Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum or mums are popular Fall flowers. In the Fall, it is a traditional Fall decor and can often be found as container plants on the front porch or by the front door arranged next to the pumpkins and decorative hay bales. Chrysanthemum sets an autumnal tone to front door decor. There are over 160 Chrysanthemum species, mostly native to China, Japan and European. New Chrysanthemum hybrids come out regularly. The rich color and endurance of the chrysanthemum blooms are unbeatable in late summer and fall.

Varieties of Chrysanthemum

C. Articum: Perennial, very hardy autumn bloomer, 1 to 2 inch diameter bloom, white or pinkish

C. Balsamita: Perennial, herb garden use, sweet scented foliage used in salads and sachets

C. Carinatum/ Summer chrysanthemum/ Tricolor chrysanthemum: Annual, summer and fall bloom, long lasting, showy, single, daisy-like, 2-in. wide cut flower

C. Coccineum/ Pyrethrum/ Painted daisy: Perennial, bushy 2-3 feet, pink,red, and white daisy-like flowers, blooms April to June, if cut back blooms again in late summer, excellent cut flower, divide clumps or sow seeds in spring

C. Coronarium/ Crown daisy: Annual, yellow daisy bloom, known as shungiku, chop-suey greens, or edible chrysanthemum, can be cooked like spinach

C. frutescens/ Argyranthemum frutescens/ Marguerite/ Paris daisy: Perennial, short lived as summer annual too, white,yellow, or pink bloom 1.5 to 2.5 inches across

C. leucanthemum/ Leucanthemum vulgare/ Common daisy/ Ox-eye daisy: Perennial, blooms in early spring

C. Maximum/ C. superbum/ Shasta daisy: Perennial, blooms summer and fall, gold-center-white blooms 2 to 4 inches diameter, excellent cut and border flower.

Are Chrysanthemums Perennials or Annuals?

Most Chrysanthemums are Fall annuals. However, there are some Chrysanthemum varieties that are perennials.

How Big are Chrysanthemums?

Chrysanthemums can grow 1 to 6 feet tall.

What Kind of Light is Best for Chrysanthemum?

Chrysanthemum grows best in full sun.

When is the Best Time to Plant Chrysanthemum?

Spring is the best time to plant chrysanthemums.

When Do Chrysanthemums Bloom?

Chrysanthemums are productive and will bloom continuously from late summer to Fall.

Colors of Chrysanthemum Flowers

Chrysanthemums come in a variety of bold colors- yellow, white, red, maroon, pink, lavender and orange. Orange, red and yellow mums are popular container plants in the Fall. It gives a pop of color to the Fall decor.

What’s the Best Soil for Chrysanthemum?

Chrysanthemums should be planted in well-drained, loose, rich soil.

How Deep to Plant Chrysanthemum?

Chrysanthemums should be planted 3 to 6 inches deep, enough to cover the roots.

Zone Hardiness for Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum are suitable for zone hardiness 5 to 9.

How to Plant Chrysanthemum

If you are looking to grow prize winning Chrysanthemums that blooms year round, then you will need to subject the plant to artificial light, black out cloths, feeding, watering, pruning etc. However, for ordinary Chrysanthemums that will bloom in the Fall, it is fairly easy to plant and care for Chrysanthemums. Before planting, prepare the soil one or two months ahead by adding plenty of earthworms casting with some and compost, leaf mold or well aged manure into the future chrysanthemum bedding. Locate your chrysanthemums in a sunny location. Prepare the soil in the Spring using the soil mix below. Keep the mum watered during the growing season especially during hot summer weather. Mulch around the plant to insure plenty of moisture in the summer. When the plant is around 5 inches tall, pinch back the mum plant to force it to branch, then pinch it once again evenly as it grows, to give it a symmetrical shape. The plant will continuously bloom before the onset of cold weather. Feed the Chrysanthemum plant weekly with half-strength fish emulsion. Chrysanthemums are perennials in garden cultures, they are easy to overwinter. If done right, you don’t need to buy new Chrysanthemum plans every year.

How to Force Bloom Chrysanthemum

Some nursery force blooms chrysanthemum by using artificial light to shorten the day length to less than thirteen hours.

Organic Soil Mix for Chrysanthemums

How to prepare a porous, fibrous, moisture-holding planting mix for your Chrysanthemums.

1 part peat moss

1 part other organic material such as earthworm castings, compost. Leaf mold or nitrogen stabilized bark

1 part builders’ sand.

Water this soil mixture and let it stand for a week before planting. Plant the chrysanthemum into the pot and cover the root, water thoroughly immediately.

How to Use Earthworms to Help Your Chrysanthemums Grow

The day after planting, dig a small ½ inch hole beside the Chrysanthemum plant. Then put a dozen live earthworms into the hole, cover the earthworm with soil so that birds won’t come to eat them. You will be amazed with the results of earthworms on the growth of the Chrysanthemum plant.

How to Fix Pest and Common Problems of Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums are subject to root rots when the soil is too wet and heavy. If this happens, try to mix builders’ sand into the soil or consider raising the bed of your plant. Aphids are the only known pests for Chrysanthemums. Use diluted Murphy’s oil to spray the plant.

How to Propagate Chrysanthemum

Start your chrysanthemum bed with rooted cutting from a preferred nursery or plants store. When dividing clumps, take from outside and discard the woody centers. Immediately plant the young rooted, vigorous, single stem cuttings in spring and water thoroughly, put a piece of cardboard to partially shade the new replanted chrysanthemum for a few days until you notice the vigor has returned. Water regularly and thoroughly and frequently in porous soils. If you have heavy soils, water less frequently.

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