Contents
Chrysanthemum Antonov is a perennial herbaceous plant from the Astrov family used in horticulture and floristry. Variety Antonov bred by Dutch breeders. Florists very often order these flowers for their displays at exhibitions. Bicolor Antonov will be the highlight of the bouquet, diversifying the assortment of the flower pavilion.
Features of growing single-headed chrysanthemum Antonov
Chrysanthemum Antonov is called single-headed, because it has a very lush single bud, which looks like a hat with a terry dome. Culture will fit perfectly into any flower bed. Chrysanthemum white Antonov (pictured) will be a good neighbor for other varieties.
When growing at home, the most preferred place for chrysanthemum is the space on the east or west windowsill
If placed on south-facing windows, the plant needs shade to prevent sunburn. Those who grow crops on the north window should provide additional lighting to the chrysanthemum.
With proper care, the Antonov chrysanthemum blooms from August to mid-autumn. After that, she needs to be given complete rest.
Planting chrysanthemum Antonov
Chrysanthemum Antonov prefers sunny places with slight shading. If you plant a crop in an area with too much shade, it will lose most of its decorative qualities, and the bud will not be too large and lush. It is preferable to choose flat places where there are no drafts and stagnant water.
Soil preparation and planting capacity
Chrysanthemum Antonov loves loose loamy soil with a neutral pH. Shortly before planting, it is recommended to fertilize the soil with phosphorus and potassium complexes, as well as a small amount of wood ash and rotted manure (compost).
Preparation of planting material
Chrysanthemum white Antonov can be planted both in spring and in autumn. In the case of a September planting, the plant must be rid of flower stalks (up to the middle of the stem), which take away from it the nutrients and forces necessary for full rooting and adaptation. The optimal landing time for chrysanthemums is the period from the beginning to the middle of September. Plants planted in the spring are more likely to survive the onset of the cold season. When choosing planting material, you need to make a visual inspection of chrysanthemums for the presence of parasites and diseases. A healthy specimen should have a green living stem with young shoots.
It is strongly not recommended to buy flowering seedlings, as they may die during transportation or transplanting to a garden plot.
Rules of landing
For planting flowers, holes are prepared in advance, the gap between them should be at least 35 cm. The root system depth indicator varies from 19 to 26 cm. A layer of expanded clay mixed with coarse sand is laid on the bottom of the hole. This step helps prevent moisture stagnation and root rot. After planting, the roots of the plant must be sprinkled with ordinary garden soil and the soil should be slightly crushed, and then watered abundantly using warm settled water.
To transplant the Antonov chrysanthemum, you must first moisten the soil, after which the earthen lump with the root system should be removed from the soil
Caring for chrysanthemum Antonov
A beautiful flowering plant requires minimal care: periodic weeding, loosening the soil and removing weeds. Chrysanthemum Antonov needs soil mulching with peat or straw. After the flowering of the shrub, the stems are cut at a distance of 5-6 cm from the ground level. Hemp is provided by a high mound of garden soil combined with rotted manure, as well as shelter from spruce spruce branches and sawdust. Unstable stems require a mandatory garter.
The process of tying to the stakes is very laborious, moreover, because of it, the decorative qualities of the semi-shrub are reduced.
Optimal Growing Conditions
Chrysanthemum Antonov prefers open space with an abundance of sunlight throughout the day. The culture is considered very unpretentious, it can be grown both in greenhouse conditions and in flower beds and garden plots in the open field. The impressive dimensions of the shrub and considerable height (up to a meter in length or more) make it difficult to cultivate chrysanthemums on loggias and balconies. It is better to place them in those places where there is no strong wind that can harm the culture.
Temperatures above 30 C ° are dangerous for chrysanthemums, but it endures the first autumn frosts with firmness.
Drought adversely affects the laying of flower buds, and high humidity in autumn can lead to freezing. Therefore, soil moisture must be monitored by timely watering the crop during dry periods.
Irrigation mode of chrysanthemum Antonov
The culture needs abundant watering at least three times a week throughout the summer period. For watering chrysanthemum Antonov, settled or rain water is best suited. It is necessary to ensure that the liquid does not get on the leaves and stems, as it can lead to mold on the inflorescences. Before the onset of cold weather, the Antonov chrysanthemum should be provided with water-charging watering (each bush needs at least 4,5 liters of clean water).
Feeding
It is possible to stimulate the growth of the root system of the Antonov chrysanthemum with the help of special preparations (Kornevin, Zircon, Etamon, Epin). To improve the appearance of the crop, it is recommended to use organic complexes and mineral fertilizers. Chrysanthemum Antonov yellow is distinguished by a rich range and an unusually spectacular appearance.
To preserve the decorative qualities of the culture, it must be fed with the onset of autumn.
You can restore strength, increase stress resistance and immunity with the help of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers
Trimming and shaping
Chrysanthemum Antonov, planted this year, does not require mandatory pruning before the onset of winter. It is enough to remove faded inflorescences with a slight capture of the stems (up to 2 cm). The formation of a chrysanthemum bush begins with a cutting. At the initial stage, pinching or pruning is performed while removing the upper part of the rooted cutting. The pinching procedure involves removing only the top itself. Pruning involves cutting off part of the young stem that has emerged from the axillary buds. Thanks to this technique, it is possible to reduce the growth rate of the shoot, which will have the best effect on the development of the root system.
Pinching is considered the main way to form a bush. If the Antonov chrysanthemum cutting is not pinched in time, its growth in height will quickly stop and the process of forming a flower bud will begin, from which only deformed inferior inflorescences, which are called “blind buds”, can be obtained. After a short interval after the first pinching, the following are allowed. The branching of the bush and the number of inflorescences depend on the number of procedures.
Timely pruning of chrysanthemum is needed not only to improve the decorative qualities, but also to prevent various diseases. By reducing the number of damaged, diseased and unnecessary shoots, it is possible to saturate the root system with nutrients and provide the Antonov chrysanthemum with a high growth rate. Cropped specimens are easier to care for and shelter them for the winter from extreme cold.
Diseases and pests of chrysanthemum Antonov
Chrysanthemum Antonov is a culture prone to various diseases in case of improper care. The following diseases pose the greatest danger to the plant:
- Gray rot that occurs with excess moisture. It manifests itself in the form of brown spots covering the petals, which provokes their decay.
You can fight gray rot with fungicides such as Euparen, Bayleton and Fundazol
- Powdery mildew looks like a white coating that affects the buds and leaves. You can get rid of it only by removing the damaged areas, followed by treatment with Bordeaux liquid.
- Verticillosis is a disease that penetrates through the roots, in which the lower leaves turn yellow. You can save the plant only by spraying with one of the effective biological products.
- Nematodes infect leaf blades, causing them to become deformed and dark. Damaged leaves must be disposed of.
- One of the most dangerous pests is the spider mite.
The mite envelops the reverse side of the leaf plate and sucks out all the nutrients from it.
It can only be controlled with insecticides. For prevention, it is recommended to remove dust from the leaves with a damp cloth or soft cloth.
Reproduction of chrysanthemum Antonov
The main methods of propagation of Antonov chrysanthemum are cuttings and dividing the bush.
Only seedlings with three or four developed leaves are suitable for cuttings.
Procedure technology:
- Chrysanthemum mother bushes are dug up in autumn and stored in a dark, cool room with a temperature in the range of + 7-8 ° C.
- Excavated bushes need sanding. Until the middle of winter, they require periodic watering.
- Towards the end of February, the plants need to be moved to a room in which the average temperature fluctuates between + 14-15 ° C.
- Use a sharp garden knife to cut cuttings. It is recommended to leave at least 3 knots on them for shoots to appear, the length should be about 10 cm.
- Before planting in the soil, the cuttings are cleaned of the lower leaves.
Harvested cuttings are planted at a temperature of +19 to +23 ° C in a pre-prepared mixture of soil, sand and humus in a ratio of 1: 2: 1.
The cuttings are covered with a polyethylene film, which is removed after a few weeks (after the rooting of the seedlings)
By dividing the bush, only chrysanthemums that have reached the age of three are propagated. The most favorable period is the end of spring or the second half of August.
The seed propagation method is used by experienced breeders. This method is suitable for obtaining new varieties. At home, growing Antonov chrysanthemum from seeds will not work, because there is no guarantee that they will sprout, and the shoots that appear will inherit the characteristics of the mother plant.
Conclusion
Chrysanthemum Antonov is a popular culture used for landscaping flower beds. With proper care, you can grow beautiful bushes, but for this you need to create optimal conditions. Painted chrysanthemum Antonov is a real find for florists. For coloring, environmentally friendly paints are used, so these flowers are not harmful to health. Chrysanthemums are stable after cutting, they can stand in water for about three weeks.
