2022 marks the 75th Anniversary of the Evergreen Chrysanthemum Association. Our club was founded in 1947. In the spirit of the original members we have been propagating and growing Chrysanthemums using the English Classification system ever since.
This month, February, we are excited to hold a cutting university for our members. This is an opportunity to learn how to propagate Chrysanthemums. The cuttings will betaken from varietals that we will be selling at a our April Public plant sale. The propagations technique we use can easily be applied to propagating other cultivars.
We had a great discussion at our January meeting about preparations to take cuttings:
The first step is to create a growing plan including the kind of information that might be of interest when you start next years growing plan. Things that might be included: the varietal name, classification information and start date
Next, last years stools need to be warmed up, watered and fertilized to promote shoot growth.
At the same time you will want to start collecting the necessary propagation materials: potting medium, rooting hormone, plant tags, propagation containers, pencil, humidity dome, diluted insecticide
As you begin to take cuttings think about beneficial information to include on the plant tag: varietal name, classification, start date, growers initials, etc
To propagate mums we recommend pinching a 2 – 3 1/2 inch shoot off the plant versus cutting it with scissors or a knife. The pinching method reduces the potential spread of disease that can occur when a knife or scissors are used.
Once the cutting is taken the cutting is stripped of all but the top two leaves. This leaves several good nodes for root development.
The leaf end is then dipped in a diluted insecticide solution.
Lastly the stem is dipped in a rooting hormone and placed in the growing medium with the accompanying plant tag.
WithtIt takes 6 to 8 weeks for a cutting to develop a good set up roots and then the real fun begins!
Upcoming Calendar items of interest
Saturday January 8, 2022 10 am – Noon – monthly ECA meeting at Volunteer Park Conservatory.
Zoom meeting will be available. PLEASE NOTE we have found the VPC WIFI to be spotty. We do our best to bring you to the meeting.
Saturday February 12 monthly ECA meeting – DATE CHANGE – cutting university will take place in lieu of the February meeting
Saturday February 26th 10 am – noon – Cutting university at Volunteer Park Conservatory
Saturday March 12, 2022 10 am – Noon – monthly ECA meeting at Volunteer Park Conservatory.
First of 2 club member plant sales
Saturday April 9, 2022 9 am – 2 pm – Evergreen Chrysanthemum Association Annual Public Plant Sale at Volunteer Park Conservatory.
