Chrysanthemum single-headed: description, varieties and recommendations for growing

In the East - in China, Korea, Japan - chrysanthemum is very popular. In Japan, the image of a flower was placed on the imperial seal and was considered the emblem of the ruling dynasty. In modern Japan, the yellow chrysanthemum is the official symbol of the country. Chrysanthemum flowers are the first messengers of autumn, just as cherry blossoms are of spring.

It was from the East that these beautiful plants came. The single-headed chrysanthemum is not at all like the bush species.

A single-headed chrysanthemum is characterized by a large single flower that has blossomed on the stem. In height, an elastic and thick stem grows from 50 cm to a meter. Lush petals can be needle-shaped, rounded or even twisted, forming a volumetric ball or half a ball. Professional florists call it a hat. The caps differ in color, size and number of petals. The size of flowers in diameter varies from 10 to 25 cm.

Chrysanthemums are perennials and are grown in gardens, greenhouses, city flower beds and containers. Hypermarkets and flower boutiques offer a wide range of double flowers in small pots. Such plants are grown at home or planted in open ground.

Varietal single chrysanthemums are great for creating bouquets - for their aesthetic appearance and long storage after cutting, flowers are popular with florists and greenhouse owners. Plants are easy to transport, they are stored for a long time in the cold without moisture, and in water for more than 20 days.

There are descriptions of more than 200 types of single-headed chrysanthemums of various shapes and shades. Some varieties are grown for cutting, but very many are bred for planting in the garden or in the garden.

The snow-white variety is popular with florists, florists and flower lovers. Differs in fast growth and quick appearance of the first buds. The flowers are huge, spherical, terry, up to 20 cm in diameter, with a pale greenish core. The stems are strong and thick, the leaves are large, but the plant itself is small. It is considered a medium-sized species.

Single flowers in light pink tones, but other colors are known, for example, shades of cappuccino or lemon. Up to 70 cm high, it has a strong stem with dense leaves. It is used in landscape design to decorate front gardens in combination with low-growing ornamental deciduous plants. They are grown in containers on a balcony, veranda or terrace. Suitable for creating bouquets, especially in the cold season, as the flowers tolerate the cold well.

Amazing pale pink shades of a large chrysanthemum with wide petals. The petals are long at the edges and smaller in the middle, slightly concave. A hemispherical flower with a diameter of 13-15 cm. The dense stem, up to 90 cm high, is abundantly covered with large soft-fleecy leaves.

Yellow in color, compact variety. The bush reaches a height of about 80 cm. Sturdy stems are crowned with buds up to 16 cm in diameter that resemble small suns. The plant is suitable for growing in a flower bed and creating flower arrangements. It does not crumple during transportation, it is perfectly preserved when cut, and during the first three days it continues to grow even in the refrigerator.

This is a completely new variety, first shown at the International Flower Show in 2014. The name was given in honor of the first person to be in space.

It is considered an early variety at the beginning of the emergence of buds. Large spherical flowers with a twisted center reach 24 cm in diameter. After cutting, it retains freshness for a month, tolerates transportation well.

The flowers are hemispherical, dark pink in color with oval concave petals, which are smaller in the core. The height of the bush is up to 70 cm, dark green glossy large leaves. Keeps fresh for a long time after cutting and perfectly tolerates transportation.

Momoko is translated from Japanese as peach and means a woman's name. Chrysanthemum is distinguished by pale pink perfectly round flowers. The colors can be very light and darker shades. The oblong petals, slightly curled and tightly pressed, hide the core, which is brighter in color. Dense green glossy leaves on compact bushes that reach a height of 80 cm.

Terry variety with flowers of pale lilac shades of hemispherical shape. Small and very narrow petals fit tightly to one another in a golden core. The diameter of the blossoming bud is from 12 to 15 cm, flowering lasts from the beginning of September until snow falls. A strong stem with medium-sized leaves reaches a height of 80 cm. It is well preserved after cutting.

Growing a chrysanthemum on your own is not difficult. Better to give preference to varieties that bloom from mid-summer to October, with an early flowering period.

For planting, cuttings or young bushes are used. The plant should look healthy, with strong shoots and green leaves that are neither dry nor yellow. Hybrid forms are not propagated by seeds, since the characteristics of adult chrysanthemums are not inherited. If a high quality varietal shrub is required, it is purchased in a special nursery.

Chrysanthemums are recommended to be planted in spring. The earth should warm up to + 12 ° С in depth by 15 cm. In central Russia and Siberia, the landing dates can be postponed until the first ten days of June, depending on weather conditions. In the southern regions, planting occurs in early April, after the end of the frost. It is better to choose a cloudy and cool day for this.

For autumn planting, the second half of September is suitable, for the southern regions - early or mid-October, while the air temperature is kept from + 10 ° С to + 15 ° С. Under unfavorable conditions in the autumn, the cutting is planted in a container. After rooting - shoots should appear - the container is placed in a cool, dark place. In the spring, such a plant can be placed on a balcony or planted in open ground.

The soil for planting is chosen fertile, saturated with organic substances. Peat, humus, rotted compost are used for mulching. Plants prefer neutral soils, grow well on slightly acidic ones. Sandy loam is the most suitable option for chrysanthemums, but bushes grow and bloom on loamy soil.

The main danger is stagnation of water in the soil, then the roots of the plant begin to rot. Therefore, coarse river sand is added to the soil for chrysanthemums. You can equip the flower bed with a special drainage system, or make beds raised above the general ground level with the help of boards - the so-called hull structures.

Chrysanthemums grow in one place for about 5 years, then they gradually fill all the free space, the flowers become smaller or disappear altogether. The soil left after them is not suitable for growing new flowers of this species - a break is taken for about three years.

To prepare a place for planting chrysanthemums, you need to carry out a number of activities.

Autumn:

• digging the ground to a depth of 20 cm;
• make top dressing (superphosphate 50 g and potassium salt 30 g per 1 m2);
• reduce the acidity of the soil with chalk or wood ash, if necessary.

In winter, the flower bed is covered with foliage.

In the spring, they dig up along with the foliage, bring in humus, it is possible in the holes for seedlings.

Make a distance between the bushes:

• for undersized species - about 30 cm;
• for medium height - 40 cm;
• for tall varieties - up to 50 cm.

The bushes in containers are watered very carefully 3-4 hours before planting so that the earthen lump can be removed from the container. For each plant, a hole is dug with a depth of 20 cm - for low-growing varieties, up to 40 cm - for high ones. The depth is influenced by the size of the seedling and its root system. The base of the bush is placed at the same level as before transplanting. The neck of the root must not be deepened more than 2 cm.

After planting chrysanthemums:

• the soil is watered and compacted;
• sprinkle with a layer of humus;
• cover for 3-4 days with a film.

Single-headed chrysanthemums require the following steps of care:

• watering;
• loosening;
• top dressing;
• tying up;
• pinning.

After watering, the soil around the bushes is loosened, weeds are removed and mulched with peat or rotted manure.

For the growth of the bush and root system, they are fed with nitrogen fertilizers. They are brought in 2-3 weeks after planting. For the formation of buds and lush flowering, phosphorus-potassium dressings are used 2 times a month. In addition, they are fed with mullein or chicken droppings in weak solutions.

They feed the bushes in the morning after rain or heavy watering, trying not to get on the leaves. Fertilizers are applied:

• before coloring the buds,
• after the end of flowering.

Florists advise not to fertilize and not even water during the appearance of buds. It is believed that this contributes to more abundant flowering.

The strong and thick stem of single-headed chrysanthemums is formed by pinching. Remove stepchildren growing to the sides of the central shoot from the axils of the leaves until the stem is woody. And also cut off or pinch off the side buds. This must be done all season.

From the buds, one is chosen - the strongest, it becomes one large and spectacular flower. Let all the buds bloom at the same time - this means that instead of one large flower, 5-6 smaller ones will bloom. To create a decorative single-headed chrysanthemum, buds are pinched.

Large flowers form from the second or third bud. In this case, only one is left, after the selection of the bud, all the lateral shoots and buds that appear are cut off. In addition, yellowed and dry leaves are removed.

When cutting chrysanthemums for a bouquet, in order to prevent shedding, you must:

• do not pour water into the vase to the top, the stem is immersed 10-15 cm;
• all leaves are removed from the bottom;
• cut the stem obliquely or crosswise;
• the water is changed after 2 days, it should settle for about 12 hours;
• do not put the bouquet in a sunny place, partial shade and coolness are recommended.

For better preservation of flowers, add 1 liter to water - 1 tsp. sugar or a pinch of salt, aspirin - for 3 liters of half a tablet.

If the cut flowers are planned to be transported, then the bouquet is placed in cool water with the addition of ice for a couple of hours.

After the end of flowering, the plant in the flowerbed is cut by about one third and fed with organic fertilizers. For successful wintering, the bush is spud, covered with spruce branches, and on top - with polyethylene or tarpaulin. In the spring, the shelter is removed.

Varieties that are not resistant to frost are dug up for the winter and stored in boxes with damp earth in a cool room at a temperature of 0 ° C. If shoots appear on the bushes, they are cut off. In the spring they are planted in open ground.

Autumn flower beds with chrysanthemums will delight the eye until the onset of winter. When choosing flowers for the garden, take into account the height, color and flowering time of the variety. Landscape designers are advised to organically combine plants in shape and color.

Single-headed chrysanthemums go well with floral and ornamental plants. Chrysanthemums are effective in mono-plantings.

More information about the single-headed chrysanthemum can be found in the video below.