BAGBANI

CHRYSANTHEMUMS

(Flowers for the Gods)

Gardening has always been considered as an activity that brings out the creativity in a person. The joy of achievements one enjoys when the flowers bloom with vivid colours; it has no parallel.

Gardening keeps us in touch with the earth. the changing seasons and nature.

Chrysanthemums in south India are used in the worship of the Gods in the same manner as we use Marigold. In Japan it enjoys being the national flower and is also eaten as a health food.

Where and how to grow:

Chrysanthemums are best grown in beds and clay pots. They can also be grown in groups to bring out the beauty of your garden. The bloom lasts for 1 to 2 months and continues to look attractive even when semi-dry.

These flowers come in a range of colours, shapes and sizes. There are the tiny buttons, mid sized pompons and the larger ones that look like the dahlias. If you are growing them for the first time you would have to purchase these from a good genuine nursery as these is propagated from root cutting.

Planting time:

The planting time is mid August to September end.

Potting mixture:

The plants need specific soil type for better growth. The mixture, as far as

possible should be made at-least a month in advance. The recommended mix is

given below:

Loamy Soil 4 parts

Cow manure (must be fully decomposed) 2 parts

Leaf mould 1 part

(To every 6 parts of this mixture add)

Oil cake 20 gm

Single Super Phosphate 20 gm

Potassium Sulphate 10 gm

Lime 10 gm

Mix the ingredients well. Keep it in shade and sprinkle some water on it. This mixture must be turned every 4-5 days and some water sprinkled on it.

Filling the Pots:

The recommended pot sizes are 7 cms, 13 cms. and 20 cms. or larger pots.

These should be clay pots. Cement and plastic pots should be avoided. Ensure that the leak hole is not too small. Place some old broken convex pieces of pots and some stones on the leak hole and near it. Over this, fill the pot with the mixture made as above.

For better growth and healthier plants the rooted cutting is first planted in 7 cms. or larger pot for 20~30 days, then in 13 cms. pot for another 30 days and there after in the 20 cms. or larger pots.

Staking and tying:

The plants in the final pot should be staked as early as possible as this ensures better growth.

Stakes should be smooth. The tying should be done with soft twine and always kept a little loose.

Stooping:

This is the first pinching of the tip of the growing plant. When the plant is 15 to 25 cms. in height and 3-4 pairs of leaves have appeared the first stooping should be done. A second stooping may be necessary if the plants have a straggly and lean growth.

Stooping is primarily done to make the one bloom cultivator flower on the first crown bud. It is essential for the single bloom plants that only the top most lateral is retained and all the others are removed.

Disbudding & Debranching:

These two activities are necessary so that the number of flowers is limited with a view to produce better quality flowers. In single bloom, all the energy of the plant is directed towards the only bud secured and hence the result is a large sized and quality bloom.

Disbudding is also done in case of multiple bloom plants to enable all the buds to open at the same time.

Cleaning of the Plants:

Plants should be washed with clean water from time to time. The best time for this operation is evening time. A plant in bloom should not be washed as this leaves marks on the flower petals.

Supplementary feeding:

Plants need supplementary feed from time to time besides the nutrients in the potting

mixture. Granular feeds, liquid manure feeds, foliar feeds etc. are the supplementary feeds.

Watering:

The plants should be watered as and when necessary. Plants in pots are normally watered

once a day. The quantity of water should be such that it just wets the entire potting

mixture. Over watering is very harmful particularly for large flowering cultivators.

Pests and diseases:

Chrysanthemum is normally afflicted by a host of diseases and pests. The small sized

flowering cultivars suffer much less than the large flowering ones. It is therefore

necessary to follow a routine spray programme. You could use a spray containing

insecticide Metasytx and a fungicide containing Bavistin. Three to four sprays with

weekly spread should be undertaken. It may be noted that the healthier plants suffer less

from the diseases.

Propagation:

Root cutting is the best means for further propagation of the Chrysanthemums. As soon

as the flowering season is over cut the stem to about 10-15 cms. from the base and replant

them in a shady area of the garden in flat pots containing sterilised sand or in raised beds

where at-least a 5 to 10 ems. thick layer of the sterilized sand has been used.

The new shoots will grow from December onwards. In February-March, the suckers

should be shifted to pots and kept under shade till the rains are over as during the hot and

rainy weather the Chrysanthemums are susceptible to decay.

Any growth on the top should be nipped off. During August-September, plant the

cuttings 5-8 cms. long in the rooting medium (sterilised sand in shallow pots) for further

propagation. These plants are ready for transplantation in a month’s time.

Precautions:

Do not spray plain water or any insecticide including foliar spray on the petals as dirty marks are left on the flowers.
Insecticide containing Dimethoate e.g. Rogar should be avoided as often itdamages the leaves.
Urea should normally be applied only to the large sized flowering cu1tivars.
The quality of the cow manure and leaf mould must be very good, otherwise the plants may be affected.

BAGBANI

Gardening has always been considered as an activity that brings out the creativity in a person. The joy of achievements one enjoys when the flowers bloom with vivid colours; it has no parallel.

Gardening keeps us in touch with the earth. the changing seasons and nature.

Chrysanthemums in south India are used in the worship of the Gods in the same manner as we use Marigold. In Japan it enjoys being the national flower and is also eaten as a health food.

Where and how to grow:

Chrysanthemums are best grown in beds and clay pots. They can also be grown in groups to bring out the beauty of your garden. The bloom lasts for 1 to 2 months and continues to look attractive even when semi-dry.

These flowers come in a range of colours, shapes and sizes. There are the tiny buttons, mid sized pompons and the larger ones that look like the dahlias. If you are growing them for the first time you would have to purchase these from a good genuine nursery as these is propagated from root cutting.

Planting time:

The planting time is mid August to September end.

Potting mixture:

The plants need specific soil type for better growth. The mixture, as far as

possible should be made at-least a month in advance. The recommended mix is

given below:

Loamy Soil 4 parts

Cow manure (must be fully decomposed) 2 parts

Leaf mould 1 part

(To every 6 parts of this mixture add)

Oil cake 20 gm

Single Super Phosphate 20 gm

Potassium Sulphate 10 gm

Lime 10 gm

Mix the ingredients well. Keep it in shade and sprinkle some water on it. This mixture must be turned every 4-5 days and some water sprinkled on it.

Filling the Pots:

The recommended pot sizes are 7 cms, 13 cms. and 20 cms. or larger pots.

These should be clay pots. Cement and plastic pots should be avoided. Ensure that the leak hole is not too small. Place some old broken convex pieces of pots and some stones on the leak hole and near it. Over this, fill the pot with the mixture made as above.

For better growth and healthier plants the rooted cutting is first planted in 7 cms. or larger pot for 20~30 days, then in 13 cms. pot for another 30 days and there after in the 20 cms. or larger pots.

Staking and tying:

The plants in the final pot should be staked as early as possible as this ensures better growth.

Stakes should be smooth. The tying should be done with soft twine and always kept a little loose.

Stooping:

This is the first pinching of the tip of the growing plant. When the plant is 15 to 25 cms. in height and 3-4 pairs of leaves have appeared the first stooping should be done. A second stooping may be necessary if the plants have a straggly and lean growth.

Stooping is primarily done to make the one bloom cultivator flower on the first crown bud. It is essential for the single bloom plants that only the top most lateral is retained and all the others are removed.

Disbudding & Debranching:

These two activities are necessary so that the number of flowers is limited with a view to produce better quality flowers. In single bloom, all the energy of the plant is directed towards the only bud secured and hence the result is a large sized and quality bloom.

Disbudding is also done in case of multiple bloom plants to enable all the buds to open at the same time.

Cleaning of the Plants:

Plants should be washed with clean water from time to time. The best time for this operation is evening time. A plant in bloom should not be washed as this leaves marks on the flower petals.

Supplementary feeding:

Plants need supplementary feed from time to time besides the nutrients in the potting

mixture. Granular feeds, liquid manure feeds, foliar feeds etc. are the supplementary feeds.

Watering:

The plants should be watered as and when necessary. Plants in pots are normally watered

once a day. The quantity of water should be such that it just wets the entire potting

mixture. Over watering is very harmful particularly for large flowering cultivators.

Pests and diseases:

Chrysanthemum is normally afflicted by a host of diseases and pests. The small sized

flowering cultivars suffer much less than the large flowering ones. It is therefore

necessary to follow a routine spray programme. You could use a spray containing

insecticide Metasytx and a fungicide containing Bavistin. Three to four sprays with

weekly spread should be undertaken. It may be noted that the healthier plants suffer less

from the diseases.

Propagation:

Root cutting is the best means for further propagation of the Chrysanthemums. As soon

as the flowering season is over cut the stem to about 10-15 cms. from the base and replant

them in a shady area of the garden in flat pots containing sterilised sand or in raised beds

where at-least a 5 to 10 ems. thick layer of the sterilized sand has been used.

The new shoots will grow from December onwards. In February-March, the suckers

should be shifted to pots and kept under shade till the rains are over as during the hot and

rainy weather the Chrysanthemums are susceptible to decay.

Any growth on the top should be nipped off. During August-September, plant the

cuttings 5-8 cms. long in the rooting medium (sterilised sand in shallow pots) for further

propagation. These plants are ready for transplantation in a month’s time.

Precautions:

Do not spray plain water or any insecticide including foliar spray on the petals as dirty marks are left on the flowers.

Insecticide containing Dimethoate e.g. Rogar should be avoided as often itdamages the leaves.

Urea should normally be applied only to the large sized flowering cu1tivars.

The quality of the cow manure and leaf mould must be very good, otherwise the plants may be affected.