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» Willy World » Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2003 » Chrysanthemum and Poinsettia

   
Author Topic: Chrysanthemum and Poinsettia
kjhill7239
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Member # 400

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Last year I received a beautiful Poinsettia. I tried to keep it but it didn't make it past the summer months. This year I received a potted Chrysanthemum and Poinsettia, or Mumsettia. It is so very beautiful that I would like to keep it until next year. So I brought it into my office which gets plenty of sunlight. But, since I was unsuccessful with the Poinsettia last year I am fearful that I will be unsuccessful with the Mumsettia. How do I care for this potted plant so that I can enjoy its beauty next year? [EMAIL]null[/EMAIL]
Posts: 1 | From: Kansas City, MO | Registered: Jan 2003  |  Logged: 134.67.6.44
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A Mumsettia is actually a combination plant. A Poinsettia surrounded by White Mums. What you have are actually several plants.

You may want to treat the Poinsettia separately fron the Chrysanthemum or try leavig them in the same pot. I described how to get the Poinsettia to bloom again in a thread called Poinsettas in houseplants. As for the Chrysanthemum....

After the Chrysanthemum flowers fade, prune the plant back to half its isze, place it on a windowsill that receives some direct sunlight, water thoroughly whenever the top soil layer feels dry, fertilize every month with a water-soluble chemical fertilizer high in phosphorous and maintain the temperature at 65F.

After the last frost, likely in mid spring, the Chrysanthemum can be taken outside either in it's pot or planted in the ground. Mums are perennial and their natural flowering time is autumn. Mums should be planted in a sunny, well-drained spot where the soil has been enriched with organic matter.

Early each summer, prune the mums to half their size. This will encourage a bushier plant and prevent it from blooming too early.

The mums can be repotted and brought back into the house before the first frost. The daily dark period must be 12-15 hours long. This will require you to place your plant in total darkness for that period each day until flower buds are well formed and color is showing in the buds. This can take anywhere from 7 - 10 weeks.

Good luck
Barb barbsblooms@shaw.ca

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Posts: 536 | From: Winnipeg | Registered: Jan 2003  |  Logged: 24.66.94.142
   

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