that the people who growchrysanthemums are happier than all the others, as they believe that this flower brings good luck.
The cold-resistant flower is also loved in our latitudes, it is considered an autumn plant, because even with the first frost and falling snow, the chrysanthemum pleases the eyes of others with its beauty.
What colors are chrysanthemums?
Chrysanthemums are composite plants, the height of which varies from 60 to 150 centimeters. Today, there are many types of this flower, differing in flowering time, height, color, size and shape of buds.
In nature, there are red, white, yellow, green, pink, purple, lilac, orange, burgundy and other colors of chrysanthemum. The most popular varieties are two-color, where the petals of one color are framed by a border of another color.
But even in such a variety, breeders failed to breed a true blue chrysanthemum variety. We will talk further about how gardeners manage to achieve such a color.
Place to plant a flower
Chrysanthemum is a heat-loving, but cold-resistant plant. For landing, it is still better to choose a sunny site on a hill. With a lack of heat, the shoots of the plant will stretch, and the inflorescences will be small and weak. And the lack of sun does not affect the brightness of the color for the better.
The soil must be of good quality. It is necessary to fertilize it with a complex preparation before planting chrysanthemums, or add already rotted manure, peat or compost.
Boarding rules
Perfect for planting materiallast year's bushes waking up in the spring. But first you need to separate the sprouts so that each one is separate and with a personal root.
The optimal time for planting is from mid-May to the first days of June. You need to plant in cool weather, ideally - in the rain. If the warm sun is shining outside, then start work late in the evening or early in the morning.
Planting sequence:
- The distance between the bushes should be at least 30 centimeters, and between the rows - 50 centimeters.
- The depth of the holes for the plant is from 35 to 40 centimeters.
- Spill holes well with water.
- We lay drainage, and on top, in a ratio of 2 to 1, soil and biohumus.
- Insert the sprout into the hole and dig in so that a small hillock is formed.
- Pinch the top of the plant to stimulate growth.
- So that at first the hot sun does not harm the sprouts, install an awning, a canopy or create a shadow by placing tall, wide objects near the plants (fences, boards, lush branches, and so on).
Flower care
In order for the plant to be he althy, to please with abundant flowering, it is necessary to properly care for it:
- loosening the soil;
- weeding;
- water;
- feed;
- spray against pests.
Chrysanthemums are very demanding on the presence of dressings in the soil, without which the plant will be weak, and the inflorescences will be small and in a smaller volume.
Required periodicallyfeed flowers by applying potash, phosphorus, nitrogen fertilizers to the soil - all this can be bought in specialized stores. Top dressing should be applied in the form of a solution and only in the amount recommended by the manufacturer. It is worth considering that the chrysanthemum is easy to burn with fertilizers, so it is better to underfeed it if in doubt about the dosage.
The number of waterings and displacement depends on the stage of development of the bush. When the plant takes root and grows profusely, more water is needed. At the stage of bud formation, watering is reduced, and then reduced proportionally until autumn. If the weather is dry and hot in summer, then more water will be needed, this will help save the plant from pests.
Chrysanthemum is attacked by the following parasites:
- aphid;
- snails;
- spider mites;
- caterpillars;
- root rot;
- thrips.
Spraying with specialized preparations will help in the fight against pests:
- "Spark";
- "Aktellik";
- "Ratibor";
- "Fitoverm";
- "Aktara".
Spray the flowers after every rain!
"Fitosporin" is used to prevent root rot, it is added to water for irrigation.
The bushes should be inspected for the presence of caterpillars daily in order to eliminate "guests" in time, who can eat dozens of buds in one night.
How to grow spray blue chrysanthemums?
As we have already said, innature does not meet this color in the described plant. But many have a reasonable question about how blue chrysanthemums are grown when such a marvel is found on the counter of a flower shop! And the color of the plant is obtained by spraying or using food coloring.
We offer to reveal the secrets of growing blue chrysanthemums. According to experienced reviews, it becomes clear that this is not so difficult to do!
We will paint only flowers of light shades - white, cream and beige. Reviews of people who have tried to paint other colors of chrysanthemums say that nothing good will come of such an undertaking: the color becomes ugly, brownish-dirty. To get beautiful blue chrysanthemums, you will need cut flowers, a jar, water, Blue food coloring.
- Make an oblique cut on the stem of the bush with a sharp knife, carefully so as not to damage it.
- Dilute the dye in water, put the flowers in a jar of this water.
- Coloring will take from 8 to 20 hours.
You can combine several shades of blue in one flower: from light blue to bright blue. To do this, the stem must be split into several parts (depth 5-10 centimeters), put each part in beakers with water, colored from light to dark.
In order for the result to be as expected as possible, you need to follow the advice of people who often color flowers in this way. The room should be warm, light, and keep humidity to a minimum.
How to make a beautiful bouquet?
With what colorsdoes blue chrysanthemum match? A review of bouquet ideas will help you put together a real masterpiece!
It is possible to make a bouquet only from beautiful blue chrysanthemums, but still something will be missing here. Try to combine flowers of blue and blue shades, lilac, burgundy, green and white will fit perfectly. It can be not only chrysanthemums, but also roses, tulips, lilies, green leaves.
A blue chrysanthemum bouquet might look like this:
- In the middle, one chrysanthemum dyed blue, three white around the edges, and the last circle - five of the same as in the center, or a darker shade.
- Dilute three blue chrysanthemums with two yellow or burgundy roses.
- Insert green foliage into a bouquet of blue chrysanthemums that will be higher than the flowers.
Composing a bouquet is a matter of personal taste. Someone likes a more gentle version, others like colorful compositions.
Who and what color to give chrysanthemums?
Chrysanthemum is translated from Latin as "gold-colored", this is due to the fact that initially the flowers were only yellow, and they symbolized power.
Clothes with embroidered chrysanthemum flowers were only allowed to be worn by emperors and members of their families. Ordinary people were allowed to attach a living chrysanthemum to their clothes only in a special case - on their wedding day! Today there are many varieties and colors of chrysanthemums, and they are available to all people. What do chrysanthemums symbolize in modern times?
Give beautiful chrysanthemums not onlywomen, but also men, and the occasion can be anything: wedding, anniversary, birthday, March 8, without a reason - to cheer up.
Spherical chrysanthemums are given as a sign of tenderness and timid love, such are suitable for a bouquet for a young girl on a first date, or with whom a young man is just starting to develop a relationship.
Globular chrysanthemums are also suitable for women of mature age, but the color should be mature, bright, these are red, burgundy, blue, yellow, red flowers.
Yellow chrysanthemum - a sign of nobility, power, strength, we alth. A bouquet of such flowers is suitable for a man, a business woman. Cut flowers stand in a vase for quite a long time, so they will remind you of the giver for a long time.
Pale yellow and white chrysanthemums symbolize love, sensuality, tenderness, trust, innocence, sincerity and honesty. A bouquet of such flowers can be given to a friend or girlfriend, beloved girl.
Chrysanthemums of blue color are a sign of a sharp mind and a cheerful disposition. This bouquet is suitable for relatives, good friends.
Passion and strong affection can be expressed with a bouquet of scarlet or burgundy chrysanthemums.
Pink chrysanthemums are a symbol of innocent youthful love.
Herbaceous peony Blue chrysanthemum
These flowers are a real decoration of the garden and home interior. Gardeners love this plant because it is durable, can grow in one place for several years without transplanting.
The decoration of the peony is its double, huge flower!The petals of this flower create a lush bud, do not fall off for a long time, even under the influence of heavy rain and wind.
The scent of peonies spreads several meters, and bright flowers are visible from afar against the background of dark green foliage.
Peony variety Blue chrysanthemum is a herbaceous. The foliage color is dark green, and the buds are endowed with an attractive soft lilac color.
Pion planting
The landing site should be sunny but sheltered from the wind. Avoid shading, because with a lack of light, the plant will be weak and faded.
The soil should be loose, with good drainage. There should be no trees near the planting of peonies, as the flowers will compete with them for food and moisture.
Peonies should be planted in August or May, when the average daily temperature is at least +10 degrees.
Dig a hole 40-50 centimeters deep, place drainage, a mixture of soil and peat. Bury the sprout so that the renewal buds remain 3-5 centimeters above the ground. Water plantings generously.
Caring for peonies
Peonies need plenty of water, but don't overdo it as these plants don't like stagnant water.
Feed plantings with potash-phosphorus fertilizers 3 weeks before flowering and 2 weeks after flowering.
Faded buds need to be removed in a timely manner!
Loosening the soil will allow air and moisture to penetrate to the roots, and weeding will not allow weeds to take nutrients.
