Description
These hardy plants are native to China, Japan, Northern Africa and Southern Europe. They belong to the daisy family compositae. Their flowers come in every color except blue. Both annual and perennial types are available. All make great cut flowers and most have a pleasant fragrance. Those with showy flower heads such as pompons, quill and spider types are quite popular, but the graceful single and double types are also well worth growing. All are suitable for borders and cutting gardens. Chrysanthemums are the highlight of the garden in late summer and fall when many other flowers have faded.
Maintenance and Location
Choose a site in full sun that is fertile and moist but has well-drained soil. Chrysanthemums need plenty of room to grow so they should be planted 18’’ apart, in rows, 2 feet apart. Mums benefit from a rich soil composed of an abundant supply of animal manure or compost and commercial fertilizer. The soil should be made firm around the mum. Hardy varieties are pinched regularly until the middle or end of July; the tips are taken off all shoots as soon as they attain a length of 6”. Water freely in dry weather, and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 7-10 days from mid-summer until buds begin to show color.
Propagation
Divide clumps in fall or early spring. You can also root cuttings. For late flowering varieties, take the cuttings after the flowers have faded. For earlier varieties take cuttings in early spring. Root the cuttings in a soilless potting mix with a layer of dry sand on the surface. Cuttings rooted in winter should be protected indoors or in a cold frame until spring, when they can be hardened off.