BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Plant Chrysanthemums

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Of all the beautiful flowers in the world the one whose greatness in beauty is only rivaled by its difficulty in spelling is the chrysanthemum. Commonly known as mums, they come as both annuals and perennials, some more hardy than others. Most, though, are perennials that need to be brought in for winter in cold areas.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Seedlings from a nursery
Flats or three inch pots
Loam
Peat
Builders sand
Rooting medium
Cold frame, greenhouse or sun porch

Step1

Receive the order of chrysanthemums from the postal service and open the package immediately. It should be spring, with still somewhat chilly days in the north. Check the root system to make certain that the plant roots aren't too dry. Soak the roots overnight if they are.

Step2

Plant the seedlings in three inch pots or a flat. If you use a flat, space the plants at least three inches apart and spread the roots out. The soil should have equal parts of loam, peat and sand. Keep the seedlings away from the direct sun the first few days, slowly adjusting them to the direct sun after about a week. Make certain that they are kept moist but not over watered.

Step3

Transfer the plants to the outdoors once the danger of frost has passed. In the north, plant the chrysanthemums in a sunny location; in the south, semi-sun is appropriate. Always make certain that there is good drainage. Place four to five foot stakes about 15 to 18 inches apart. Dig a hole that is slightly larger than the root on the seedling and place the roots in the hole as intact as possible. Cover with an inch of soil.

Step4

Tie the chrysanthemums to the stake as they grow. Fertilize the plants about every 10 days in early summer. If the weather is dry, use a liquid fertilizer. Water the plants at least once a week if the weather is dry and overhead watering is acceptable in hot weather. Once the weather turns and fall begins, the dampness can cause mildew if it is on the leaves of the chrysanthemum.

Step5

Pinch back the tip of the plant in the late spring. This allows the side shoots to develop, which will carry the flowers. Leave about six to eight side shoots on the plant by pinching off those that look too thin or weak. There will be side shoots from these shoots also, pinch them back unless you are growing a spray-type chrysanthemum. If the plant is early flowering then the plants are pinched back once, when the plant is about 9 inches tall. In midsummer, the plant has several buds, including a crown bud and several small ones. Pinch back all the small ones over several days to allow all the energy to go to the crown bud.

Step6

Save the plants for the following year in colder areas by lifting them. Before the first frost cut the stems down to about nine inches. Remove the entire plant with a garden fork and snip off all the small shoots that have begun. Place these plants in boxes and store in a cool, but not freezing area. Only water the soil around the plant if it dries out. Slightly raise the temperature (45 to 50 degrees is ideal) to begin new growth. It should be late winter when you take cuttings from these plant roots.

Step7

Fill a flat, or three inch pots, with equal parts of a rooting medium, peat and builders sand in late winter if the area is heated or a month later if not. Remove basal shoots that are two to three inches long, or use the main stem if none are available. Trim off side leaves and dip the base in a rooting powder. Push them into the soil in the flat about an inch deep. The stems should be spaced about one and a half to two inches apart. Sprinkle another layer of builders sand on the top and mist with water. Keep moist but not wet. In a cold frame, the roots will develop in four to five weeks. You may now plant just as you did when you got your package the year before from the nursery.