How to Grow Chrysanthemums Indoors

Chrysanthemums are amazing flowers with many amazing uses. Given their name in the 17th century from the Greek work chrysos, meaning golden and anthemon, meaning flower, these multipurpose flowers are not only a great traditional Mother's Day gift, but they have also found their way into everything from medicine to insecticides. In some countries such as France, Croatia and Poland, the white chrysanthemum is the flower of choice for funerals. In the United States, the chrysanthemum is regarded as a cheerful happy flower. Growing chrysanthemums indoors is very simple and well worth the effort.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Propagating mix
• Chrysanthemum seeds
• Soil
• Starter pots
• 200mm pots

1. Start the seedlings off in propagating mix in a tray. They need plenty of sunshine, so keep them where they can get lots of light. The best time to plant chrysanthemums is in the early spring.

2. Transplant the seedlings into their own little pots when they have more than two leaves. Newspaper pots are recommended. Place the plant into the pot and surround it with a nutrient rich soil. Use extreme caution as they are very fragile at this stage of life.

3. Transplant them again for the final time after about four weeks when they are bigger and sturdier. A 200mm pot should work just fine. Place the plant into the pot and surround it with a nutrient-rich soil.

4. Add liquid fertilizer to the soil when the chrysanthemums begin blooming at three-week intervals.

5. Keep the soil damp, but do not overwater as this will kill the chrysanthemums.

6. Pinch off old flowers after they begin to wilt to encourage new blooms.

Tips & Warnings

• If the chrysanthemums have trouble blooming, give them 14 hours of darkness a day for 10 to 12 weeks to help to encourage them to bloom.
• The petals of these flowers are known to be edible, but the pollen is not. The pollen may cause problems and allergic reactions in allergy sufferers.