Indoor chrysanthemum is one of the most popular plants that can be found in many homes. Caring for this culture is quite simple and does not require much effort. Each novice florist can easily grow indoor chrysanthemum, while observing the necessary conditions. Constant lighting, optimal temperature and moderate watering are needed.
Chrysanthemum: indoor care
If you wish, you can grow this flower from seeds. But it is worth noting that with independent cultivation, the growth of room chrysanthemum will be too rapid, and the plant, having become prohibitively tall, will lose its attractive appearance. It is best to buy the crop from flower stalls, as professional flower growers use chemicals to slow down the growth of chrysanthemums as much as possible. As a result, this indoor flower will take on a more magnificent shape and perfectly complement the interior of your home. In this article, we will look at several photos of indoor chrysanthemums, discuss what conditions must be observed, and learn about all kinds of diseases that this flower may appear.
Optimal conditions of containment
Indoor chrysanthemumprefers to be on the west or east sides of your home, as south facing windows let in too much sunlight, causing it to fade quickly. The north side is considered unfavorable, since the buds can open only with sufficient light. This means that ventilated balconies on the east or west side are best suited for indoor chrysanthemums.
The best temperature for chrysanthemums is 21-24 degrees in summer, 14-17 in autumn and 3-7 in winter. If you follow these rules, then the flower will have many buds, and it will bloom for a long time. But there is no need to scrupulously adhere to these instructions. In room conditions, the chrysanthemum is able to withstand short-term frosts down to -4 degrees and not die in the hot season if the pot is moved to a cool and dark place.
Irrigation
As a rule, a chrysanthemum is a garden plant, and without proper moisture it can die. Therefore, you should spray the flower with settled water daily. For this, it is better to use a spray gun. If it is not possible to water the plant daily, then use a special pallet with expanded clay or an automatic humidifier. In spring, it is advisable to move the culture to the balcony. Thanks to this, watering will occur less often: once every 3-4 days.
Watering should be not only regular, but also moderate. Roots can rot due to stagnant fluid. Therefore, it is not recommended to install a pan in which there will be a lot of water. Moisturizethe plant is more correct when the soil is a little dry.
Transfer
Indoor chrysanthemum flower has weak roots. Therefore, it must be transplanted as carefully as possible. The slightest damage to the root system can kill the plant.
The first step is to prepare the pot. Put some small stones on the bottom. These stones will serve as drainage. After that, add fertile soil, for example, from a garden or vegetable garden. Before digging up a chrysanthemum, pour water over it to soften the soil. It is advisable to take a bush with a large piece of earth, since the roots run quite deep, and place it in a prepared pot. Cover the free space with earth.
For the first time, the flower can be installed in a dark, cool place, for example, on a veranda or in an unheated summer kitchen. After a couple of weeks, the pot can be moved to a windowsill in a warmer place.
As soon as the plant fades, many advise to cut off the tall stems, leaving about 15-17 centimeters, and after watering, put on a bag made of paper. Thanks to this method, indoor chrysanthemum can be placed in a room where the temperature does not rise above 3 degrees.
Feeding
Phosphorus nutrition is included in the care of room chrysanthemum at home. With its deficiency, any variety of chrysanthemums can not only slow down flowering, but also significantly reduce the size of their leaves. For example, in a multiflora with a strong phosphorus deficiency, lateral shoots stop germinating, due tocausing the plant to become weak and ugly. Also, phosphorus is necessary for large-flowered chrysanthemums, which are grown for cutting. The cut bouquet has strong and resistant stems, which significantly increases their shelf life. This culture is capable of self-regulating phosphorus intake, so don't worry about overdosing.
In addition to phosphorus nutrition, homemade chrysanthemums are in great need of potassium. Its deficiency is observed in dried or discolored leaves, as well as delayed flowering and painful appearance (signs of aging of the bush). Self-adjustment does not work in this case. Exceeding the allowable rate will lead to blanching of leaves and stems.
How to care for room chrysanthemum
Many people find this plant to be best grown in the garden. In fact, indoor chrysanthemums are no less popular. In addition, there is a special group, which includes several varieties of chrysanthemums intended for home cultivation. Therefore, if you adhere to all the above requirements and provide the plant with the necessary conditions, then you can easily grow a lush and flowering bush.
As a rule, indoor chrysanthemum is at rest before the onset of spring. In this case, there is no need to cover the flower or produce additional watering. It would be better to move the pot to a cooler and darker place. Water the plant once every two weeks so that the roots do not completely dry out. After a long hibernation, the plant can be put in its original place and watch how new ones sprout.sprouts.
Growing with seeds
To grow a chrysanthemum, it is necessary to sow annual seeds in open ground. Most often this is done at the end of May, so that flowering comes in the fall. Flowers may appear earlier, but this requires special seedlings that are adapted to open soil.
As for perennial seeds, they can be sown at the end of January. But if the soil is very frozen or the winter is harsh, then it is best to postpone planting to mid-February. Cultivation occurs only in light soil, which consists of humus, sand and leafy soil. It is advisable to prepare a small container and fill the bottom with gravel, expanded clay or small pebbles that serve as drainage. Usually, annual seeds are deepened by 1 centimeter, but if these are Korean seeds, then they are simply laid out on the surface.
The first sprouts will appear no earlier than in 2 weeks, but if favorable conditions are created, this period may be reduced. The soil in which the chrysanthemum is grown must be constantly moist, and the air temperature must be at least 18 degrees.
Diseases
Proper care of room chrysanthemum at home also depends on the knowledge of various diseases, namely:
- Gray rot.
- Powdery mildew.
- White rust.
- Septoria.
Grey rot is formed during cold or damp weather, as well as during the transportation of cut bushes. It appears on the petals in the form of brown oily spots, after whichgrows into a rotting mass. To eliminate this disease, it is required to restore optimal conditions of detention: air humidity, nitrogen fertilizers and ventilation. The affected plants should then be removed and treated with fungicides.
Powdery mildew completely affects the entire flower. That is, removing a few petals or a couple of branches will not work. The source of the disease is in the roots themselves, so after cutting the bush, it is necessary to dig up all the roots and burn them. Powdery mildew is more like snow or a white coating that covers each leaf, as a result of which the tissues that are under this coating dry out and lead to the death of the whole plant. Treatment consists of spraying soapy water with soda ash added.
Septoria appears on the lower leaves, forming small brown spots. At the same time, the leaves that are affected by septoria begin to turn yellow, and the plant becomes very weak. The disease occurs due to unventilated rooms. To prevent this, it is necessary to burn the damaged petals and reduce the dose of nitrogen supplements.
The main signs of white rust are yellow spots 4-6 mm in size on each leaf. Over time, these spots increase in size and change color to brown. Interestingly, leaves affected by this disease do not fall off.
The fight against white rust is especially difficult, because it is necessary to spray the leaves with fungicides, whichsome kind of immunity has already formed.
Harmful insects
In addition to various diseases, indoor chrysanthemums can have their own pests that constantly strive to destroy the plant. Fortunately, fighting them is not difficult.
The most harmful enemy is the meadow bug. This insect is able to suck out the cellular fluid, which is necessary for the formation of buds and flowering. The affected areas are deformed and twisted, as a result of which the plant weakens and dies. To combat this bug, use the drug "Fitoverm" or "Aktellik".
There are many varieties of mites and aphids. Each of these pests is capable of not only spoiling the appearance of a flower in a short time, but also completely destroying it. Therefore, it is necessary to visually check the plant every day for signs of disease and all kinds of insects.
