Large-flowered chrysanthemums are popular with gardeners. These attractive plants look impressive both in a flower bed and in a bouquet. In addition, they flourish at a time when all other crops are already withering. From this material you will learn how to grow and propagate flowers, the nuances of caring for them.
A bit of history
Large-flowered chrysanthemums, photos of which are given in the material, are herbaceous perennials and belong to the Aster family, or Compositae. Translated from Greek, their name means "solar flower". This name came from the golden hue of the petals, inherent in most varieties of the plant.
China is considered the birthplace of chrysanthemums. According to legend, 2.5 thousand years ago, this flower was bred by a local breeder and named it Chu hua, which means “gathered together”. Now there are 29 species of this genus, and they are distributed in all northern and temperate zones of the globe.
But most of allChrysanthemums are grown in Japan. It was brought here by Buddhist monks in the 4th century. And here the flower is considered a symbol of the country, it is even depicted on the coat of arms of the imperial seal. Indeed, in ancient times, only truly influential people could decorate themselves with chrysanthemum buds.
Flowers came to Europe only in the 18th century. And since then, they have become gardeners' favorites.
Botanical description
Large-flowered chrysanthemum is a perennial shrub with a powerful branched rhizome. Culture reaches up to a meter in height. Branching long shoots of the plant are pubescent or bare. The leaves of the flower, painted in light or dark green tones, simple, alternately arranged. But depending on the variety, they differ in shape and size.
Small chrysanthemum flowers are collected in a large basket, up to 20 cm in diameter. Buds are simple or terry. The most common Indian, Chinese and Japanese large-flowered chrysanthemums. Such flowers are distinguished by massive bud heads, unpretentious nature and a variety of shades. Below you will find some attractive varieties.
Best varieties
Breeders have bred many varieties of large-flowered chrysanthemums. The following varieties deserved special popularity:
- Gazelle. The variety is valued by gardeners for large heads, reaching 14 cm in diameter. Terry buds are painted in snow-white color. They bloom at the end of August and delight with attractivefrosty view. Tall shrubs need a garter or support.
- Valentina Tereshkova. The variety was bred by Crimean breeders. It is distinguished by its unpretentious character and a large cap of buds, reaching 13–14 cm in diameter. The upper petals of the flower are painted in red-crimson tones, the lower ones have a lighter, pink tint. The plant grows up to 60-70 cm in height. Blooms in early September.
- Alec Bedser. This variety of chrysanthemum reaches 70 cm in height. The buds are hemispherical in shape and 14 cm in diameter, painted in rich yellow. Moreover, the inner petals are darker than the outer ones.
- Diplomat. A variety bred by English breeders. Flat terry buds reach 15 cm in diameter. The petals are burgundy and purple. The plant reaches a meter in height and needs support. Each bush forms 3-4 buds.
Each of these varieties will decorate the backyard. And if you want to create a truly attractive flower garden, then plant a mixture of colors of large-flowered chrysanthemums. In such sets of seeds there are several varieties of culture. And thanks to such an assortment, a real riot of colors is created. To grow such beauty, it will take some effort and create comfortable conditions for crops.
Growing from seeds
If you managed to get potted large-flowered chrysanthemums, then all you need to do is plant flowers in mid-May in open ground. And then toautumn they will please with large buds. But, unfortunately, getting such plants is not easy. Therefore, many gardeners grow flowers from seeds. Learn how to do it below.
Start the event in mid-January. To grow flowers, take store soil or prepare the substrate yourself from greenhouse soil, peat and humus, mixed in equal parts. Before planting, be sure to disinfect the soil. To do this, bake it in the oven or hold it over steam.
It is better to grow a mixture of large-flowered chrysanthemums in containers. Seeding process:
- Lay a layer of drainage from broken bricks or expanded clay on the bottom of the container.
- Spread the substrate, spread the seeds of large-flowered chrysanthemums and lightly press them into the soil.
- Spray the planting with warm water from a spray bottle, then cover the container with glass or polyethylene.
- Place the greenhouse in a room with a temperature of +23…+25 °C.
- Ventilate the crops regularly and spray the soil with warm water from a spray bottle.
In 10-14 days the first shoots will appear. As soon as this happens, move the greenhouse to a lighted area and start hardening off the seedlings. To do this, remove shelters first for an hour, then for two, and so on.
When 3-4 true leaves appear on the sprouts, transplant them into separate cups, being careful not to damage the roots of the seedlings. Grow the dived seedlings of large-flowered chrysanthemums in a room with a temperature of + 16 … + 18 ° C. Do not forget to water the plants regularly, as well as feed them twice a month.complex fertilizers. If there is not enough light in the room, then organize additional lighting with photo lamps.
Landing in open ground
Plant seedlings outdoors when the risk of night frost is gone, that is, in mid or late May. For growing large-flowered chrysanthemums, choose a lighted area on a hill, but at the same time the place should be closed from the wind. Plants prefer neutral or slightly acid fertile loams. If you have clay or sandy soil, then before planting, add humus or humus to the soil along with complex fertilizers.
Start landing on a cloudy, or even better, rainy day. If the weather is not suitable, then hold the event in the early morning. How to plant flowers:
- Dig a 45 x 50 cm trench.
- Set the flowers in the recesses along with the earthen clod. Keep a distance between seedlings.
- Fill the voids with soil, lightly compact the top layer and moisten the planting. It is advisable to water the flower bed with Kornevin's solution at the rate of 1 g per liter of water.
- Immediately after planting, pinch the plants, that is, remove the top growth point.
- Cover the seedlings with lutrasil.
Remove the shelter when the plants take root and grow.
Flower care
Growing large-flowered chrysanthemums will not cause much trouble. However, there are a few rules that you should follow in order to get beautiful hats of flowers. Primarily,when the plants are strong enough, you need to remove the side shoots, leaving only strong branches. Most varieties need additional support, because the shoots cannot withstand the weight of large heads. Therefore, tie plants to pegs or stretch wire mesh next to them. Otherwise, flower care consists of regular watering, periodic feeding and preparation for the winter period.
Irrigation
Large-flowered chrysanthemums are moisture-loving plants. And they need regular and plentiful watering. The slightest lack of moisture will lead to a deterioration in the decorativeness of the flowers. Therefore, moisten the bushes 2-3 times a week, as soon as the top layer of soil dries. For irrigation, use rainwater or settled water. Water the bushes strictly under the root, avoiding moisture on the leaves.
When the water is absorbed, be sure to loosen the soil. Otherwise, a crust will form on it, blocking the access of air to the roots. And this will have a bad effect on the beauty of flowers. Remove weeds during the event. To reduce crop care and avoid weeding and loosening, mulch the area with a layer of peat, fallen leaves or humus.
Feeding
Large-flowered chrysanthemums respond very gratefully to fertilizers. And it is desirable to feed crops at least three times per season. Fertilize the bushes with ammonia nitrogen for the first time at the beginning of active growth, approximately 6-8 weeks after planting. This will help crops grow green mass.
After 2-3 weeks, feed the flowers with organic fertilizer, such as burnt mulleinor bird droppings. But be careful with these substances, because they cause root burns. Therefore, do not exceed the dose.
Feed the bushes for the last time during budding. This time, apply potash-phosphorus fertilizers. This stimulates intensive flowering of chrysanthemums.
Apply all top dressings exclusively in liquid form. Water the plants with them strictly under the root the next day after rain or watering.
Wintering
Large-flowered chrysanthemums are thermophilic plants. And they won't survive the winter outdoors, even under good cover. Therefore, with the onset of cold weather, dig up the mother bushes, cut off all the shoots at a height of 10–15 cm, place them in a wooden box along with an earthen clod. Store flowers in a cellar at 0…+4 °C and 80% humidity.
Water the soil occasionally to keep it slightly damp. Inspect the bushes regularly, and if you notice signs of mold, then immediately cut out the damaged branches, otherwise the whole flower will die.
In late February or early March, move the bushes to a warmer and brighter room. Give them regular watering. And when they "come to life" and start growing, you can carry out cuttings of flowers.
If you have no desire to propagate crops, then simply plant the mother bush in its usual place, as soon as warm weather sets in. But keep in mind that every three years you need to change the site for the flower garden. Otherwise, the plants will start to act up and get sick, which will affect their decorative effect for the worse.
Propagation by cuttings
Kstart a similar method of growing flowers in late spring - early summer, when the temperature outside reaches + 21 … + 26 ° C. With a sharp, disinfected knife, cut off the cuttings of the large-flowered chrysanthemum. In this case, choose shoots that grow directly from the root of the plant. Spend the cut 2-3 mm above the leaf with the kidney. The length of the cutting should reach 6–7 cm. How to root the branches:
- Fill the container with nutrient soil and cover it with a 2 cm layer of sand.
- Treat the lower cut with a growth stimulator and stick the cutting at an angle of 35-45° into the substrate. At the same time, make sure that the plant is in the sand and does not touch the soil.
- Place the container on a bright windowsill.
Keep the temperature near the landing within +15…+18 °C. Do not forget to regularly moisten the substrate, preventing it from drying out. After 2-3 weeks, when the cuttings take root, transplant them into the open ground and further provide the plants with normal care.
Diseases
Large-flowered chrysanthemums are endowed with strong immunity. But if they are not properly cared for, then the plants can get sick:
- Powdery mildew. The disease affects buds, leaves, shoots. Appears as a white coating.
- Verticillium wilt. The disease affects the root system. As a result, the stems of the culture die off, and the leaves turn yellow and wither.
- Rust. It is manifested by the appearance of gray spots, which turn brown as the disease progresses. Affects all ground parts of the plant.
- Grey rot. Diseaserecognizable by blurry brown spots, which eventually become covered with a gray fluffy coating. In the future, the plant rots and dies.
If you find signs of any disease, then immediately start treatment. Bordeaux liquid will help get rid of gray rot and rust. To cure rust or verticillium wilt, use colloidal sulfur or copper soap emulsion.
Pests
Most often large-flowered chrysanthemums are attacked by nematodes. You can recognize these pests by mosaic spots on the leaves, which darken over time. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to remove these insects. And the affected plant will have to be destroyed. To prevent the appearance of parasites, spray the flowers with a Phosphamide solution before planting and autumn digging. And treat the soil with formalin.
Often, aphids settle on the lower part of the leaves and buds of plants. A colony of these parasites sucks out the juices of the culture, which slows down its growth and reduces the duration of flowering. If there are few insects, then remove the leaves and petals on which they settled. If there are a lot of pests, then treat the shrub with an insecticide such as Aktellik or Aktara.
Slugs and snails are no less dangerous for flowers. They devour the leaves, stems and buds of plants. To prevent their occurrence, scatter crushed eggshells near the bushes. If snails and slugs have already appeared, then they will have to be removed by hand.
Attractive large-flowered chrysanthemumsdecorate a flower bed and fit into any landscape. Of course, to grow these crops in your backyard, you will need to pay some attention to the flowers. But your efforts will not be in vain, and the result will exceed all expectations.
