Evening star., 1951-04-15
Fall Chrysonthenunns
Separation Of Clumps and Use of New
Shoots Guarantees September Blooms
By W. H. Younsmon
oa,dsn Editor

r SUtGS
In the spring when the ole
crowns Of chrysanthemums arr
throwing new shoots. there is q
tendency to consider the fall show
of bloom as a certainty. How
ever. that opinion is not always
realized because the strong grow.
ing chrysanthemum plant soor
the food supply and sell
dom does q 2-year-old or Older
clunp produce a desirable dis
play. Usually the shoots are SC
thick that branching is negligible
Moreover. lacking in plant food
and moisture most OF the lower
leaves are shed which makes q
rather unsightly plant. It is
much better to lift the clump al
this season and to select a few
Of the outer shoots for replantine
after the soil has been thoroughly
reworked and generously enriched
with compost or well-rotteo
manure.
Chrysanthemums are somewhat
Of an enigma to the Washington
gardener. Further north. the
plants seem to thrive in a much
colder. less hospitable climate
than Is common to this area. II
is the moist mild climate thai
seems to cause rot and loss OF
plants unless they are planted
with care. Generally speaking
most hardy varieties will carry
through the winter here If they
are planted on slight ridge in
soil that has been 'lightened" by
the addition of sand. 1t is not
necessary to plant the new shoots
in a soil that has been improved
by the addition of sand, but fol
the clumps over-wintel
II Is essential. Even those varieties
developed in this area by the
Bureau of Plant Industry need
this protection.
The planting Of a chrysanthe-
mum in . well-enriched soil seems
like unnecessary coddling. How
ever, the opposite is true. Chrys-
anthemums need to keep growing
vigorously throughout the sum-
mer If they are to make the best
showing in the fall and without
this provision, considerable wa
tering and feeding will be needed
to produce satisfactory growth
BY Incorporating an emple sup
ply OF humus in the soil the shall
roots are not likely
to suffer from lack of moisture.
Soil Tests May Help.
Even though separated and
planted in q we'll enriched soil
there may be some loss of the
lower foliage. due in part to lack
OF moisture during late summer
or. to the work OF the chrysanthe-
mum nematode "a minute sucking
insect. Although this pest is
easily controlled with DDT, or
possibly to the absence OF certain
trace elements in the soil. There
is some reason to believe that the
trace elements Of copper. man
ganese and sulphur may be needed
for satisfactory growth,
This may be tested by using one
OF the commercial fertilizers that
is fortified with the trace ele-
ments on part of the planting. OF
by using a solution of trace ele-
ments (there are at least two
such available). If the foliage
retention is improved through the
use OF one of these sources OF
minor elements it would seem to
prove that they are lacking in the
soil.
1t was suggested that the
stronger-rooted shoots from the
outer edges Of the clump be used
lor planting and that the rest be
discarded. This is a 'hand-me-
down" theory Of long standing
based upon the theory that by SO
doing. there is less likelihood of
carrying over insects and diseases
Where the rooted shoots are de-
sired Tor the extension of a plant
ing there seems to be little reason
for not making full use of the new
growth. Should some of the
shoots lack feeding roots, they NAV
be used by treating them as cut
tings. Stripping the lower leaves
and removing q portion of the tin
leaves to reduce evaporation until
roots have formed.
A more certain way of roofing
Is to put them In a small
cutting box filled with sand-the
oox should be kept in light shade
and watered as needed. However.
chrysanthemum cuttings root
rather easily and may be started
In the flower border, although
they will benefit by shading for a
few days.
When the newly set-out plants
nave reached q height of 6
TO . inches the tops should be
pinched"-this refers to cutting
the new shoot back an inch or two
10 stimulate branching. This
operation is repeated when the
branches have reached a length of
or 8 inches. A third pinching in
Early June may be given if broad