Chrysanthemum Santini: varieties, planting and care, growing, feeding and pruning

The compact bush chrysanthemum Santini (Santini Chrysanthemums) is a perennial plant that does not require pruning or shaping. This species does not exist in nature. The appearance of the hybrid was the result of the painstaking work of Dutch breeders.

Santini chrysanthemums of different varieties combine well in the composition

Features of growing chrysanthemum Santini

Chrysanthemums are not demanding in terms of growing conditions and are easy to care for, which is why they have gained wide popularity among florists and gardeners.

Cultivation and care of this variety is provided by analogy with other types of bush chrysanthemums.It is important to remember that the plant belongs to the category of hybrids, which means that it will not be possible to grow a flower bush from seeds.

Features of growing and caring for chrysanthemums in central Russia include preparing the plant for wintering. Despite the fact that the species is frost-resistant, Santini bushes must be covered or replanted in pots and moved indoors for the winter.

Severe frosts, which are often observed during the Russian winter, can be destructive for an unprotected plant.

The Santini chrysanthemum is planted in open ground in May, when the threat of return frosts has passed. Planting in greenhouses is carried out about a month earlier - in mid-April.

The plant prefers loose, fertile soil. Does not like stagnant moisture. Therefore, in some cases the use of a drainage system is required.

This species needs regular, abundant watering and good lighting so that its shape and decorative qualities are not lost.

Varieties of chrysanthemum Santini

All varieties of bush compact chrysanthemum Santini can be divided according to the main criteria that distinguish them. This is the height of the bush and the diameter of the flower.

Comment! The plant has an average height of 40 cm, and the diameter of the inflorescence does not exceed 5 cm.

For their compactness, flower bushes have received recognition from indoor plant lovers. The species also does well as potted plants. It is noteworthy that the root system of different varieties is identical: the roots are close to the surface, have modest sizes and average thickness.

There are quite a few varieties of Santini. Planting, growing and caring for each species does not differ from the main activities for all bush chrysanthemums.The differences lie in external indicators and flowering times.

It is problematic to list all known varieties of the Santini subspecies, since there are so many of them.

Chrysanthemum Santini Bouncer

Bouncer (Bunser) is a variety that looks like chamomile. A typical representative of Bouncer has white petals and a greenish center. There are several color options - soft cream, green, yellow, red.

Chrysanthemum Santini Bouncer looks similar to chamomile

Distinctive features: thin stem, height up to 40 cm, inflorescence diameter less than 4 cm. This variety is considered one of the most popular among gardeners in the Moscow region. Widely distributed in other regions of the country.

Chrysanthemum Santini Country

The green Santini chrysanthemum bush of the Country variety looks original due to its inflorescences collected from sharp petals. They are small in size, have a spherical shape, resembling a cone in appearance.

The Santini Country chrysanthemum has small green inflorescences

Flower color ranges from yellow-green to pure green. The core merges with the petals.

Chrysanthemum Santini Aurinko

In appearance, Santini Aurinko is similar to the Country variety. The flower petals have an oblong shape, collected in spherical (pomp-shaped) inflorescences.

Santini Aurinko has pomp-shaped, yellow flowers

The variety has a beautiful yellow hue with a greenish center. Compact bushes with flowers of small diameter (up to 4 cm).

Chrysanthemum Santini Chrissy

Chrysanthemum Santini pink variety Chrissy is distinguished by a high stem. Medium sized inflorescences. The petals are carved in pink shades, the middle is green.

Santini Chrissy inflorescences have carved petals of a beautiful pink color

Externally, Chrissy resembles a daisy with double petals of different colors.

Chrysanthemum Santini Aviso

Unlike other varieties, Avizo has a rather tall stem. Santini Avizo is a chamomile chrysanthemum with rounded petals.

Santini Aviso is distinguished by its rather bright color and splendor

The variety has a fairly pronounced, spectacular color: the petals are bright yellow, the core is green.

Chrysanthemum Santini Madiba

The main distinguishing feature of the Madiba variety is the size of the inflorescence: these are small flowers, double or semi-double. The color of the petals can be white, pink, yellow or red.

The Madiba variety has rather small inflorescences

At the same time, the indicator remains unchanged - the diameter of the inflorescence is only 2 cm.

Chrysanthemum Santini Sun Up

The white Santini chrysanthemum of the San Ap variety resembles a chamomile in appearance, the main difference of which is that its petals are quite small relative to the center.

Santini Sun Up has a bright yellow wide center and short petals

The short petals are painted white, and the wide, large core is bright yellow.

Chrysanthemum Santini Jenny Pink

The compact chrysanthemum bush Santini Jenny Pink has an unusual color: pale pink petals around the circumference, greenish towards the center.

Jenny Peak is characterized by unusual coloring

The inflorescences are small, spherical in shape. The petals are oval.

Chrysanthemum Santini Pompon

Santini Pompon is a variety of compact chrysanthemums with medium-sized spherical inflorescences. The colors are varied: from white to lilac.

Chrysanthemum Santini Pompon (mix) is popular among florists for its variety of tones

The petals are oval-shaped, collected in lush inflorescences.The color of the petal towards the center changes to more intense.

Chrysanthemum Santini Doria

The spherical inflorescences of the Doria variety are small, but very impressive. The petals are colored pink-purple. The middle is greenish.

Santini Doria is characterized by long flowering

Planting chrysanthemum Santini

In central Russia, Santini chrysanthemums are planted in open ground from the second ten days of May, during the period when the threat of frost has passed. Before you start planting, you should determine the location. It is important to choose it according to the following criteria:

the soil should be loose, well-drained naturally;
there should be no stagnation of water in the selected location;
fertility - the plant does not take root well on poor soils, which will later affect development and flowering;
the place should be well lit.

Preparing the soil and planting container

It is not enough to simply choose the optimal location; you need to prepare the planting areas. If the soil is not loose enough, you will have to make drainage to avoid stagnation of water.

In cases where planting is done in pots or planting containers (boxes), it is necessary to prepare the soil. It should be light and fertile. Soil mixtures, which can be purchased in specialized stores, are well suited for these purposes.

Santini subspecies prefers light, fertile soils

It is also necessary to lay a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot or box. Expanded clay, broken brick or ceramics are used for this. Experienced gardeners often use old flower pots as drainage, which must first be broken into small pieces.

New containers for planting should be rinsed well with water and soda or a solution of potassium permanganate.Containers that have been used previously must be disinfected. To do this, fill them with soda or permanganate solution for 1 - 2 hours.

Preparation of planting material

When purchasing planting material, you need to pay attention to the root system. In the Santini chrysanthemum it is quite compact, the body of the root shoots is thick. There should be no dark spots or rotten areas.

The roots of the plant are quite strong and elastic

Ideally, the root of a healthy plant has a light, uniform color. Before planting, you can dip it for a couple of hours in a solution of a stimulant, for example, root. This will help the plant adapt.

Landing rules

Dig a hole approximately 45 cm deep and place a drainage layer at the bottom. A layer of soil is laid on top of the drainage, moistened and chrysanthemum bushes are planted. They dig in and mulch the root zone without fail.

Pine needles, shavings or sawdust are most often used as mulch. Despite the ease of care, the plant needs care. It consists of timely watering and fertilizing, as well as preparation for the winter season.

In open ground, plants are planted at a distance of half a meter from each other. For planting in pots, you should choose a fairly spacious container.

Caring for the Santini chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum does not require special attention to itself, but is responsive to quality care. It requires a place well lit by sunlight. The plant cannot tolerate a lack of light or excess moisture.

Too high humidity is also unacceptable. Chrysanthemum Santini needs regular loosening, watering and fertilizing.

Optimal growing conditions

Chrysanthemums are plants with short daylight hours.For early varieties it is 13 - 14 hours, for mid-late varieties - 11 - 13 hours, for late varieties - 14 - 15. Santini growing indoors requires additional lighting in winter. This applies to varieties that bloom all year round.

For those plants that are in dormant mode after flowering, light is not needed. Chrysanthemums planted in pots from the site are placed in a dark room with a temperature of +2 to 5 degrees. It is important that the indicators in this room do not drop to zero.

For chrysanthemums, with proper watering, air humidification is carried out as needed. You just need to make sure that drops of sprayed water do not fall on the inflorescences and do not accumulate in them. You should not wet the leaves of chrysanthemums too much.

The optimal temperature regime for chrysanthemums is considered to be a temperature range from 10 to 17 degrees. The maximum air temperature is +22 degrees. At higher rates, bud formation is inhibited.

Santini chrysanthemum watering regime

The plant needs regular watering. It needs to be done 1 – 2 times a week depending on weather conditions. During the dormant period, there is no need to feed or water the plant.

Before watering, you need to loosen the soil. Watering is carried out at the root of the plant, after which the root areas are mulched. Excess moisture should not be allowed.

During the budding period, the plant requires frequent moderate watering. With the beginning of flowering it is reduced. Before sheltering for the winter - stop.

Fertilizing

Fertilizing can begin 2 weeks after planting. The composition of nutritional mixtures depends on the periods of development:

During the formation of buds, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are applied;
leaf formation - fertilizing with potassium fertilizers;
formation of the first buds and leaves on the cuttings - application of ammonium nitrate.

It is impossible to fertilize during the period of coloring of buds.

Trimming and shaping

Since the Santini chrysanthemum is a compact plant, it does not need to form a bush. The flower itself creates a beautiful shape.

But it is necessary to promptly remove dried and diseased leaves and inflorescences. Before sheltering for the winter, the stems of the bushes are cut off, leaving stumps.

In rare cases, it becomes necessary to form a bush. This usually happens when growing conditions do not meet those necessary for a given species. To form a bush, you can use the method of pinching the apical shoots.

Shelter for the winter

Despite its frost resistance, in the middle zone the Santini chrysanthemum should either be covered for the winter, or transplanted into pots and brought indoors for the winter.

Dry twigs, spruce branches, agrofibre or film are used as covering materials. For regions with mild winters, it is enough to cover the plant with spruce branches.

Diseases and pests

Chrysanthemum Santini has good immunity and is rarely affected by diseases. The plant is also resistant to pest attacks. But sometimes these moments still happen. The table shows how to deal with problems caused by pathogenic flora or insects.

Problem	Solution
Fungal infection (powdery mildew). Occurs due to high acidity of the soil and excess nitrogen.	Application of fungicides, cancellation of planned fertilizing with nitrogenous fertilizers.
Root rotting due to stagnation of water.	Reducing the amount of water during irrigation. The problem can be prevented by draining during planting.
Damage by aphids, leafmining flies, and slugs.	At the first signs, remove the top layer of soil, replacing it with a new one. Treat with fungicides.

Propagation of chrysanthemum Santini

Since the Santini chrysanthemum belongs to a type of hybrid plant, it can be propagated by dividing an old bush or by cuttings.

Seedlings obtained by cuttings take root quite well

Dividing the bush can be done at any time. Flowering is not a reason to refuse manipulation. Adult bushes are suitable for division. The separated part with roots is immediately transplanted to a permanent place.

For propagation by cuttings, the apical branches 10–15 cm long are cut off and placed obliquely in the soil mixture. This is done in spring or summer.

To root cuttings, certain rules must be followed:

Temperature range: +20 – 22 degrees.
Humidity indicator - 80%.
Regular watering.

In such conditions, the cuttings are kept for 7 days. After the roots appear, young plants are immediately planted in the ground, following the rules of planting and choosing a location.

Important! Seeds of hybrid plants are not suitable for planting and propagation in this way.

Conclusion

Chrysanthemum Santini blooms for 40 – 60 days. This means that the garden plot will be pleasing to the eye until late autumn. The plant is popular among gardeners, florists, landscape designers and indoor floriculture enthusiasts. Arrangements made from cut flowers also look fresh and beautiful for a long time.