How Much Water do Chrysanthemums Need that You Should Know

Mums (Chrysanthemum sp.) is one of the ornamental plants produced as cut flowers. Cultivation of chrysanthemums usually now has developed chrysanthemum cultivation using the pot method.

Generally chrysanthemums bloom in late summer and the most common is chrysanthemum x morifolium. If cared for properly, this flower can bloom year after year and is capable of growing outdoors in USDA 5 to 9 zones. One of the things you need to pay attention to if you want to cultivate it then you have to do the right watering technique.

Choosing chrysanthemums

Generally chrysanthemums can be found everywhere for example in gardening centers and are usually purchased as whole plants for replanting or as cut flowers rather than grown from seeds. Well, when you buy it, usually the flowers are tied to the roots in the pot.

The thing you have to pay attention to is when moving them to the ground or a larger container so that these flowers keep growing and healthy.

Soil Condition

Chrysanthemums will grow well in a container that has a good drainage system and slightly moist soil conditions but that doesn’t mean the soil is too wet as this will cause problems with root growth which is attacked by fungi and causes rot. Even if that happens the plant will not survive the winter. Then if the soil for chrysanthemum planting media lacks water, it will cause the stems to grow long with few leaves.

These popular fall flowers grow well with plenty of sun they need at least six hours a day. Avoid watering them too much that cause root rot.  Yellow leaves and fall off are signs of overwatering.  To ensure the best flowering of mums, keep thrm evenly watered.

If you’re working with hard soil, incorporating a few inches of compost or another type of organic matter, such as peat or manure, can help improve drainage. An 8 to 12 inch deep organic mix is ideal.

Maintain the Soil Moisture

Stop watering in winter. It is around October to December, depending on your USDA zone. To help retain moisture, you can cover the soil around your plants with a 2 or 3 inch layer of mulch and also protect the plant roots from harsh winter frosts.

Watering Frequency

Watering depends on the location and climate. If the weather is hot for some time, you will need more water for your chrysanthemums. On the other hand, if it’s rainy season, you may not need to water at all. Watering for a week and more during the growing season and more if the soil is sandy is highly recommended. Take a note, that when you plant  them at first, you should water the chrysanthemum regularly for the first two or three months.

Watering Depth

Good roots greatly affect the growth of chrysanthemums. To encourage strong, deep root growth, water the soil so it’s wet to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. To see if the soil is moist, use a stick inserted into the soil. Because the deeper the roots, the more likely the plant will survive extreme conditions such as frost and even drought.

Prevent Leaf Disease

Chrysanthemum flowers are very susceptible to various plant diseases and pests. one of which attacks the leaves, namely leaf nematodes which are very small roundworms, and those that cause discoloration of the leaves caused by fungal diseases. There are also other diseases such as bacterial late blight and bacterial blight caused by bacterial infections. Usually these two diseases are characterized by the appearance of black spots on the leaves and other plant parts.

You can help prevent your plants from these parasites by not letting the plant get wet so water the soil while keeping the plant’s leaves and flowers dry. Watering in the morning is highly recommended as the plant has a chance to dry out quickly.

Note, watering in the afternoon and evening is not recommended because it can cause disease of plants.

Deadheading

Deadheading is needed to maintain your plant by removing any dead or old parts. Use sharp, pre-cleaned pruning shears with Lysol or Pine-Sol and allow them to air dry, so it will not damage your plant, then look for dried or faded flowers and trim the stems with pruning shears about a third of their length to encourage healthy growth. If the flowers or leaves toward the base of the stem are brown or starting to fall off, add more water.

Fertilizer

All plants need nutrients, so do chrysanthemums. For fertilization itself, chrysanthemum flowers need fertilizer so plants will grow fast an thrive.

You can use manure or compost. The right time to fertilize is when the chrysanthemums are about a month after planting. Or else you can choose a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to apply monthly.