Surely there is no person in the world who does not know about the existence of such a beautiful flower as a chrysanthemum. Most often, it can be found in various beautiful bouquets. However, you can get chrysanthemum in a pot.
At the same time, the plant can be safely grown both at home and in the garden. Many believe that this flower is very moody, but in fact it is not. If you know how to care for 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 pompom, double-row, terry, semi-double. Sometimes chrysanthemums are called simply spherical. In this case, we are talking about several varieties at once.
Also, chrysanthemum in a pot may differ in the period when it begins to bloom. Some plants enter this phase early, others ripen a little later, others delight with beautiful inflorescences later than all. It is recommended to pay attention to this classification for those who plan to propagate chrysanthemum in a pot by collecting and germinating seeds. In this case, you should not purchase a late-flowering variety. This is due to the fact that the seed does not have time to ripen elementarily, respectively, such seeds simply will not germinate.
If we talk about the height of plants, then they are curb and medium. In the first case, the flowers grow up to 30 cm, the second category can reach up to 50 cm.
These are the main distinguishing features of potted chrysanthemum species. How to care for an unusual plant? Consider this issue in detail.
Soil and pot
First of all, you need to think about preparing the soil. If the flower was brought from a specialized nursery, then in this case for a while the beauty can be left in the “factory” substrate. Soil can be replaced after the chrysanthemum first fades.
In this case, you will need to choose a larger pot. Ceramic products are best preferred. In order for the chrysanthemum in the pot to feel good at home, it is necessary to pour a bit of expanded clay or pebbles at the bottom of the selected container. This drainage layer will help prevent rotting of the plant rhizome.
If the soil is bought in a store, it is better to give preference to compositions prepared specifically for flowering plants. However, it is best to prepare the substrate yourself. To do this, mix two parts of turf, 1 share of leafy soil and one part of humus and coarse sand.
You can also add a little chicken droppings to the soil, as the chrysanthemum loves this top dressing very much. However, it is not worth oxidizing the soil too much.
Also, when leaving the chrysanthemum in a pot needs periodic loosening of the earth. However, digging it too deep is not worth it.
If the pot is filled with earth from a suburban area, then previously it is better to calcine it in the oven or scald it with boiling water. After that, it is enough to dry the soil and put it in a pot. This procedure is necessary in order not to accidentally introduce parasite larvae into the substrate from the garden.
Transfer
When leaving a chrysanthemum in a pot at home, periodically needs this procedure, which is carried out annually if it is a young plant. When the flower reaches maturity, the transplant can be done every two years.
The main condition of this procedure is that it is necessary to replace the entire soil, but its composition should not change. It is better to choose a new capacity for the plant 2-3 more 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 extract the plant from the old pot along with a lump of earth on the rhizome. In this case, you must try not to damage the delicate roots of the flower.
After that, the chrysanthemum can be placed in a new container and gently tamped the soil. After this, the chrysanthemum in the pot is well watered and set to its rightful place. At first, she may look a little tired, but this is due to the fact that she gets used to a new environment for herself.
Conditions
If we talk about chrysanthemums, then 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, then the plant will feel bad and will cease to bloom. Therefore, in the winter, a chrysanthemum in a pot does not need special insulation. 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 transfer the plant to the balcony. Only under normal temperature conditions will the plant feel comfortable and will soon bloom.
The first signs of improper temperature are that the foliage of the flower dries and falls quickly.
It is also necessary to monitor the level of humidity. It is best to carry out periodic sprayings 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 making sure that the plant receives the necessary amount of lighting. However, avoid direct sunlight. They can burn sensitive petals and inflorescences of chrysanthemum.
It is also important to observe the correct daylight hours. As a rule, if we are talking about home chrysanthemum in pots, care for it should be thorough, if we mean the duration of daylight hours. In this case, sunlight should feed the beauty for 6-8 hours. At the same time, it is better to give preference to scattered light, however, it is not worth placing a container 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 home chrysanthemums in pots are notable for their demand for water. However, too diligent overmoistening can lead to fungal diseases and adversely affect the state 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 begin to rot.
For the full growth of chrysanthemum, it is necessary to add water at least 1-2 times in 7 days. At the same time, drying of the soil should not be allowed. It is best to defend water before watering. If we are talking about water supply, then in this case, you must definitely think about cleaning the liquid. Water temperature should be room temperature. If it is too cold or hot, it can provoke plant diseases.
You also need to consider that chrysanthemum foliage has a predisposition to dehydration. To avoid such consequences, it is recommended to spray periodically. It is also important to ensure that the leaves are clean. To do this, they can be periodically wiped from dust. In addition, the owners of terry beauty must always remove all dried leaves in a timely manner.
If we talk about the proper feeding of home chrysanthemum in a pot, then in this case, you can use top dressing, which 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, as a rule, are applied 1-2 times in 10 days.
Bush formation
Looking at the photo of chrysanthemums in pots, many wonder why the plant in the kitchen does not look as neat.
This is usually due to the fact that experienced flower growers periodically pinch young shoots of the plant. As a rule, this is done at a distance of 10-15 cm, but it all depends on the particular variety of flower. If you do not take time to form a flower, then this can lead to the formation of a single tall stalk, on which sparse flowers will be located.
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 a similar method, about 5-6 new seedlings can be obtained from one plant. In the process of transplantation, the same methods are used that were described earlier. With proper care, after 6 months you can wait for the first flowers.
Cuttings
Chrysanthemums reproduce excellently in this way. However, it should be borne in mind 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 most powerful. After this, the initial cuttings are cut to a length of 10-12 cm and are lowered into moist soil until the first seedlings appear.
To speed up this process, you need to cover the pot with a new cellophane seedling to create a greenhouse effect. At the next stage, the container with the young seedling is cleaned in a warm place. At the same time, it must be regularly ventilated and watered. When new shoots appear, you can transfer the plant to a sunny place.
Seed cultivation
This method is suitable for those who are ready to wait a little longer than in the previous methods. In this case, the seeds of a mature plant are collected after flowering. At the next stage, it is necessary to lay the seed material in the soil and fill it with 1 cm of river sand. After this, the container should be covered with a film and placed in a rather cool place. After a few weeks, the first shoots should appear on the surface. After that, the container can be transferred to a lit place.
How to care after flowering
As a rule, an amazing plant blooms on the order of several months. When this period comes to an end and almost no new buds remain on the chrysanthemum, and the stems diverge slightly to the sides, this is a sign that it is time for rest.
In this case, it is necessary to cut the branches to the very bottom. After that, you need to spill the earth well and move the chrysanthemum to a cooler zone. At the same time, you should 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 condition lasts until spring. With the onset of the first warm days, you can move the plant to its usual place and continue standard care.
Diseases and Pests
Like any other indoor flowers, parasites often attack the chrysanthemum. The most common of these is the spider mite. At the same time, unpleasant formations resembling a cobweb form on the foliage of the plant. To get rid of this problem, it is necessary to rinse the foliage first with a soapy solution, and then with warm water.
Chrysanthemum may also suffer from powdery mildew. This fungus usually manifests itself as a grayish coating 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 fade. In this case, there can be a huge number of reasons. First of all, it is worth checking the bush for pests and diseases. In some situations, improper care leads to such problems.
If the chrysanthemum does not bloom, then first of all it is worth considering that this usually happens in the autumn. It all depends on the characteristics of the variety.
Finally
Chrysanthemum is an amazing plant. With proper care, it will always please you with a long flowering. However, it must be borne in mind that, like any indoor beauty, she needs attention.