Tips and Tricks to Attain the Perfect Chrysanthemum

The lovely chrysanthemum, also known as the ‘Autumn Queen’, and lovingly as ‘Mums’, is an important flower. It is not only used traditionally in Mandirs in South India, but also features on the Imperial Seal of Japan.

This perennial plant blooms during the short days of autumn, requiring shorter daylight hours and a long dark night. These are the triggers for a chrysanthemum to start budding.

There are many different varieties of chrysanthemums in a variety of colours and hues, ranging from ones that produce large flowers to those that produce small ones looking like little balls. The chrysanthemum grower is spoilt for choice with 13 different types to suit all tastes.

Class 1 Irregular Incurve

This type has giant flowers 6-8 inches in diameter. The petals curve inwards loosely to create closed centres, however the outer petals may droop giving the flower a skirted look.

Class 2 Reflex

This has large to medium sized blooms 4-6 inches in diameter. The petals curve downwards and overlap giving the flower the look of a bird’s plumage.

Class 3 Regular Incurve

The blooms in this type of chrysanthemum are large to medium large and the petals curve inwards smoothly to form a ball that is 4-6 inches in diameter.

Class 4 Decorative

This type is very good for use as cut flowers. The blooms are large to medium large and are flatter than others. This variety is the most common and most hardy.

Class 5 Intermediate Incurve

These large to medium large blooms have petals that only partially curve inwards giving the flowers a looser appearance.

Class 6 Pom Pom

These chrysanthemums have a profusion of small flowers that become fully rounded when mature. They come in both a small and large variety and make good cut flowers.

Class 7 Single/ Semi – Double

This old variety of free flowering ‘Mum’ produces blooms that resemble the florets of daisies, sunflowers and asters.

Class 8 Anemone

Named after the sea anemone, this has flowers similar to the semi- double variety except that they have raised cushion-like centres. The blooms can be large or small.

Class 9 Spoon Chrysanthemum

The flowers of this plant are similar to the semi- double except that the tips of the petals are rounded like spoons. The flowers can be large or small.

Class 10 Quill

This variety can produce large or small flowers that are fully double with straight, tubular petals.

Class 11 Spider

This type has large exotic looking blooms with thin thread like petals that may coil or hook at the tips.

Class 12 Brush and Thistle

The flowers of this variety are reminiscent of an artist’s paint brush or a thistle. The blooms are medium- large and have fine tubular petals.

Class 13 Exotic and Unclassified

These have flowers that do not fit any other class of Chrysanthemum.

The type of soil and conditions required to grow chrysanthemums have already been detailed in previous articles. This article will focus on tips and tricks to grow any variety of chrysanthemum.

Here are a few tips for growing chrysanthemums for display, competition or for use as cut flowers.

The form, symmetry and size of the bloom should be according to its class.
Keep only a few buds to achieve the size of flower required. Remove all extra buds.
For perfect freshness the centre 3 petals should not have opened.
Choose an appropriate pot so that there is balance between the plant, pot and flower.

Successful propagation by cuttings:

Use a healthy mother plant when taking cuttings.
Take cuttings when flowering finishes.
Cuttings should be taken in the morning when the sap is rising in the plant.
Take straight cuttings rather than a slanted cut.
Treat cuttings with a fungicide such as cinnamon powder.
Dip ends in rooting powder ( No. 2) or aloe vera gel.
Place cuttings in a 4-5 inch pot filled with damp sand or the fine part of badarpur.
Place cuttings such that the leaves of one cutting touch the other. Crowd them into one pot. Place cuttings from the outer rim of the pot and fill to the centre.
Keep in semi- shade and protect from rain.
Once rooted, repot the cuttings into 4 inch pots filled with old used soil ( it should not be very fertile).
Make sure the stems are placed at the same depth in the soil as they were previously.

General tips for good growth and flowering:

Prepare the final chrysanthemum soil mix in April for use in July. Details of the soil mix can be found in the article ‘ Chrysanthemums – Beautiful Bushy Plants from Suckers and Cuttings’.
Maintain a gap between pots for good air flow.
Rotate pots every 15 days.
Stake plants from the beginning. Use long stakes and then cut to size after the plant achieves the height required.
Water in the morning. The plant doesn’t like ‘ wet feet’, so water thoroughly when the leaves just start to wilt.
Avoid getting water on the flower.
Liquid manure is the best fertiliser. Keep to a regular 10 day feeding cycle. Always water the plant before giving liquid fertiliser.
When colour starts to show on the flower buds then stop the feeds.
Remove dead flowers when they fade.
Suckers from the mother plant can be successfully repotted to create new mother plants.
If keeping old mother plants, then repot these after flowering is finished in February.

Follow these tips and tricks and you will be rewarded with beautiful blooming ‘ Mums’ in your garden.