Chrysanthemums are cheap in every supermarket and garden center. Nevertheless, the propagation of existing plants can be worthwhile - if only because it's just fun to breed yourself. However, at least with vegetative propagation, you know what you're going to get. After all, the offshoots or cuttings are always a genetic copy of the parent plant. For this reason, you should only take cuttings from healthy and vigorous parent plants.
Larger chrysanthemum bushes can easily be propagated by division
Propagation by head cuttings
With chrysanthemums, propagation is particularly easy with cuttings. These are cut off the mother plant as early as May so that they have enough time to root throughout the growing season. Only choose shoots that are about 10 to 15 centimeters long without flower buds, as these would only rob the young plant of its strength unnecessarily. Alternatively, you can also cut stems that have already withered in autumn, remove faded and withered parts and use the shoot as a cutting. However, since these cuttings do not root reliably, you should cut as many as possible.
Plant chrysanthemum cuttings
Chrysanthemum cuttings root very reliably both in water glass and in potting soil.
- Cut stems about 10 to 15 centimeters long from the mother plant.
- Cut as far down as possible.
- The interface should be at an angle, this makes it easier for the plant to absorb water.
- Remove all but the top two leaves.
- Dip the cut section in a rooting powder.
- Plant the cuttings in a pot with nutrient-poor potting or herbal soil.
- Place the pot in a light and warm location, but not in full sun.
- Keep the substrate evenly moist.
- Place a mason jar, cut plastic bottle or freezer bag over the young plants.
- These act as a kind of mini greenhouse.
- In this case, don't forget to air the room every day.
Chrysanthemums root after about four weeks.
Share chrysanthemum bush
Older chrysanthemum bushes can be easily divided and in this way easily multiplied and rejuvenated. The division should be carried out in spring if possible, but only as soon as late frosts are no longer to be expected. Dig up the plant as completely as possible and prick the rootstock into several pieces with a spade or an ax in suitable places. How many new chrysanthemums ultimately emerge from a plant depends on the size of the rootstock. The individual chrysanthemum pieces are immediately planted in the new location.
tips and tricks
In addition to the described vegetative propagation, you can of course also sow chrysanthemums. Chrysanthemums are cold germs that are stratified before sowing - i. H. should be kept in the fridge for a while. You can grow the new plants on the windowsill from February or sow them directly outdoors from around mid-April.