Chrysanthemum Care
Temperature - Although chrysanthemums can tolerate a large range
of temperature, they are happiest with a constant temperature in the
range of 65-70° degrees F. Use your own sense of temperature as
a guideline for your plants. If you are comfortable, your mums will
be comfortable as well.
Location - Avoid placing your chrysanthemum in direct sunlight
or deep shadows. A location in a nice bright room is ideal. A minimum
of 12 hours of light daily will greatly increase the longevity of your
potted mum.
Fertilization - Your chrysanthemum should not require any additional
fertilizer while in the home. Commercial production of potted chrysanthemums
is a very specialized process resulting in optimum levels of nutrition
in both the leaves and the soil of your plant. There is more than enough
nutrition available to your potted mum to see it through its useful
life in a home environment.
Watering - Chrysanthemums require a good amount of water to maintain
optimum health. Allowing the plants to dry to the point of wilting will
decrease longevity considerably. There are several " rules of thumb"
to use when applying water in a home environment:
1. Gauge the weight of the plant after an irrigation. In a few days,
lift the plant again. If the pot feels much lighter than previously,
it is usually a good indicator that the plant needs another irrigation.
2. Place your finger on the top layer of soil and press down slightly.
If the soil feels dry to the touch, it is probably a good idea to
go ahead and water again.
3. If the leaves begin to droop slightly and they feel soft to the touch,
the plant is beginning to wilt. It is very important to apply water
immediately at this stage.
4. When irrigating your potted plant, irrigate thoroughly. Wet the entire
root ball and allow the excess water to leach through the holes in
the bottom of your pot. This will help to maintain healthy roots,
while eliminating any excess fertilizer salts that may be accumulating
near the bottom of your pot.
5. Never allow your pot to sit in a container of water. This is one of
the quickest ways to destroy your roots. Once the roots are gone,
the top of the plant will soon follow.
If you would like to place a saucer under your pot, try placing a half
inch or so of pea gravel or large aquarium gravel in the bottom. Place
your chrysanthemum on top of the stones. This will keep your pot off
the bottom of the saucer and away from any harmful salts or excess water.
A small amount of water in the saucer can help to increase the humidity
around the plant as well.
Decorative Wraps - If your chrysanthemum was purchased with a
decorative wrap, consider the following options when irrigating:
1. Remove the pot from the wrap, irrigate until no excess water drains
from the bottom of the pot and then replace the pot in its decorative
wrap.
2. Poke a few holes in the bottom of the wrap to allow excess irrigation
water to escape.
3. Remove the decorative wrap completely. Pests & Disease - There should be very little if any problem with pests and disease if you have purchased a florist quality mum from a reputable distributor.
1. Some of the pests that do affect chrysanthemums are the following:
2. Diseases common to chrysanthemums:
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