Cultivation of Chrysanthemum 

General Information

• Common Name: Chrysanthemum
• Scientific Name: Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev
• Family: Asteraceae
• Origin: China
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial plant

• It is next only to rose in the value of flower trade in the world market.
• The word Chrysos means ‘golden’ and anthos means ‘flower’
• Commonly known as Queen of East, Autumn Queen, or Guldaudi
• Recognized as the National Flower of Japan

Importance and Uses

• Photo-sensitive short-day plant – requires 10 hours of daylight
• Flowering season: Cool season
• Best planting time: June–July (late varieties can be planted up to August)
• Uses:
  • Tall cultivars: Ideal for background planting and cut flowers
  • Dwarf/compact types: Suitable for pots and front row plantation
  • Source of essential oil and sesquiterpenoid alcohol

Commercial and Economic Importance

• Second most important flower in the global floriculture trade after rose
• High demand during festivals, marriages, and decoration
• Export-oriented crop for cut flowers and essential oils
• Major cultivating states in India: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh

Flower Types

Chrysanthemums are classified based on floret arrangement into 5 major groups:

1. Singles
2. Anemones
3. Pompons
4. Decorative
5. Large flowered

Climate Requirement

• Photoperiod: Chrysanthemum is a short-day plant, initiating flower buds when days are less than 14 hours.
• Ideal Temperature:
  • Vegetative growth: 20–30°C
  • Flower initiation and blooming: 13–15°C (cool temperatures promote better coloration and compact growth)
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity (50–60%) is ideal; avoid excessively wet conditions to reduce fungal risk.

Soil Requirement

• Type: Well-drained sandy loam or loam soil
• Soil pH: 6.5–7.0 (neutral to slightly acidic)
• Avoid: Heavy clay or waterlogged soils (root rot prone)

Varieties by Usage

Propagation

By Vegetative Method

• Suckers
  • Arise from underground stems
  • Planted in nursery beds in January
  • Pinching:
    • First in April, repeated monthly until June
    • After 3rd pinching, cuttings are taken from mother plants

• Cuttings: Terminal cuttings of 5–7 cm taken in June
• By Seed: Used mainly for hybrid development and maintaining cultivar purity

Pinching

• Purpose: Encourages side shoots and more blooms
• Time:First at 4 weeks after planting. Then again on lateral shoots at 7 weeks or 100 days before bloom
• Types:
  • Soft Pinching: Removal of soft shoot tips and 2–3 open leaves
  • Hard Pinching: Removal of longer portion of the hard shoot

Other Cultural Practices

Disbudding & De-shooting

• Standard types: Remove all auxiliary buds; retain central bud
• Spray varieties: Remove apical bud, retain side buds
• For 3 blooms per plant: Retain 3 lateral strong shoots, remove others
• For 1 bloom per plant: Allow main stem only, no pinching
• De-shooting: Reduces extra branches to improve flower form and size

De-suckering

• Remove new suckers from plant base during vegetative growth
• Promotes single, strong stem and healthy plant growth

Staking

• Necessary for tall varieties
• Supports upright growth and maintains plant/bloom shape
• Done using bamboo sticks or similar materials

Irrigation

• Immediately after planting
• Then twice a week depending on season and soil
• Avoid over-irrigation (leads to fungal infections)

Manure and Fertilizer Management

1. Basal Application (before planting): Well-rotted FYM (Farm Yard Manure): 20–25 t/ha, NPK basal dose: 25:50:50 kg/ha (N:P:K)
2. Top Dressing: Nitrogen is applied in 3 equal splits – at 30, 60, and 90 days after transplanting.
3. Micronutrients: Boron, Zinc, and Iron improve flower quality and shelf life. Foliar sprays of 0.2% ZnSO₄ and 0.1% boric acid are beneficial.

Harvest and Yield

Loose Flowers

• Harvest Starts: From 3rd month onwards
• Interval: Every 4 days
• Maturity stage: For nearby markets: ¾ to full bloom. For distant markets: ½ bloom
• Crop Duration: Main crop: 6–8 months. Ratoon crop: 4 months

Yield

• Main crop: 20 tonnes/ha
• Ratoon crop: 10 tonnes/ha

Pest and Disease Management

Growth Regulators

• B-Nine (Daminozide): 2,000 ppm applied during vegetative stage helps in compact growth for pot mums.
• GA₃ (Gibberellic acid): 50 ppm for promoting stem elongation in cut flower production.

Post-Harvest Handling

• Harvesting Stage:
  • Loose flowers: Fully open stage
  • Cut flowers: Bud showing full color but not open

• Storage:
  • Cut flowers can be stored at 4–5°C with 90–95% RH for up to 2 weeks
  • Use floral preservatives like 8-HQC (Hydroxyquinoline citrate) 300 ppm + 3% sucrose to extend vase life
• Grading: Based on stem length, flower size, and freshness
• Packing: Bundles in corrugated boxes with cushioning; avoid crushing

Ratooning in Chrysanthemum

• After main harvest, plants can be cut back to 10–15 cm above soil
• Top dress with FYM and nutrients
• Produces a ratoon crop in 3–4 months