Chrysanthemums are one of the best interior gift plants. They’re bright, vibrant and make the room cheerful. They are commonly used as a get-well gesture or a birthday bouquet.
They also make any home landscape even better than ever. However, garden mums, another name for Chrysanthemums, are among the hardiest varieties of flowers. They’re tough and resilient for sure. But for them to provide perennial excellence year after year, they require pinching in the vegetative stage, irrigation, fertilizers, and protection from pests.
To ensure a healthy and a steady supply of those lovely, rayed flowers, your mum plants need to be fed with good plant nutrition. It is essential to their vitality and healthy growth. That’s why we put this post together to help you grow the best chrysanthemums your neighbors have ever seen. Let’s get started:
When to Add Fertilizer to Your Chrysanthemums for Max Growth?
During their vegetative phase, give your mum plants enough nitrogen and potassium. There are several options for this, from the homegrown DIY route to professional mixes sold at your local nursery. You need to feed the plants before flower buds form, otherwise they won’t be as productive in bloom. This will promote healthy roots, bud development, and a vigorous plant. Depending upon your USDA zone, start a feeding cycle from March to May, after all the dangers of frost have passed. This way, any new growth forced by the nutrients will not be in danger of damage from icy weather. Then continue feeding your chrysanthemums monthly until June to July, or when the plant is forming flower buds. You can also opt to use a slow release fertilizer applied in March to April that will finish by July.
What Fertilizer Should you use on Your Chrysanthemums?
Like most gardeners, you can opt to use a granular application with a formulation of 6-2-4 or 4-2-3 analysis for fertilizing your mum plants. And the rate should be 1 pound per 100 square feet of garden bed.
Soluble fertilizers, which dissolve in water, can also come in handy for providing your plants with a quick nutrient boost. To use them, simply mix the fertilizer with water, making sure to follow the specific proportions recommended by the manufacturer’s instructions, as using too much can burn the plant’s roots. Once mixed, apply this solution directly to the soil around the root zone of the plant. For this feeding method, a balanced nutrient solution such as a 20-20-20 or 15-15-15 formula works well, as it provides an equal ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Last is time-release fertilizers. These only need to be applied once but will slowly release nutrients over a period of approximately 3 months. These often come in the form of fertilizer spikes that you drive into the ground near the root zone of the plant. Use a 12-6-6 if you’re applying a slow-release food. Just make sure you get it on early enough that the nutrients will be absorbed by mid-summer and remember not to feed again until next spring.
How to Fertilize your Mum Plants?
If you’re using a water-soluble fertilizer, the process is simple: just mix it with water according to the package directions and apply it when you water your plants at the beginning of the month. This method is quick and allows the plant to absorb the nutrients immediately. On the other hand, if you’re using a dry or granular fertilizer, you’ll need to carefully measure out the correct amount. Sprinkle it evenly over the soil surface around the base of the plant, and then gently scratch or work it into the top inch of soil. After applying, follow up with a deep and thorough watering. This is a crucial step, as it not only helps carry the nutrients down to the root zone where they can be absorbed but also prevents the build-up of fertilizer salts in the topsoil, which can damage the plant’s roots over time.
Gardening in Containers With Chrysanthemum
For chrysanthemums grown in containers, it’s important to leach the soil about once a month to prevent excess salt accumulation, which is more common in potted environments. To do this, simply water the plant thoroughly until water drains freely from the bottom of the pot for several minutes. Additionally, you should pinch off the growing tips of the branches as your mum plants get taller. This encourages the plant to branch out, resulting in a more compact, bushier shape and a more bountiful display of blossoms. This pinching should be done regularly, about once a month, starting in May and continuing until late June or early July. After this point, it’s critical to stop pinching. This allows the plant to set its flower buds, which will develop over the summer and mature into beautiful blooms by the end of summer or early fall. If you continue pinching too late, you’ll risk removing the new buds and sacrificing your autumn flower show.
There are many excellent fertilizer products on the market specifically designed for flowering plants like chrysanthemums. Whether you choose a liquid feed, slow-release granules, or an organic option, the key to success is understanding the specific needs of your plants. Always read the product label carefully to ensure you’re using the right dosage and applying it at the correct time. With proper feeding and care, your chrysanthemums will thrive and reward you with a spectacular display of color
