Propagating plants means generating multiple from a single specimen. Starting from a cutting you will duplicate the starting plant, thus obtaining one of the exact same variety. But when you grow a plant from seeds, you won't always be able to predict what will come out of it. Chrysanthemums have their heyday when they are young, which is why it makes sense to grow new plants each year from current plant cuttings instead of trying to keep them surviving for another season.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Picking and Rooting the Chrysanthemum Cuttings
Step 1. Take the chrysanthemum cuttings during the spring
Spring is the best time to make cuttings from the previous year's chrysanthemums. The plants will have been cut back the previous fall, right after flowering, so they will still be quite short.
Step 2. Move the plants indoors a couple of months before taking cuttings
Before taking the cuttings, move the plants indoors to a cool place (without heating, but protected from frost), such as on a veranda.
- A temperature of around 7 ° C is ideal. Move the plants indoors in mid-winter, around the month of January.
- After bringing the plants indoors, water them. In about a month they will have grown enough to take cuttings, as long as you keep the soil moist and the temperature around 7-12 ° C.
Step 3. Cut some 7-8 cm long stems from the chrysanthemum plant
Chrysanthemum cuttings can be peeled off the plant with your fingers or by using a sharp, clean knife.
- Pick healthy stems about 7 to 8 cm long from the lowest possible point on the plant. Try to take cuttings of similar length.
- Generally only a third of the cuttings will grow, which is why it is better to take three times the number of new plants you would like to obtain.
- Remove the leaves from the bottom of each cutting, leaving only those at the top.
Step 4. Make a compost mix
Take a seedbed or several individual pots filled with cuttings compost or a mix of compost and perlite. If you want to use a mix, mix 4 parts of regular compost with 1 part of perlite. If you want, you can also sprinkle more perlite on the surface of the jars or seedbed once they are filled.
Step 5. Plant the cuttings
Before planting them, dip the end of each cutting into a powdered rooting hormone to about 1cm deep. Shake gently to remove excess dust.
- Use a stick, pencil, or skewer to make a hole in the compost. Put the cutting into the hole to a depth of about 2-3 cm, then gently block it by pressing the compost with your fingers.
- Add name and date tags to the seedbed or pots containing the cuttings, then water them.
Step 6. Close the seedbed or pots in a clear plastic bag
If you do, insert sticks into the soil to keep the bag from touching the cuttings.
- Alternatively, cut off the top of a clear plastic bottle and place the bottle upside down on the cutting to create a small DIY greenhouse.
- You can also put them in a propagator: it will serve to heat the cuttings from below, helping them to produce roots.
Step 7. Keep the cuttings in a cool, well-lit place until they have rooted
Keep the chrysanthemum cuttings in a well-lit place out of direct sunlight. A window sill that does not receive direct sunlight is ideal. The temperature must be very low, but still above zero degrees.
The cuttings should take root in about 4 weeks. When you see roots appear underneath the plant, you will need to replant it in a pot where it can stand on its own
Part 2 of 4: Planting the Cuttings Outside
Step 1. Scoop the rooted cuttings to provide them with additional support
When the plants have taken root, it is recommended that you pick them up using a thin stake such as a wooden skewer or kebab stick. Gently tie the stem to the post using twine or electrician's zip ties.
Step 2. Let the cuttings strengthen before planting them outside
If grown indoors or under glass, the cuttings will need time to adjust to outdoor life. The process they will have to face will allow them to get used to the air currents and the different levels of humidity and temperature present outside, without causing them to suffer a sudden shock that could affect their development.
- To strengthen the plants, move them from inside your home to a cooler location, such as an unheated greenhouse. You can leave the plants outside during the day and bring them back indoors for the night.
- Plants grown under glass, especially if grown in a heated greenhouse, will also need to be strengthened outdoors. You can permanently move them outside as soon as the frost has passed.
Step 3. Prepare the place to plant the chrysanthemums in advance
A few weeks before planting chrysanthemums outside, prepare where they will be placed.
- Add manure or compost to the soil a few weeks before planting, and also apply a generic fertilizer such as blood, fish or bone.
- After planting your chrysanthemums, consider applying a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, such as those made from dried chicken droppings, to the soil surface.
Part 3 of 4: Prune the Young Chrysanthemum Plants
Step 1. Prune the young chrysanthemum plants to encourage them to grow further
Once your cuttings are well rooted and have formed young seedlings (usually in late spring), it's a good idea to prune them to encourage them to form new stems; this procedure usually leads to bushy plants and a greater number of flowers.
- Traditionally it is done on June 1st, but any day in early summer will be fine: just wait for the plant to have at least 6 stems containing leaves. Count 6 stems containing leaves starting from the base of the main stem.
- Remove the main stem by cutting about half a centimeter higher than the sixth stem, leaving exactly 6 stems containing leaves on the plant.
Step 2. Consider using the removed stems as cuttings
You can use the parts removed from the plant as cuttings and try to root them. Just remove the leaves placed in the lower part of the removed stems, shorten them to about 10 cm in length and repeat all the steps seen above to root the cuttings.
Step 3. Remove the sprouts from the plant a few weeks after pruning it
After a few weeks you will notice that sprouts will start to sprout below where you cut the plant. At this point you may want to remove the buds that are forming at the base of the plant.
It would be best to leave 3-4 healthy stems on top of the plant, removing any that are growing further down
Step 4. Trim the chrysanthemum plants again after flowering
When the flowering period is over, cut the chrysanthemum plants up to 20cm above the ground. Doing so will help the plants to conserve more energy and therefore to face the winter more easily.
Part 4 of 4: Making Chrysanthemums Survive During Winter
Step 1. Cover the chrysanthemums with a layer of mulch if you live in a mild climate area
Some chrysanthemum varieties will survive the winter even when placed outdoors, as long as the soil in which they are planted is dry and covered with mulch.
- Before the soil gets too cold with the arrival of autumn, apply a 7-8 cm layer of mulch, perhaps using manure.
- The applied layer will be able to surround the base of the plant.
Step 2. In colder areas, move the chrysanthemums indoors for the winter
If you expect temperatures to drop below -20 ° C during the winter, or if your soil is not very draining, it is advisable to move your chrysanthemums indoors.
- Dig up the chrysanthemums and shake the earth off the roots. Place them in a container filled with relatively dry compost.
- Store the plants in a frost-free location, such as an isolated shed or a porch attached to your home. The compost should be kept slightly moist, but it should never be wet.
