Chrysanthemums: planting and care, wintering, propagation, cultivation, winter storage

Flowers

Growing and caring for the globe chrysanthemum brings nothing but pleasure to the gardener. The bush blooms early and holds its buds open for a long time. The plant is easy to maintain, and even without meticulous pruning, the bush always grows lush and uniform. This low-growing chrysanthemum responds well to fertilizing; regular fertilization ensures lush blooms throughout the season.

Benefits of the plant

Plant varieties differ not only in color but also in the duration and frequency of flowering. Florists distinguish between low-growing, tall, and medium-growing varieties. Low-growing varieties reach no more than 20 cm in height, medium-growing varieties reach up to 40 cm, and tall varieties reach about 70 cm.

Dwarf varieties are used to tame small flowerbeds, pots for loggias, and balconies. They can be easily grown indoors in a regular flowerpot. Medium-sized and tall varieties are used for landscaping garden plots.

Attention!

Varieties are also differentiated by their flowering period. Early-blooming varieties delight gardeners as early as August, mid-blooming varieties bloom in September, and late-blooming varieties bloom during the autumn fading period, displaying a riot of color until frost. Therefore, with the right selection of varieties, you can create a profusely blooming flowerbed.

Gardeners appreciate multiflora for its low maintenance and ease of care and upkeep. The plant combines well with other species, always fitting seamlessly into a landscape. Equally valuable is the variety of colors—this allows the owner to create gradients by planting the plants in a specific sequence within a flowerbed. Low-growing varieties can be used for alpine gardens, while taller ones can be used to create a lush, green fence. Planting plants is an opportunity to feel like a designer, as there's ample scope for imagination and the ability to bring it to life.

Features of growing spherical chrysanthemums

Varieties of various sizes are used for garden cultivation, but when growing indoors, it's best to choose low-growing, dwarf varieties. Growing tall chrysanthemums indoors can be challenging because their root system requires space and significant soil, which is difficult to provide.

The spherical multiflora is undemanding in care throughout the growing season, but the intensity and duration of flowering, as well as the health of the plant, depend on strict adherence to basic recommendations.

Basic recommendations for summer care are given in the table.

Condition	How to ensure
Watering	The plant is quite moisture-loving and does not tolerate a dry soil. For watering, it is recommended to use soft water, preferably rainwater, with 3 drops of ammonia added to 5 liters of water. If the plant is growing in a pot, water it daily. Afterward, drain any excess water from the tray, as it can cause root rot.
Top dressing	It responds well to organic fertilizers such as cow manure and chicken manure. Complex fertilizers designed for flowering crops can also be used. During the growing season, apply nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizer to the soil once every two weeks. During the flowering period, feed the plant at half the recommended dose once a week. Superphosphate is used to stimulate budding.
Light mode	Grows well in full sun or partial shade. When grown in full sun, the main risk is excessive and rapid drying of the soil.
Pinching and shaping	This is an optional procedure, as the bush develops naturally. The grower can adjust its growth as desired, but pruning is best done after flowering, as this may result in less abundant blooms.
Pests and diseases	These varieties are distinguished by good disease resistance. Overwatering can lead to powdery mildew attacks, in which case treatment with copper sulfate is recommended. Lack of drainage during overwatering can lead to root rot; it's best to repot the plant after first installing drainage at a depth of 30 cm.

Attention!

In summer, it's best to water the plant early in the morning or in the evening, after sunset. Water splashing on the leaves is a common cause of leaf burn. Affected leaves darken and rot, so it's best to remove them immediately.

Caring for chrysanthemums in autumn

Winter care for spherical chrysanthemums should be gradual. Therefore, preparatory measures vary depending on the region. In the temperate zone chrysanthemum can overwinter Without additional cover in open ground, unless forecasters predict severe frosts. In the Urals and Siberia, digging up the plant is recommended, as severe frost can destroy the entire collection.

These wintering guidelines are used for domestic, common varieties. Foreign-bred varieties are more demanding and cannot withstand significant temperature drops. Depending on the variety's characteristics, the bush can be dug out of the ground or even planted in a pot for the winter.

Proper autumn care determines the quality of your plants' overwintering. By following these basic recommendations, your chrysanthemum will retain its vitality and reward you next season.

The main events in autumn and their purpose:

pruning will help maintain the bush’s lushness, rejuvenate and improve its health;
top dressing – will replenish the supply of mineral compounds in the root system, they will provide nutrition during the wintering period;
Watering – needs to be adjusted to prevent rotting and drying out of seedlings.

Autumn activities will also help you obtain high-quality material for propagating your favorite varieties. Chrysanthemums are undemanding when it comes to propagation; the collected material will root by late autumn and bloom according to the variety the following season.

Pruning in autumn

Pruning is used for tall and medium-sized varieties to simplify the process of covering the plants for the winter and storing them in the cellar. It is recommended to prune after the first frosts of autumn. If the gardener wants to harvest planting material from the bush, it is better to do this earlier; frost will destroy the green foliage and the cuttings may not root.

The length of pruned shoots for tall varieties should not exceed 20 cm. Low-growing border bushes do not require pruning and can easily be overwintered in their original form. Before overwintering, it is important to remove all damaged, over-dried, and unhealthy stems.

Watering

After flowering, reduce watering to once a week, but make it generous. Before digging the plant out of the ground, the soil must be dry, so storing it in the basement should be done no earlier than 3-4 days after watering.

Top dressing

The plant requires nutrition during bud formation. After budding, reduce the amount of fertilizer, switching from potassium-containing compounds to organic fertilizers. The final feeding is done two weeks before removing the plant from the open ground or covering it for the winter.

Plant propagation

There are several methods for propagating your favorite variety. Cuttings or rhizome division are the most common.

Attention!

The method of propagation by seeds is rarely used, because the resulting seedlings rarely have the varietal characteristics of the mother plant.

Rhizome division can be done in spring or fall after digging up the bush. The rhizomes are divided into portions and planted in pots or placed in a cellar until spring. Propagation by cuttings requires material from a healthy mother plant. Cuttings 10-12 cm long are used and placed in moist peat or sand. If the procedure is carried out in the fall, a makeshift greenhouse is used, covering the pot with plastic wrap. Don't expect the cuttings to actively grow in winter; rooting will become noticeable in the spring. After temperatures stabilize and frosts have passed, the young bushes are replanted and cared for as mature plants. Drainage is essential when planting.

Tips for planting chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums thrive in full sun; partial shade will not produce abundant blooms. The soil should be rich in minerals and organic matter, so add peat, manure, and compost during digging. It's important not to over-fertilize the mixture, otherwise you'll end up with a lush, but not blooming, bush.

A list of basic planting rules to ensure growth and flowering:

The holes for each bush must be made at a considerable distance (at least 30 cm for tall varieties and 15 cm for low-growing ones).
It is essential to arrange drainage.
It is important not to deepen the root system; the depth of the hole is determined by the volume of the roots.
Tall bushes require support because the branches may bend under the weight.
To increase stress resistance, the plant is treated with an Epin solution after planting.

If forecasters predict frost, the bush should be covered with non-woven material overnight.

Preparing for winter

The basic algorithm for preparing a plant for winter, regardless of the chosen method:

2 weeks before the expected frost, the plant is fed with nitrogen fertilizer or organic matter;
pruning is carried out, removing damaged branches and faded buds;
carry out sanitary treatment against diseases and pests.

Attention!

Chrysanthemums begin to overwinter when the average daytime temperature drops below 1°C. The best method for preserving the plant depends on its growing location.

Winter preparation recommendations by region:

Moscow region – mid-October;
Leningrad region – beginning of October;
Ural – end of September;
Siberia – mid-September;
Crimean Peninsula and southern Russia – end of October.

The given timeframes are relative. Therefore, gardeners should monitor the decreasing temperature trend in their region.

Storing chrysanthemums in winter

There are several options for preserving the plant during the cold season without risk. Gardeners disagree on the most successful method, but many claim that chrysanthemums overwinter well in open ground.

Chrysanthemum spherical: wintering in open ground

Chrysanthemums are frost-resistant, but leaving them outdoors uncovered over winter is not recommended. The soil beneath the plant should be mulched. Fallen leaves, peat, or soil can be used for mulch. After the temperature drops to -5°C (23°F), the bush is covered with non-woven material, spreading it over the soil surface.

The cover is removed in the spring, after daytime temperatures reach +5°C. Fertilizers are added to the soil no earlier than April.

How to store spherical chrysanthemums in a cellar during winter

After the ambient temperature drops to 0 degrees Celsius, the plants are dug out of the open ground and the soil is removed. The underground mass is placed in cloth bags, and the plants are placed in wooden or plastic crates.

During the winter, the preservation of the planting material should be checked. Planting in open ground occurs after the spring temperature rises.

How to store spherical chrysanthemums in a pot during winter

The plant can be stored in a pot over winter, but this method is more beneficial if the grower has only a few varieties. This technique is convenient for low-growing plants—they are simply placed in a flowerpot and cared for until spring.

Attention!

Overwintering indoors isn't always a good solution. Gardeners may experience leaf drop and yellowing.

When overwintering indoors, remember to maintain proper temperature control. The plant will die at high temperatures; the indoor temperature should be no more than 15 degrees Celsius. In winter, water moderately after the soil has dried out, and avoid fertilizing.

Reviews and comments

Reviews and comments from gardeners confirm that the spherical chrysanthemum is easy to care for. Creating a blooming flowerbed in your garden is very easy, as long as you remember the basic care rules.

Marina, Moscow region

My first encounter with the plant was with a cutting my mother gave me. It was a white, low-growing chrysanthemum that, despite its small size, bloomed profusely. It bloomed from September until the frost. I decided to store it in open ground, mulched it, and covered it with burlap. In the spring, the bush turned green and sprouted, and in the fall, it had a lush crown of flowers. I was delighted, and the following year I found many different varieties.

Tatiana, Saratov

I don't understand why roses are considered the queen of the garden. They're so fussy, their buds don't last long, and you have to spend a lot of energy fighting pests. My queen is the chrysanthemum; I have over 40 varieties in my collection, and I can't stop. Growing a bush and bringing it to bloom is very simple; care consists of watering and fertilizing. When I first got to know them, I dug them up for the winter, but then decided to overwinter them in the garden—all is well.

Svetlana, Zhitomir

Due to health reasons, I had to give up my dacha and move into an apartment, but I couldn't say goodbye to my beloved chrysanthemum. I dug it up and planted it in a pot at home. Yes, this plant thrives in open ground, but it also grows well in a pot. It blooms twice a year, in spring and fall. I want to add to my indoor collection.

Valentin, Tver

I always scolded my wife for filling every available space at the dacha with flowers. I thought they were useless until I saw the autumn chrysanthemums bloom. It's amazing: the harvest is in, everything is turning yellow, there's practically no sun, and they're blooming. Words fail me.

In conclusion

The globe chrysanthemum is easy to care for; regular watering, fertilizing, and pruning are all that's required. Thanks to the wide variety of cultivars and colors, gardeners can decorate their garden however they see fit. To avoid plant death, it's important to remember the rules for overwintering. While they're simple, they should be taken into account in your region. While in temperate climates, chrysanthemums can survive the winter without cover, in Siberia, it's best to dig them up to preserve the variety.