Chrysanthemum Cuttings - My guide for what it is worth

[sandersj89]

After my bad start this year I am now doing OK so though I would post my idiots guide in the hope others might find it of use. Again, this is how I go about it and may not be the “best” way!

All my cuttings this year come from last years plants. These were cut back to 6 inches in October last year before the first frost. At the same time they were lifted and potted up into 4 to 6 inch pots and put into a cold greenhouse.

In January heat was increased with an electric fan heater to encourage new sprouts. This has resulted in “stools” with a number of new sprouts coming from both the old stem and from below ground level on each plant:



(Not the best picture I am afraid, managed to delete the proper ones in error!!!!)

When the new shoots are ready, about 2.5cm long or more, these form the new cuttings. Cut from the parent plant with a sharp and clean knife as close to a leaf joint as possible:



Next remove the lower leaves to leave a clean stem, this can then be dipped in rooting compound if you wish:



You now need to plant the new cuttings, I use a mix of John Innes Seed and Cutting compost with washed sharp sand and vermiculite mixed in to give a free draining compost that is not too rich.

Mix your compost and then add to a tray or pot. Do not tamp it down but simply level it leaving it light and open.

Push the new cutting into the compost and water in lightly:



The pots or trays then need to placed in a light and warm spot. Temps should be kept above 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the cuttings should be out of direct sunlight if possible.

After initial watering in leave the cuttings alone for a day or two, only water when the surface of the compost looks like it is drying out. Some say misting daily with plain water helps but I have never worried.

After about 3 weeks the cuttings should root and you will notice that the tips of the cuttings start to take on a fresh green colour and will track the sun through the day:



Leave them another 10 to 14 days and they will be ready to pot on, their roots system will be developing but care must be taken to make sure it is not disturbed too much:



Pot them on into individual 4” pots filled with a mix of general purpose compost and vermiculite.

Again keep them warm but not hot and out of direct sunlight. Harden off in a cold frame in April ready for planting out soon after the last frost.

Hope that helps some.

Jerry

[sandersj89]

[rosebud]

Jerry that is really helpfull i  have printed it all off to keep in the shed, one of my favorite plants, i could have a garden full of them and fuchsias and be very happy thank you very much.  Rosebud.

[Yuet_Lee]

Thanks Jerry!
I'm just not sure when to take cutting? Now,  is it not too early? Mine the young shoots wasn't as tall as yours! Shall I leave it a bit later?

Yuet

[Painter]

Thanks for the info Jerry, your way looks good to me and I will be giving it a try on my plants. they are not quite as advanced as yours but should get a few decent cuttings befor long

[sandersj89]

Thanks Jerry!
I'm just not sure when to take cutting? Now,  is it not too early? Mine the young shoots wasn't as tall as yours! Shall I leave it a bit later?

Yuet

Start taking the cuttings when the shoots are aboout 2.5cm or 1" long. As I started heat on my parent plants a while agao I have been taking cuttings for a few weeks now.

Jerry

[Yuet_Lee]

Hi Jerry,
Is it if I put the parent plants with heat, it'll shoot faster and get more shoots? I never know you can put parent plant in heat? What about the cutting? Do you keep them in heat as well?
Yuet

[TULIP-23]

Sandersj89 8)

Followed Rosebud and Printed  it out Im not a Flower Person

so to speak But its great to see  [ What you do ] Will definately Try it . Thanks ;)

[Merry Tiller]

Early chrysanth stools will shoot in a cold greenhouse no probs. Cuttings will root much faster with a little bottom heat, as will just about anything, the earlier you take cuttings the bigger your eventual plants will be, therefore the bigger the blooms if you're growing dis-buds or the larger the sprays etc.

It can all become a very technical subject if you're looking at showing, timing, feeding, stopping etc.

If you just want some cut flowers for the house chrysanths beat anything and they more or less look after themselves on the allotment.

As you can probably tell I'm a bit of an addict to them, it runs in my family :-\

PS. Earlies are a piece of cake compared to lates

[sandersj89]

Merrytiller

Hope I have the basics right, only my second year doing them but do love them on the allotment and as cut flowers. I also want to increase my stock this year so am looking for about 30 plants to take into next year. So far I have 10 cuttings struck with 18 on the way and some more to take I hope.

Base heat certainly helps them take but do you cover the cuttings or not. When I did this year I suffered a few losses.

Thanks

Jerry

[Merry Tiller]

Yes, I usually lose a few to botrytis etc. Rooting softwood cuttings in Jan & Feb is not ideal for the plants health, it's just a case of finding a balance, I put a cover on and keep it pretty well tightly sealed up taking it off once or twice a week to let the leaves dry out a little but as I say I usually have a few fatalities.
My uncles on the other hand just seem to chuck 'em in a few pots and end up with magnificent blooms, but that's what skill is, making something difficult look easy. I got hooked just listening to them talk about growing chrysanths, they are also responsible for my addiction to Auriculas, another of my obsessions, that's what my missus calls them anyhow.