How to grow chrysanthemums from seeds?

Chrysanthemum is one of the favorite plants among gardeners. Cuttings of these flowers can be bought in nurseries without any problems. The technology of growing from seeds is a rather complicated process, but it remains relevant today.

Previously, they tried to grow chrysanthemums exclusively from seeds. All because these plants were self-seeding annuals.

The reason lies in the fact that with this method, the new chrysanthemum is very different from the mother shrub and loses its distinctive features.

However, this method is a favorite among many gardeners. It is suitable for those who like to experiment and do not expect to get a plant of a certain color and size. A huge advantage of this technology is a high percentage of seedlings germination. It follows that from the seeds you can get an original flower, the appearance and color of which will be very non-standard.

This method is excellent for breeding small-flowered Korean chrysanthemums. An example would be a variety called "Ariel". Annual species such as keeled chrysanthemum and marsh chrysanthemum can be bred by sowing in open ground or for seedlings. As for perennial plants, the method of sowing directly into open soil is not suitable for them, basically such chrysanthemums are grown only for seedlings.

It is recommended to plant chrysanthemum seedlings in the spring. It is advisable to wait until the night frosts have passed, so usually planting falls in May or June. This method is not suitable for everyone, since the flowering of plants occurs in a fairly late period - August.

For to speed up the appearance of chrysanthemums in your flower bed, it is preferable to choose the method of growing the plant through seedlings... Sowing seeds can be carried out shortly before the onset of winter frosts, in late autumn or early winter. However, seedlings should be placed in a warm place.

It is best to plant chrysanthemums in open soil in certain weather. It is recommended to pick a cloudy or rainy day for planting. When choosing a site for planting, one must take into account the fact that shaded areas are not recommended for breeding chrysanthemums. This plant is thermophilic and does not like excessive moisture.

It is important that the soil is of a loamy type and contains useful nutrients. Organic fertilizers are often used to grow chrysanthemums, but they are not recommended to be overused.

One of the main criteria for successful chrysanthemum breeding is choosing the right place. It must have the following properties:

• good illumination;
• moderate humidity;
• normal air circulation;
• the presence of nutrients.

For the plant to be well lit, the planting site should be on a small hill. A good supply of sunlight contributes to the correct formation of the bush.With a lack of sunlight, the plant height becomes above average, which entails rare flowering and bare areas on the stems of the shrub. Sometimes flowering may not come at all.

The elevation is also a favorable place for growing chrysanthemums in terms of soil moisture. This arrangement avoids stagnant water. Excessively wet soil has a bad effect on the development of the shrub and can subsequently provoke root rot. In addition, in such cases, moisture-loving pests often appear on the plants. If the site is in the shade, then such an arrangement of the bush will only exacerbate the problem.

With such a development of the shrub, there may be no flowering. It is really possible to cope with this problem, it is enough just to fertilize the soil before planting the plant and after its rooting. Before planting, compost can be used as fertilizer, as well as nitrogen fertilization.

It is not difficult to buy seeds of various varieties of chrysanthemum in a special store. However, if you grow a flower at home, you can collect seeds yourself. To properly grow a chrysanthemum indoors or in open soil, some nuances should be taken into account.

• It is very difficult to grow from seeds and collect the required amount of material from large-flowered varieties of chrysanthemums. The same goes for terry plant varieties.
• Seeds of late-flowering chrysanthemums ripen very slowly, so they should be collected from small-flowered simple and semi-double varieties.

By adhering to certain rules, it becomes possible to collect good quality seeds with excellent germination. For this you need:

• plant seedlings in open soil as early as possible;
• carry out regular watering and feeding of the plant;
• pinch bushes from time to time;
• the maximum number of stems on a small-flowered chrysanthemum should not exceed 8 pieces, and on a large-flowered chrysanthemum - 3;
• there should be no more than one bud on the stem.

Chrysanthemums, which bloom in July, are ready for harvesting seeds in the garden, being in the open field. With late flowering plants, you must do the following.

• To prevent the bushes from getting wet, you should transfer them to the greenhouse. In the absence of such an opportunity, chrysanthemums are covered with plastic wrap.
• Before the onset of cold weather, flowers need to be transplanted into a pot and brought into the house. Chrysanthemums are best placed on the sunny side.
• To protect the receptacle from damage by condensation when growing a plant in a greenhouse, it is covered with a film.

After the inflorescences turn brown, the seeds can be harvested. This usually happens in late autumn or early winter. It is important not to miss the moment, because the inflorescences quickly crumble.

Grow chrysanthemums from seeds can be done in two ways:

• sowing seeds in open soil;
• by growing seedlings.

Let's take a closer look at each of the methods.

This technology for growing chrysanthemums is considered the most optimal due to its availability and minimal labor costs. The only downside to this method is that plants tend to bloom late. The results can only be seen at the end of the summer season. It is necessary to take into account the fact that the technology of growing annual and perennial plants differs markedly. You can grow an annual plant by following some rules step by step.

• The planting material is planted in open ground at the end of May. Holes are dug in the prepared area, the gap between them should not exceed 30 centimeters.
• The wells are filled with warm water. After the soil is well saturated, seeds are planted - 2-3 pieces in each hole.
• Sprinkle the seeds on top with a little earth and cover with foil. This is necessary to maintain a normal microclimate.
• From time to time, sowing must be ventilated by removing the film. When the seedlings grow up, the film is removed, and the soil is cleared of weeds.
• After germination of seedlings, it is recommended to fertilize them. For this, tools such as "Ideal" or "Rainbow" are perfect.
• After up to 3 leaves appear on the shoots, and their height will be at least 10 centimeters, the strongest and healthiest shoots must be left in the hole.

Seedlings of perennial chrysanthemums must be grown in a warm room. This breeding method is popular among girls' chrysanthemums, one of the brightest representatives of which is the Golden Ball variety. The sowing process should be carried out in late winter or early spring. Chrysanthemum seeds should be planted in small boxes filled with soil mixture, which consists of components such as humus and peat. In a specialized store, you can buy a ready-made mixture. Drainage should be laid out at the bottom of the container used for planting; it can be presented in the form of expanded clay or gravel. In some cases, gardeners use broken bricks. An earthen mixture is poured over the drainage, followed by chrysanthemum seeds. Deep seeding should not be done, it is enough to lightly press the seeds against the soil.

The planted seeds should be sprayed with water and covered with foil, then placed in a warm place, the air temperature should be at least 23 ° C. Seeds need to be ventilated from time to time and sprayed with warm water.

If you adhere to all of the above rules, then the seedlings should appear in 1.5 weeks. After that, containers with sprouts must be placed in a well-lit place. Thus, the plant gradually adapts to its environment. The film must be removed first for one hour, then for two, and then remove it completely.

Reasonable care is one of the most important ingredients in the successful cultivation of any plant. There are certain rules for the care of chrysanthemums, which are recommended to be followed.

• After planting seedlings in open ground, it is necessary to control the number of leaves on the stems - there should be no more than 8. The excess ones should be removed. New shoots are also clamped at first. This contributes to the dense and lush growth of the bushes. The rule does not apply to large-flowered plant species.
• Chrysanthemums belonging to the large-flowered type need to be removed from the side shoots, while leaving only the strongest ones.
• It is recommended to tie up tall varieties of chrysanthemums. This usually involves using a wooden or metal peg or net.
• You should be careful about watering the plant, because with a lack of moisture, the chrysanthemum loses its appearance. It is desirable that the water for irrigation is filtered. Water the bush at the root, avoiding drops on the leaves.
• When watering, it is also necessary to loosen the soil around the plant and clear the area of ​​weeds.
• Top dressing is an important component of proper plant formation. During the growth period, it is recommended to feed it with organic and mineral fertilizers by adding them to the soil. At the initial stage of growth, it is best to use nitrogen fertilization, this promotes the growth of leaves on the stems. For the first time, chrysanthemums are fertilized 6 weeks after sowing. To stimulate dense flowering, a fertilizer based on potassium and phosphorus is used. This feeding is best done during the budding period.
• The maximum period of a chrysanthemum in one place should not exceed 3 years. If after that you do not transplant it, the plant will begin to ache, and the flowering will become less abundant. It is best to replant chrysanthemums in the spring, while it is recommended to divide the bushes into parts using a pruner.

In the case of seed cultivation at home, the first shoots may appear in two weeks. When the sprouts have sprouted, the container in which they are planted should be rearranged to a well-lit place. In order for the plants to better adapt to new conditions, the film must be regularly removed for a while for airing, each subsequent time increasing the duration of this period. After a week, the film can be completely removed.

It is necessary to dive seedlings into small pots not before at least two leaves appear on them. The substrate in the container must be well moistened. Before the dive process, the ground in the container should be watered. Seedlings must be approached carefully, since their root system is very fragile during this period. Shoots that look lethargic and weak should be discarded. After planting seedlings in pots, the sprouts are recommended to be treated with a growth biostimulator. After picking, you need to maintain the temperature in the room where the culture is located, no higher than 18 ° C.

In the future, caring for chrysanthemums will consist of regular watering. It is also recommended to feed the bushes with mineral fertilizer once every two weeks. After 1.5 months, chrysanthemums should grow up to 20 centimeters, after which they can be planted in open soil.

For information on how to grow chrysanthemums from seeds, see the next video.