A very kind friend sent us a beautiful flower arrangement last week; what a wonderful way to brighten someone's day! The arrangement was stunning, with deep purple mums, soft cream-colored roses, and lilies. It made my whole day; in fact, it made my whole week!
Chrysanthemums are one of those great, dependable flowers that we often take for granted; they never seem to get the accolades and attention that more exotic blooms might receive. Yet, they are a versatile, long-lasting cut flower that comes in a myriad of shapes, sizes, and textures, so I think that you and I should learn a little more about mums!
I'll tell you what I learned in my research: chrysanthemums (let's call them "mums") belong to the genus chrysanthemum, in the family Asteraceae. While mums may have originally called northern Europe and parts of Asia home, they grow all over the world. They like full sun, well-drained soil, and here's something interesting: they bloom because of shorter days and longer nights. So one article suggested that we don't plant mums in areas that are lit by street lights at night, because it might disrupt their flowering cycle.
I also learned that there are "hardy" mums, which are the kind you and I would plant in our gardens, and "florist" mums, which are perhaps more diversified with colors and shapes, but are not as hardy in our climate. If you and I plant mums in our gardens, they should be divided every third year. The plants would benefit from being protected in the winter, so they could be wrapped to protect them from the bitter winter wind. I also read that we should not prune them in the fall, because the branches will help to protect the plant.
Once our plant is growing, pinching it will make it nice and bushy, and will help it produce more blooms. I read that we should pinch our mums when they reach about six inches in height, and after that, pinch them every three weeks or so. But take note that by the beginning of summer, we should stop pinching the plants so that buds can form.
Now, let's talk about florist mums for a moment. The florist mums are breath-taking; there are spider mums, buttons, pom-poms, and a virtual rainbow of colors. I also learned that there are thirteen different bloom forms that describe the shape and placement of the petals. They're spectacular in bouquets, long-lasting and sturdy, and they deserve our appreciation!
One more interesting little factoid: mums were brought to Japan in the 8th century, and were so beloved that the Emperor chose the flower as his official symbol. That is why we so often see mums in Oriental artwork and embroidery to this day. In China, the mum is part of a group of plants called "the four gentlemen". The others are the orchid, bamboo, and the plum blossom. They are all held in high esteem.
And here's one more thing I learned: chrysanthemum plants can reduce indoor air pollution.So there's our crash course in mums! The next meeting of the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society will be on Wednesday, February 16 at the Sunshine Room. SIGN on North Street. Hope you can join us!
Till next time, have a good week!
