Mums are easy to propagate and
spring is a good time to do this by plant division, or
cuttings. Plant division can be done after the plant
has grown to at least 3" in height. Just dig up the
mum and slowly pull apart selecting sturdy stems with
sufficient roots. Plant in fertile, well-drained
amended soil in a sunny location Space your mums 18-24
inches apart. Because they have a shallow root system,
mulch them to keep roots cool and conserve ground
moisture. Cut or pinch off approximately
three-quarters of an inch from the top of the new
plant so that the plant can use its energy to develop
the root system instead of flower development. This is
an easy way to share your new plants as well as
multiplying the plants in your perennial garden.
Another pay to propagate chrysanthemums is to place
cuttings that have had the ends of their stems dipped
in root hormone (tap off excess powder) place in damp
sand away from the sun. Allow several weeks for the
roots to develop before checking the root development.
Once the plant has developed a sufficient root system
move it into a 4-6" pot using a soilless mix. I have
been successful by taking plant cuttings, and planting
them directly in the ground. I start by making the
width of the hole at least 3 times the width of the
stem by using a pencil or similar implement. Next,
partially fill hole with potting soil, remove
side-shoots from the cutting before dipping in root
hormone (tap of excess powder), and fill hole with
potting soil. Lightly press the soil around the stem
of the plant, water and mulch.
You need to find the method of
propagation that works best for you. If you are
propagating more than one plant, consider using some
method of marking the planted area or container with
the color/height of the plant. I have used popsicle
sticks as well as wood sticks that can be purchased at
a craft store.
In the summer continue to
pinch back the plants tips to keep the mum trimmed to
a height of 6-8" and again before the end of August so
the plant has time to set new flower buds. Another
reason to pinch back is to encourage the plant to
develop side shouts, which will send out more blooms
instead of the plant being tall, and having stragley
stems. During the summer you may need to water more
frequently to keep the plant from drying out. Continue
to fertilize every couple of weeks.
Fall climate is perfect for
mums because chrysanthemums are sensitive to day
length (night length). They are short-day (long-night)
plants. Scientists discovered it is not the length of
the light period, but length of uninterrupted dark
periods that are critical for flower development.
During the fall period when the days grow shorter you
will see increased growth in stem and leaf as well as
bloom development on the Chrysanthemum. Also,
temperature affects a plant’s productivity and growth;
Mums flower for a longer period of time if daylight
temperatures are around 59 degrees. In the fall, after
the frost has destroyed the blooms trim/cut back the
plant 2-3 inches from the ground and mulch heavily to
protect the roots for the upcoming winter.
Summary: In the fall when many
other perennials start to fade I can look forward to
the long lasting blooms of the chrysanthemums, and so
can you. Keep in mind, regardless of the season you
plant your mum, that they require full or partial sun.
They are shallow-rooted plants that will benefit from
planting in soil that is rich in compost or organic
matter, which is derived from decomposed plants, such
as grass clippings, leaves or twigs and should be
heavily mulched to retain moisture. Also, do not plant
mums where they will be in competition with another
plants’ root system. Unless mums are stressed by
unfavorable growing conditions they are relatively
pest free. They can be propagated from late spring to
early fall by a method that works best for you.
Chrysanthemums require bi-weekly fertilization from
late spring to the end of August and hand trimmed or
cut back during the same period to ensure this day
length flower will bloom in the fall. It is critical
to mulch over winter to keep the roots from drying
out. In the fall of the year after my mums have
bloomed I take a few minutes to draw out the areas
where I have my mums planted. I note the colors in my
diagram. Then, the following spring, when I am ready
to move or propagate my mums, I have a reference to
the color and characteristics of all my flowers. Share
your mums with your friends. Remember "mum" is the
word!
Read other articles on plants and gardens
Read other fall related gardening articles
Read other articles by
Sharon Lance
This
genus of about 30 species in the Asteracea family is
native to Asia and northeastern Europe and the flower
of this herbaceous perennial (a plant that forms a
soft, tender rather than woody stem) comes in many
forms and colors. When you are ready to purchase or
plant mums determine the location for the plant
keeping in mind that they are shallow-rooted plants
and should not be planted in a location where the mum
is in competition with the roots of other plants or
trees. Other considerations are the height and the
width of the mum. Look for compact bushy plants,
because they will flower better than larger specimens
Next, examine the leaves, which should be green in
color, not mottled with yellow, ragged or dead edges,
which can be signs of a diseased or distressed plant.
Most plants, including mums, come with a plastic stake
that provides information about the plants’ color;
height, width and can include planting instructions.
