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Amarjeet Batth
The bloom of roses is followed by one of the most spectacular winter floral bonanza, chrysanthemum, also known as ‘Guldaudi’. It is an herbaceous perennial short day plant which brightens up the lawns when most of the winter annuals are in growing stage. Chrysanthemum is an ideal pot plant and also used as cut and loose flower. Chrysanthemum is available in two varietes — standard and spray. These are further sub-types such as reflex, incurving, anemone, spoon spider, pompon, button, Korean single and Korea double. Accordingly a gardner can select a variety keeping in mind the flower form, colour and number of days to bloom. Chrysanthemum, whose cuttings are prepared in early July and then transplanted into pots and flower beds from late July to early September, are almost ready to bloom within a few days.
How to start
While preparing the pot, the pot soil is solar sterilised during peak summer by spreading the pot mixture on a concrete surface or on roof top for few weeks to get it solar sterilised. A polythene sheet over the pot medium makes sterilisation more effective. Then pot mixture is prepared with one part of garden soil, one part of farm yard manure, two parts of leaf mould (if available), two tablespoons of bone meal. If the soil is heavy, add sand. While planting the seedlings, add DAP and administer a dose of captan (0.3 per cent) 2 ml in one litre of water to avoid rotting of cuttings.
Pot size
Clay pots of 10” or 12” are best suited as these provide good aeration to the plant. Place three plants in 10” pot and five in 12” inch pot. Keep the flower in a sunny location and rotate the pots every two to three days for uniform growth.
Maintenance and care
After planting the rooted cuttings for two to three weeks, in spray varieties, terminal buds are pinched so that side shoot branch off the basal nodes. Maintain four to five emerging shoots. Pinching is done to the main stem to promote the side branching and increase number of flowers. In standard varieties, only one flower is required, therefore no pinching is done. All side shoots and buds emerging from the root axis are disbudded and only terminal bud is maintained. Disbudding is done when the bud becomes pea-sized, so it’s easy to break it.
Stake for support
Staking is done to support and contain the flower spread and also maintain its good form. It is done using strong split bamboo sticks, which are inserted deep enough in the pot soil to support the grown up plant. Be careful not to damage the roots. The standard variety with single flower requires support of a bamboo stick while the spray variety needs all around support along the periphery of the pot to maintain the spread of the plant. The staking material can be painted green for better appearance.
Fertilise it right
Chrysanthemum is a heavy feeder. For a healthy bloom, fortnightly dose of ‘liquid manure’ or alternatively 2 gram of urea dissolved in one litre of water should be given till the bud formation stage when colour starts appearing on the bud. Ensure liquid does not spill on the leaves, else it will burn them. Fortnight application of NPK 20:20:20, two gram dissolved in one litre of water is beneficial.
Preparing liquid manure
Liquid manure is prepared by fermentation. Take about two kg of fresh cow dung, alternatively farmyard manure in 10 litres of water. Water is filled in a big container and cow dung is put in a muslin cloth and suspended in water container for two weeks or more. The liquid is then diluted to tea colour and put 500 ml to one litre per pot.
Don’t over water
Chrysanthemums do not tolerate over watering, which can cause rotting of roots and yellowing of leaves. Therefore, irrigation should be as per need basis. Also immediately drain any excess water accumulated in pots.
Protect from rain
In case of rain, if the number of pots is less, these can be shifted to the ‘verandha’ or undercover. But if the number of pots is more, use a polythene sheet duly supported.
Pest control
Be careful of the attack of aphids and hairy caterpillar. Spray ‘Malathion’ 2 ml dissolved in one litre of water.
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