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Chrysanthemum keeled is native to North-West Africa and has been grown in gardens since 1796. The flowers resemble rainbow-colored umbrellas, complemented by succulent openwork leaves. This annual plant is unpretentious, blooms long and luxuriantly, and can be grown independently from seeds.
Features of growing chrysanthemum keeled
Chrysanthemum keeled needs enough light to bloom abundantly.
Cultivation does not require much effort from the grower. The plant begins to bloom approximately two and a half months after sowing the seeds. To make this period last longer, faded buds are picked off. The gardener will need to water, fertilize, and weed.
The best varieties include:
- Chrysanthemum keeled Rainbow – with bright multi-colored colors.
- Chrysanthemum keeled Atrococcineum - deep red color.
- Chrysanthemum keeled Bright eye – white with an iridescent red-yellow core.
In addition, you can find mixes of seeds with simple flowers of various colors on sale.
Chrysanthemum keeled grows up to 30-70 cm, flowering begins at the end of June and continues until frost. Large fragrant flowers resemble daisies in appearance with bright attractive colors; there are varieties with double and semi-double inflorescences. The leaves growing on petioles are light green, doubly pinnately dissected, and fleshy.
Chrysanthemum carinatum is an annual plant that looks best in group plantings and is suitable for creating borders. It will decorate a garden composition with its original appearance, attracting attention thanks to its abundant flowering and delicate greenery. Inflorescences with a dark red center have a diameter of about 6 cm, located one or several pieces on the side shoots.
Planting chrysanthemum keeled
Chrysanthemum keeled seeds are germinated in boxes for seedlings or sown directly in open ground in April-May, depending on the region. This light-loving plant should develop in well-lit areas, where there is sun for at least 5-6 hours a day and there is no stagnation of water. Before planting, the soil is loosened well and nutrient mixtures are added. In areas with a warm climate, seeds can be sown before winter.
Preparing the soil and planting container
Any soil is suitable for growing chrysanthemum keeled, preferably not clayey. The flower loves fertile and light soil, rich in lime. When planting, add dolomite flour or chalk if you need to reduce acidity.
Germinating chrysanthemum keeled seeds at home will help speed up the onset of flowering in adult plants.You will need a plastic container with holes in the bottom, expanded clay and soil. To sow seeds, an earthen mixture is prepared, including humus, peat, sand and garden soil.
You can use universal soil for seedlings from the store
Before planting, the soil is disinfected by heating it in the oven, then poured into a plastic container on top of expanded clay.
Preparation of planting material
The germination of chrysanthemum keeled seeds purchased or collected independently lasts for 2-3 years. They do not need additional processing or soaking before sowing; the shoots appear quickly.
Landing rules
Growing chrysanthemum keeled from seeds in March will allow you to enjoy its flowering at the beginning of summer. The container with the crops is placed on a light, warm windowsill or in a heated greenhouse.
Process description:
- Seeds of chrysanthemum keeled are scattered over the surface of the prepared soil.
When purchasing seed material in a store, you need to pay attention to the date indicated on the package
- Sprinkle the top with a layer of earth 0.5 cm high.
No need to deepen the seeds
- Spray with water from a spray bottle and cover the container with film or a special lid.
- Place in a warm, illuminated place for germination at a temperature of +20…+22 °C.
- The seeds germinate in about five days.
To prevent the shoots of chrysanthemum keeled from stretching, they need good lighting
The shelter is removed gradually, first making a small gap for air circulation, and after three days it is removed completely. This will help seedlings that are accustomed to high humidity not to die. Approximately 30-40 days after sowing, chrysanthemum keeled seedlings can be planted in separate pots, deepening the cotyledon leaves.
When sowing chrysanthemum keeled seeds in open ground, make holes in the flower bed at a distance of about 30 cm to moisten the soil. Place 2-3 seeds in each hole and sprinkle with a small layer of soil. In order for the shoots of chrysanthemum keeled to appear faster, the flowerbed is covered with a film, which is removed when the first shoots are noticed. As the seedlings grow, they are fertilized and sprayed with stimulants so that they do not stretch too much.
Caring for chrysanthemum keeled
This culture cannot be called very whimsical; even a novice gardener can cope with its cultivation. For the successful development and flowering of the keeled chrysanthemum, the following is required:
- weeding, loosening the soil;
- watering, fertilizing;
- protection from pests and diseases.
Optimal growing conditions
The optimal air temperature for growing seedlings is +18 °C. To prevent the seedlings from being drawn in during the first month, additional lighting is provided. Moisten chrysanthemum seedlings in containers using a spray bottle.
For seedlings to be strong, they need fertilizing
Mature plants tolerate drought well and do not like stagnation of water at the roots, but prolonged drying out of the soil is undesirable. Good lighting is important for flowering; in shady and damp spruce forests, plants do not have time to bloom.
Watering mode
Chrysanthemum keeled is drought-resistant, but during intensive growth in the spring and the formation of buds it needs regular watering. Mulching helps to maintain optimal moisture and looseness of the soil in the flowerbed longer.
Fertilizing
Fertilizers intended for flowering plants are used to feed chrysanthemum keeled.Complex preparations containing phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen are selected. During the growing season, fertilizing is carried out monthly. You can spray nutrient solutions over the leaves, being careful not to get them on the inflorescences. Some gardeners apply mullein under chrysanthemums, obtaining good results from growing the crop.
Trimming and shaping
In order for the chrysanthemum bushes to be lush and branched, to bloom profusely, they need to be shaped. The tops of the seedlings are pinched when the height of the stems reaches 15 cm. If the summer is rainy, they can become very elongated, in which case formative pruning will help give the bush a neat shape.
Long-term flowering of chrysanthemum keeled is facilitated by the removal of faded inflorescences. The plant will not waste energy on ripening the seeds and can bloom until the end of September, until frost begins.
Diseases and pests
Chrysanthemum keeled can be affected by slugs, earwigs and leaf miners. The first ones are fought with the help of “Metaldehyde”.
To destroy other insect pests, insecticides are used, for example, Iskra.
The most dangerous for flowers are spider mites and bud mites; the drug Fitoverm helps get rid of them.
With thickened plantings and humid summers, fungal diseases can appear - gray rot and powdery mildew. Fungicides with a wide spectrum of action help against these problems - “Topaz”, “Skor”, copper sulfate and others.
If shortened shoots with deformed foliage appear at the base of the stems, chrysanthemum cancer can be suspected. This disease cannot be cured.The plant must be destroyed by digging it out along with a lump of earth. Disinfect the garden tools used for the work.
Reproduction of perennial chrysanthemum keeled
Chrysanthemum keeled is an annual species and reproduces by seeds. Seedlings are grown in boxes or open ground. In the first case, sowing is carried out in March or early April, in the second - in May. Depending on the air temperature, seedlings will appear in 5-14 days. The distance between the holes is 25-30 cm.
The plant is relatively cold-resistant, but does not tolerate frost, so you need to monitor the weather. Seedlings are planted in May, when the soil and air have warmed up. If sowing is carried out in open ground, you need to cover the seedlings with film when it gets cold.
Conclusion
Chrysanthemum keeled grows in ridges, mixborders, and in flower beds next to perennials. It blooms beautifully from July to October, and in spring and early summer it pleases the eye with its lacy foliage. The inflorescences have bright unusual colors, reminiscent of a rainbow glow, and are also attractive. The plant is undemanding and requires minimal care for successful flowering.
