Germination temperature
About 15 °C (59 °F) or a little warmer.
Flower growing guide
Garden chrysanthemums are India's classic winter flower and bloom when days grow short in autumn. Seed sown in spring germinates within about two weeks and can flower the same year, with each seedling slightly different from the next.
About 15 °C (59 °F) or a little warmer.
Shallow: on the surface or under a very thin cover.
Within about two weeks.
Not specified by the sources; a very thin cover is a safe compromise.
None needed.
Sow in trays or a protected seedbed, then transplant.
Chrysanthemum seed is small. Sow it thinly in a tray or a protected nursery bed rather than in open ground, so you can look after the seedlings closely.
Not needed.
Not needed. The RHS advises simply sowing in spring at about 15 °C (59 °F).
Not needed. Sow onto moist seed compost.
The RHS recommends sowing at 15 °C (59 °F). Mild spring warmth suits germination; avoid very hot, dry conditions while seedlings are small.
None of the sources consulted gives an exact depth. Sow on the surface of fine compost and cover with only a light sprinkling of compost or vermiculite.
A fine, free-draining seed compost. Later the plants need well-drained soil rich in organic matter, slightly acidic at about pH 6.5. Chrysanthemum is very sensitive to waterlogging.
Keep the compost moist but not wet. Water gently from below or with a fine spray so the seed is not disturbed.
The sources consulted do not say whether chrysanthemum seed needs light or darkness. A very thin cover keeps the seed moist without burying it. Give seedlings bright light once they emerge.
Seedlings should appear within about two weeks (RHS).
Prick seedlings out into small pots when they have their first true leaves, then plant out into a sunny bed with at least six hours of direct sun. Commercial beds in Punjab use 30 x 30 cm (12 x 12 in); garden guidance from Iowa State suggests 45-60 cm (18-24 in) for bushy plants.
Pinch out the growing tip when plants are about 15-20 cm (6-8 in) tall, then pinch the side shoots again a few weeks later. Punjab Agricultural University pinches at 4 and 7 weeks after transplanting. Stop pinching well before buds form, or flowering is delayed.
Support taller plants with a stake or with horizontal netting at about 15, 30 and 45 cm (6, 12 and 18 in) above the ground.
Cause: chrysanthemum is a short-day plant; most varieties start buds only when days are shorter than about 12 hours, and night lighting delays or prevents flowering. Fix: grow plants away from street, porch or room lights.
Cause: chrysanthemums do not come true from seed; each seedling is a new combination. Fix: keep the plants you like best and propagate them from cuttings or division.
Cause: white rust, a damaging fungal disease. Fix: remove affected leaves at once, keep foliage dry and space plants for airflow.
Cause: powdery mildew, Septoria leaf spot or Verticillium wilt, encouraged by frequent light watering and wet leaves. Fix: water deeply but less often, at the base of the plant.
Cause: aphids, capsid bugs, leaf miners or eelworms. Fix: inspect plants regularly and remove pests or damaged leaves as soon as they appear.
In Punjab, commercial growers plant rooted cuttings at the end of July and early August, and plants flower in November and December. Sow seed in spring so seedlings are a good size by the rains; they will then bloom as the days shorten.
Growth and flowering are best at about 25 °C (77 °F) by day and 15 °C (59 °F) at night, which is why chrysanthemum is a winter flower in the plains.
Chrysanthemums are heavy feeders. Prepare the bed with compost or well-rotted manure, and switch to a high-potassium feed once buds show.
For one large flower per stem, remove the side buds and leave the top bud. For a mass of smaller flowers, leave all buds.
Raise your own garden chrysanthemums from seed for a colourful winter display.
Yes. Seed sown in spring usually flowers the same year, as the days shorten in autumn and early winter.
Chrysanthemums do not come true from seed, so every seedling varies in colour and form. Propagate favourites from cuttings.
It needs long nights to form buds. Light from street lamps or windows at night can delay or stop flowering, and pinching too late also delays it.