A Popular Christmas Houseplant - The Pot Mum

I refer, of course, to the chrysanthemums that abound in florist shops and which often find their way into our homes as pot plants, especially at this time of the year.

Like their relatives the garden chrysanthemums, they are available in a wide range of flower colours and forms, and, have come a long way since they where first cultivated.

Chrysanthemums were cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century BC, from where they moved into Japan. The flower was brought to Europe in the 17th century. Linnaeus named it from the Greek word chrysous, "golden" (the colour of the original flowers), and -anthemon, meaning flower.

Pot Mums are generally smaller growing than their garden counterparts, the result of years of selective breeding, but don’t let looks deceive you. During their time at the grower’s nursery they will have received about three applications of growth retardants to produce the desired, compact shape.

Chrysanthemums are quite hardy plants so a cool room temperature, e.g. 10 -15°C, prolongs the flowering period. The plant will tolerate warmer rooms, but the flowering time will be reduced.

Keep Pot Mums moist at all times and feeding is not necessary. Deadheading the old flowers helps to maintain a tidy looking plant and may extend the flowering period.
Most people discard Pot Mums after the flowering period is over (which is still good value when compared to the cost and longevity of cut flowers). However, it is possible to keep them. After flowering cut them back by approximately 50 percent and either pot them up into a slightly larger pot or plant them in an outside border.

Do not expect the plant to retain its compact shape however . . . remember all the growth retardants it received from the grower. Depending on the cultivar, it may grow into quite a tall plant. Chrysanthemums are induced into flower production by shortening daylight hours, so you should see some new flowers come next November.

It is worth noting that the amount of light received by the plants in the grower’s nurseries is strictly controlled. This allows for a pretty much year round production of plants in full bloom.

Red Palm Weevil Update:

I am sorry that I have not been able to follow up on this pest since the September column, but I will have something interesting to report next month. In a few days, I hope to meet with Mr. Hronakis, the Agriculturist of the Malia Township. The results of that interview will appear in the January edition.