They are often sold during their flowering period in autumn: mostly non-hardy chrysanthemums in pots. Unfortunately, the very rich and long-flowering plants are often disposed of after they have bloomed, although the Chrysanthemum indicum varieties are particularly suitable for indoor cultivation. Read what you should look out for when caring for the "golden flower" - the meaning of the name, which comes from the Greek.
The chrysanthemum is a patient, low-maintenance houseplant
location
Chrysanthemums like brightness, but not direct sunlight. For this reason, they also thrive where other indoor plants would die quickly, for example on a north-facing window. In summer you can safely put the plant on the balcony or terrace.
substrate
Conventional pot and balcony plant soil, which you can mix with clay granules or sand in a ratio of 2:1, is best suited. Make sure that the plant pot has a drainage hole at the bottom, and you should also fill in broken potsherds or similar material to improve drainage as the bottom layer.
watering and fertilizing
Chrysanthemums are heavy feeders, so they need to be watered and fertilized regularly. The flowers tolerate neither ball dryness nor waterlogging. So it is best to water when the substrate has already dried on the surface. Between April and September, a liquid complete fertilizer is used as a fertiliser, during the winter there is a fertilization break. Plants that have been potted or repotted in fresh substrate do not have to be fertilized first - commercially available potting soil is usually already pre-fertilized.
repot
The plant propagates by offshoots that quickly root through the pot. To prevent senescence, chrysanthemums should be repotted and thinned out every two years. You can also multiply and rejuvenate them by division.
To cut
Between May and July, regularly pinch the tips of the shoots and shorten the new shoots to around four leaves. These prunings encourage the plant to branch more. During flowering, remove faded stems as they will dry up. However, the plant keeps producing new flowers. At the end of the flowering period, a radical pruning is carried out to just above the ground.
hibernate
Chrysanthemums absolutely need a winter break, during which they recover and recharge their batteries. It is best to overwinter the plant at temperatures between five and ten degrees Celsius, for example in the stairwell or in the basement. The winter quarters do not necessarily have to be bright.
tips
Chrysanthemums are also quite easy to propagate using seeds you have bought or collected yourself.