Surely there is no person in the world who does not know about the existence of such a beautiful flower as chrysanthemum. Most often it can be found in various beautiful bouquets. However, you can also have a chrysanthemum in a pot.
At the same time, the plant can be safely grown both at home and in the garden. Many people believe that this flower is very capricious, but in fact it is not. If you know how to care for a chrysanthemum in a pot, you can enjoy beautiful flowers for a long time. However, first you should learn a little more about this beauty.
General classification
Small-flowered chrysanthemums are flowers whose inflorescences do not exceed 80 mm. If we are talking about large-flowered plants, then these parameters will be much larger.
Plants are also distinguished by the shape of their inflorescences. The flower can be pompon, two-row, double, semi-double. Sometimes chrysanthemums are called simply spherical. In this case, we are talking about several varieties at once.
Also, a chrysanthemum in a pot may differ in the period when it begins to bloom. Some plants enter this phase early, others mature slightly.later, others please with beautiful inflorescences later than everyone else. It is recommended to pay attention to this classification for those who plan to propagate chrysanthemums in a pot by collecting and germinating seeds. In this case, you should not buy a late-flowering variety. This is due to the fact that the seed material simply does not have time to ripen, respectively, such seeds simply will not germinate.
If we talk about the height of plants, then they are border and medium. In the first case, flowers grow up to 30 cm, the second category can reach up to 50 cm.
These are the main distinguishing features of potted home chrysanthemum species. How to care for an unusual plant? Let's consider this question in detail.
Soil and pot
First of all, you need to think about the preparation of the soil. If the flower was brought from a specialized nursery, then for some time the beauty can be left in the "factory" substrate. You can replace the soil after the chrysanthemum blooms for the first time.
In this case, you will need to choose a larger pot. It is best to give preference to ceramic products. In order for the chrysanthemum in a pot to feel good at home, it is necessary to pour a little expanded clay or pebbles on the bottom of the selected container. This drainage layer will help prevent root rot of the plant.
If the soil is bought in a store, it is better to give preference to formulations prepared specifically for flowering plants. However, it is best to prepare the substrate yourself. To do this, mix two parts of the turf, 1 shareleaf earth and one part of humus and coarse sand.
Also, you can add a little chicken manure to the soil, as the chrysanthemum loves this top dressing very much. However, you should not oxidize the soil too much.
Also, during the care of a chrysanthemum in a pot, it needs periodic loosening of the earth. However, it is not worth digging too deep.
If earth from a suburban area is poured into a pot, then it is better to ignite it in the oven first or scald it with boiling water. After that, the soil is enough to dry and fall asleep in a pot. This procedure is necessary in order not to accidentally introduce parasite larvae from the garden into the substrate.
Transfer
When leaving a chrysanthemum in a pot at home, it periodically needs this procedure, which is carried out annually when it comes to a young plant. When the flower reaches maturity, transplantation can be done every two years.
The main condition of this procedure is that all the soil must be replaced, but its composition should not change. It is better to choose a new container for a plant 2-3 larger in diameter. The volume of the pot increases by approximately one and a half liters.
If we talk about the transplant procedure itself, then everyone can handle it. First you need to remove the plant from the old pot along with a clod of earth on the rhizome. In this case, you need to try not to damage the delicate roots of the flower.
After that, the chrysanthemum can be placed in a new container and gently compact the soil. After that, the chrysanthemumthe pot is well watered and is installed in its rightful place. She may look a little tired at first, but this is because she is getting used to her new environment.
Conditions
If we talk about chrysanthemums, they are not very thermophilic. It is best to maintain the temperature regime within + 12 … + 18 degrees. If the room is more than 23 degrees, the plant will feel bad and stop blooming. Therefore, in winter, a chrysanthemum in a pot does not need special warming. Also, do not keep the flower too close to the radiator.
If the rest of the time the room is too hot, it is better to move the plant to the balcony. Only under normal temperature conditions will the plant feel comfortable and bloom soon.
The first signs of the wrong temperature is that the foliage of the flower quickly dries up and falls off.
You also need to monitor the level of humidity. It is best to carry out periodic spraying with water. It is also recommended to install a bowl of water next to the plant. But pouring liquid into the pan of the pot is not worth it. In this case, the rhizome of the plant will constantly be in a humid environment, which will lead to the death of an unusual flower.
If we talk about lighting, then in this case it is worth taking care that the plant receives the necessary amount of lighting. However, direct sunlight should be avoided. They can burn sensitive chrysanthemum petals and buds.
It is also important to observe the correct length of daylight hours. howAs a rule, when it comes to potted home chrysanthemum, care for it should be thorough, if we mean the length of daylight hours. In this case, sunlight should feed the beauty for 6-8 hours. In this case, it is better to give preference to diffused light, but you should not place the vessel with a flower too far from the light, this can lead to negative consequences for a sensitive plant.
Proper feeding and watering
It should be borne in mind that homemade chrysanthemums in pots are demanding on water. However, too zealous waterlogging can lead to fungal diseases and adversely affect the condition of the root system. To avoid these negative consequences, it is necessary to ensure that high-quality drainage is installed in the pot. In this case, you need to monitor the pallet. As soon as moisture accumulates in it, it must be removed immediately. Otherwise, the roots will start to rot.
For the full growth of chrysanthemum, it is necessary to add water at least 1-2 times in 7 days. In this case, the soil should not be allowed to dry out. It is best to defend the water before watering. If we are talking about plumbing, then in this case it is necessary to think about cleaning the liquid. The water temperature should be at room temperature. If it is too cold or hot, it can cause plant diseases.
Also keep in mind that chrysanthemum foliage has a predisposition to dehydration. To avoid such consequences, it is recommended to periodicallyperform spraying. It is also important to keep the leaves clean. To do this, they can be periodically wiped from dust. In addition, the owners of the terry beauty must remove all dried leaves in a timely manner.
If we talk about the correct feeding of homemade chrysanthemum in a pot, then in this case you can use dressings that are sold ready-made. As a rule, they are concentrated solutions that must be diluted with water. Therefore, before use, you need to carefully study the instructions. Such fertilizers are usually applied 1-2 times every 10 days.
Shaping a bush
Looking at a photo of a potted chrysanthemum, many wonder why the plant in the kitchen does not look as neat.
Usually this is due to the fact that experienced flower growers periodically pinch the young shoots of the plant. As a rule, this is done at a distance of 10-15 cm, but it all depends on the specific flower variety. If you do not take time to develop a flower, then this can lead to the formation of a single tall stem, which will be sparse flowers.
Also, many are interested in the process of reproduction of this unusual plant. There are three options for this procedure.
Budding
As a rule, after the chrysanthemum is at rest, it begins to actively generate new shoots. They need to be carefully separated from the main bush and planted in separate pots. Thanks to this method, from one plant you can get about5-6 new seedlings. The transplantation process uses the same methods that were described earlier. With proper care, after 6 months you can expect the first flowers.
Cutting
Chrysanthemums reproduce excellently in this way as well. However, it should be taken into account that the success of the procedure in this case is much lower.
To get even more unusual flowers, you need to separate a few side stems that look the strongest. After that, the original cuttings are cut to a length of 10-12 cm and lowered into moist soil until the first shoots appear.
To speed up this process, you need to cover the pot with a new seedling with cellophane to create a greenhouse effect. At the next stage, the container with the young seedling is removed to a warm place. At the same time, it must be regularly aired and watered. When new shoots appear, you can move the plant to a sunny place.
Growing from seeds
This method is suitable for those who are willing to wait a little longer than in the previous methods. In this case, the seeds of a mature plant are collected after it has bloomed. At the next stage, it is necessary to lay the seed material in the soil and cover it with 1 cm of river sand. After that, the container should be covered with a film and placed in a fairly cool place. After a few weeks, the first shoots should appear on the surface. After that, the container can be transferred to a lighted place.
How to care after flowering
As a rule, an amazing plant blooms on the order of severalmonths. When this period comes to an end and there are practically no new buds left on the chrysanthemum, and the stems diverge slightly to the sides, this is a sign that it is time to rest.
In this case, it is necessary to cut the branches to the very base. After that, the earth must be thoroughly shed and the chrysanthemum moved to a cooler zone. At the same time, do not cover the pot so as not to provoke the appearance of fungal formations.
If the plant is at rest, then do not water it excessively. As a rule, this state lasts until spring. With the onset of the first warm days, you can move the plant to its usual place and continue with standard care.
Diseases and pests
Like any other indoor flowers, chrysanthemums are often attacked by parasites. The most common of these is the spider mite. At the same time, unpleasant formations resembling a cobweb are formed on the foliage of the plant. To get rid of this problem, you need to wash the foliage first with soapy water and then with warm water.
Chrysanthemum can also suffer from powdery mildew. This fungus usually appears as a grayish bloom on the foliage. To get rid of this problem, treatment with a fungicide is necessary. It is also better to move the plant away from other crops.
Possible problems
Most often, the owners of these plants are faced with the fact that they wither. In this case, there can be a huge number of reasons. First of all, it is worth checking the bush for the presence of pests and diseases. In some situations, such problems leadimproper care.
If the chrysanthemum does not bloom, then first of all it should be taken into account that this usually happens in the autumn. It all depends on the characteristics of the variety.
In closing
Chrysanthemum is an amazing plant. With proper care, it will always delight with long flowering. However, keep in mind that, like any indoor beauty, she needs attention.
