Chrysanthemums

[Martin H]

Martin, how to I start off new plants from these for next year?

Dig them up once they are done, say November time, then follow my notes page here, from point 9 onwards.

[Martin H]

It will soon be that time of year when any remaining outdoor chrysanth flowers will be spoiled by the wind, rain and cold.

I have one that is only just coming into bloom, so today I dug it up from the allotment, potted it up and put it into the cold greenhouse where I can admire it.

I don't know what variety this is, the label from Chrysanthemums Direct said it was "Dorridge Crystal Primrose", but it definitely isn't that, it's the wrong colour and it's flowering too late. It's shaping up to be quite pretty though.



I think I'll get a couple more late flowering ones next year and see if I can get some flowers for Chr1stm@s.

[Guest]

Whilst I am pleased they have grown and had flowers, I really need to pay more attention next year and I am sure pot grown is pretty much a no-no. I would put pics but a bit embarrassed at the state of the plants

[Martin H]

I don't know what variety this is, the label from Chrysanthemums Direct said it was "Dorridge Crystal Primrose", but it definitely isn't that, it's the wrong colour and it's flowering too late. It's shaping up to be quite pretty though.
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I just had a nice email back from Chrysanthemums Direct, apologising for the labelling errors and offering me a gift voucher.

More flowers next year then!

[Martin H]

We reckon that mystery Chrysanthemum is actually "Mayford Perfection". It's looking good just now:

[Scarlet]

Mine are flowering but are getting a little battered with the weather. I'm thinking they are much later than they should have been, lucky the weather has been mild. I should have taken the buds out, (lesson learned)they aren't staked too well (Martin, you did said one cane wasn't enough!) although however battered and unkept looking the flowers are I'm still managing to pick them for indoors. These were the cheaper ones from eb@y. They were all labelled up wrong. Nowt like the labels that were supplied with them.

I've started to take some flowers and buds off my later "fantasy" flowering ones. Hoping to get some for xmas

[Scarlet]

My eb@y bargains

Fantasy flowers...can't remember the name

[Martin H]

Very nice, Scarlet. The eb@y bargains have done well, haven't they!

Disbudding does usually give you earlier and larger flowers, but they eventually come good anyway

[Scarlet]

We'll, not as smart as yours mine are a little straggly but there are lots of blooms. I think I'm going to request a chrysanths book for Xmas. I've been on your blog looking at how to increase my stock. Worried they may die over the winter
Perhaps we could do a swap if I manage to get some cuttings done?

[Martin H]

They are pretty tough, hardy plants. As long as you don't let them get waterlogged I expect they will overwinter just fine.

If you can shelter them then they will send up new shoots for cuttings more quickly, though. So I'll be lifting the ones I want to propogate before Christmas, cleaning them up and moving them into the cold greenhouse.

If all goes well I'll have lots of spare cuttings come the spring.

[Guest]

I had a tidy up and have moved mine in to one of the greenhouses. Just thought I would give you some pics of my mid-seasons ones chempak red, pot black and lakelanders. My others are still to come.



Thank you for this thread. I am so chuffed I have half decent results and am looking forward to next year and improving on my chrysanthemum growing

[Scarlet]

Lovely NG, love that dusky pink one on the left.

[Martin H]

At the RHS Flower Show in September, Chrysanthemums direct were selling rooted cuttings of early varieties as plug plants. They insisted that these would produce a flower this year if potted up in a cold greenhouse.

I was sceptical but bought a couple anyway.

May I present "Misty Cream" and "Misty Lemon":



So I'm happy. As you can see I disbudded to retain just the terminal bud, no stopping.

I should get some cuttings off these plants in the spring and have them flowering at the normal time next year. But it's worth knowing that you can strike cuttings very late and still get a flower in the autumn!

[bramble]

Why did all the foliage on my Chrysanthums shrivel up and turn brown even though the flowers continued to blossom.
Its not mould because the leaves are dry and break up when you squeeze them in your hand.

[Martin H]

I don't know, Bramble. Got a picture?