Chrysanthemum cascade (Ampelnaya): cultivation and care, varieties, photos

Chrysanthemum is a perennial plant that blooms in autumn. The culture is used in ornamental gardening or commercially for cutting. Chrysanthemum ampelous in Our Country is rare. This variety is grown for vertical gardening and as a groundcover.

Description of cascading chrysanthemums

Varieties of ampelous cascading chrysanthemums come from Japan.

In the land of the rising sun, an unusual style of bush formation is called kengai.

For vertical gardening, chrysanthemums with long thin stems and small flowers with a diameter of 1,5-7 cm have been created, they can be simple terry or anemone-shaped in shape. The color of the flowers is varied. They are yellow, red, white, blue, which allows you to create colorful cascading compositions. Kengai is quite common and popular in European countries. There, chrysanthemum is used as an ampelous plant for decorating balconies.

In Our Country in the last century, ampelous chrysanthemums were grown only in botanical gardens. Several varieties adapted to the weather conditions of the Central Strip were used. Over time, varieties of culture appeared on the free market. They are used for growing in pots and in open ground.

To get a cascade option, direct the stems down at any angle that matches the design idea. If you do not use the cascade formation technique, the stems grow upwards, and the bush will not differ from ordinary chrysanthemums. The composition will require special supports or frames of various shapes, to which the shoots are fixed.

Ampel chrysanthemums in landscape design

Chrysanthemums are grown in flower pots, they create compositions from different colors. The stems are thin and flexible, can reach a length of 120 cm, ampelous varieties are specially bred to create cascade options, the flowers completely cover the plant, 100 or more inflorescences are formed on one bush. Culture is used to decorate summer verandas, balconies, special frames are used on the site or in gardens.

The variety is suitable for an open area, it is planted for the design of rock gardens, rockeries. The stems are fixed to the soil surface in a vertical position, at different levels, a ground cover, cascade option is obtained.

A few design ideas using ampelous chrysanthemums:

• for decorating a brick fence or ledge of a building;

  

• to create a Japanese-style design;

  

• grown in hanging planters to decorate any area of ​​​​the backyard;

  

• for the design of the urban area, the pots are installed on special frames;

  

• grown in containers with a grid.

  

Varieties of cascading chrysanthemums

Varieties of cascading chrysanthemums differ in the length of the stems, the shape of the flower and its color. Agrotechnics and methods of crown formation are the same for all varieties. The flowering period also coincides. All representatives bloom in September or early October.

To choose a suitable variety for landscaping a site, you need to familiarize yourself with its characteristics and requirements for agricultural technology.

Yellow

The cascade perennial variety has a good indicator of cold resistance, the flowers do not crumble when the temperature drops to -5 ⁰C. The stems are thin, 70-80 cm long, the flowers are yellow with an orange core.

The flowers of the Jaune variety are semi-double, diameter – 6 cm

Contes de Secur

Contes de Secur – perennial ampelous chrysanthemum, belonging to the elite varieties. The length of the stems is more than 120 cm, the foliage and the arrangement of the inflorescences are dense. The flowers are spherical, dense, white or light cream.

Diameter of flowers Contes de Secur – 3,5 cm

Meteor Rain

Meteor shower is an annual miniature plant suitable for growing in a hanging planter. The length of the stems does not exceed 20 cm, the diameter of the flowers is 2,0 cm. This variety is propagated by seedlings.

The meteor shower is distinguished by bright lemon semi-double flowers.

Aurora

Aurora is a variety of Korean chrysanthemum. This is a perennial plant with stems up to 70 cm long. It is grown as an ampelous culture. The characteristic indicates low frost resistance, therefore, for the winter, the container is brought into a heated room.

Aurora’s flowers are large – up to 8 cm in diameter, double, dark pink with an orange core

Livingston

Perennial frost-resistant crop for open ground. The length of the stems is 1m or more. The bush is dense, characterized by the intensive formation of inflorescences.

The Livingstone variety has semi-double flowers with pink tubular petals, their diameter is 6 cm

Natalie

Medium-sized plant with thin, flexible stems 80 cm high. Suitable for open ground. The flowers are semi-double, purple, 5 cm in diameter.

Frost resistance in Natalie is average, the culture needs shelter for the winter

Etude

The variety is not common, universal. It can be grown in pots and outdoors, but is more often used to decorate rock gardens, included in a cascade composition with other varieties. The stems reach a length of 60 cm, foliage and abundance of flowering are average.

The flowers are dark pink, anemone-shaped, diameter 5 cm

Vanilla

Small-flowered variety, with numerous thin stems and intense foliage. Grown as an ampelous plant to create cascade structures. The stems are 55 cm long, the flowers are 1,5 cm long. The color can be white, light pink or cream.

Vanilla has an anemone type of flowers with a tubular core.

Growing and caring for ampelous chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemum is a demanding plant not only for the soil, but also for subsequent care. Growing an ampelous plant is possible only under certain conditions.

Selection and preparation of the landing site

Chrysanthemum is a photophilous culture, the lack of lighting will affect the density of the bush and the intensity of budding, in the shade the color of dark flowers will be faded. The plant does not tolerate the effects of the north wind, therefore, a site protected from drafts is taken away. The culture prefers loamy soil rich in organic matter.

For planting on the site, the soil is dug up, compost, sand, nitrophoska and wood ash are added.

Rules of landing

Planting work is carried out at the end of May, when there is no threat of return frosts:

1. A hole is made 30 cm deep, the bottom is covered with a drainage cushion (the requirements are the same for open ground and planters).
2. Put the seedling upright, covered with soil.
3. Abundantly watered. At the site, the root circle can be closed with peat.
4. In cascade options, the distance from the plants is about 30 cm.

Planters with seedlings are placed in a shaded place, before rooting, the chrysanthemum is covered with a cloth.

3 cuttings are planted in a container to create a composition, of different colors of flowers

Watering and top dressing

Ampel chrysanthemum does not tolerate a lack of moisture; with irregular watering, the stems become brittle, stiff, which complicates the horizontal formation of the bush. Moisten the soil regularly, especially in hot weather. It is watered only under the root, water should not be allowed to enter the above-ground part, especially during the period of budding and flowering.

Top dressing is a prerequisite for agricultural technology, they are carried out according to the following schedule:

1. Before budding. In order for the plant to gain green mass well, urea and nitrophoska are added.
2. During the formation of buds (in August). Feed “Agricola for flowering plants”, superphosphate.
3. At the peak of flowering, fertilize with potassium sulfate.

How to form a cascading chrysanthemum

To obtain a lush crown, the formation of an ampelous chrysanthemum begins immediately after placement in the soil:

1. 6 leaves are left on the handle from below, the top is broken.
2. After 3 weeks, lateral shoots will appear from the leaf axils. The top ones do not touch, and the bottom pinch up to the fourth sheet.
3. Until the moment of flowering, all lateral processes are constantly shortened by 2 sheets.
4. Rails are stuck on both sides near the bush, maintaining a distance of 1 m between them. The height of the plank on the south side is 20 cm, on the north side – 50 cm. Another rail is fixed between them at an angle of 45 °, the lower lowered part should be on the south side.

As the stems grow, they are fixed to a horizontal support and the degree of the angle is gradually reduced.

When the shoots begin to descend, it is necessary to tie a load to them or install a flower pot on a frame with devices for further fixation. If the cascade is formed in open ground, the initial principle is the same, then the stems must be fixed with long, thin staples. In autumn, the branches are shortened to 20 cm.

Reproduction of cascading chrysanthemums

Some ampelous annual varieties are propagated generatively. Seeds for seedlings are laid in March, seedlings swoop down and planted on the site in spring. Most often, small-flowered perennial varieties are propagated vegetatively. Cuttings 12-15 cm long are harvested in spring or summer, they are cut from the side shoots of old stems. Placed in boxes with a fertile substrate and stored at a temperature of +14 ⁰With, in the spring they determine a permanent place. The method of dividing the mother bush can be used at any time during the growing season.

Diseases and pests of cascading chrysanthemums

Ampel varieties resist infection well. Chrysanthemums are threatened by downy mildew and gray mold.

Fungal infection of chrysanthemums is eliminated by means of “Topaz”

Solution consumption – 1 liter per 10 square meters. m, concentration – 40 ml of the drug per 10 liters of water.

Parasitize on culture:

• slippery;
• earwigs;
• mining moths;
• aphid.

Get rid of slugs with “Metaldehyde”

From insects and their larvae apply “Spark”

Photo of ampelous chrysanthemums

Several ampelous chrysanthemums that can be used to create a cascade, both in a pot and in an open area:

• Ellen White – ampelous variety with long shoots and densely spaced buds;

  

• Dustina Pink – one of the most common ampelous representatives of culture;

  

• Branchil cherry – the ampel variety is widely known in Italy, in Our Country it is considered rare;

  

• Branbeach Lilac – ampelous variety, characterized by pink and yellow flowers;

  

• I discovered – a rare elite variety with green inflorescences;

  

• varieties of small-flowered Korean chrysanthemum (Chrysantemum);

  

• ampelous representative of chrysanthemums Snowball characterized by low frost resistance. The plant is not left to winter in an open area.

  

Conclusion

Chrysanthemum ampelous – ideal for vertical gardening. Culture is used to decorate balconies, gardens, recreation areas. Cascading compositions are created using ready-made frames, planted on a rock garden hill. The flowering time for all varieties is the same, agricultural technology also does not differ.