During the month of November, Lan Su Chinese Garden will be packed with more than 500 potted chrysanthemums artistically displayed throughout the garden. A lot happens behind the scenes (well technically in the greenhouse) to put on such a dazzling display of this impressively dynamic and culturally important flower. Expect to see at the very least 90 cultivars on display this Mumvember, including old favorites Nightingale, Apricot Courtier and Chesapeake as well as new soon-to-be favorites Saba, Saffina and Lili Gallon.
A team of Lan Su staff and volunteers begin propagating hundreds of chrysanthemums in March in preparation for Mumvember. Cuttings are taken from the cultivars after about 2 weeks of growth.
After the cuttings are rooted we up-pot our mums from 4” pots to 1 gallon pots. With each up-potting the plants are cut back to 4 inches and given a slow release fertilizer. This is done to encourage strong stems down low and also to encourage more branching in the plant. The plants are up-potted once more this time to 2 gallon pots. The plants are up-potted in increments to forces to plants into developing denser root systems.
In August the plants are staked and disbudding begins in September. Disbudding is just like it sounds, all the flower buds are removed expect for one. This focuses all of the plant’s energy to one flower bud rather than several—resulting in one big flower. The process of staking and disbudding continues as the plants grow larger, continuing through October. Throughout this time a careful eye is kept on pests, in this case aphids. To control aphids, the plants are sprayed with a stream of water a few times a week.
Finally, the horticulture team transports the mums from the greenhouse to the garden just in time for Mumvember! The mums are arranged throughout the garden and it's pavilions in artful displays that highlight their amazing diversity.
What happens with the extra cuttings and plants that don’t end up in the garden? Lan Su donates mums to local garden clubs, including one at Trillium Family Services.
Visit Lan Su this Mumvember for a dazzling display of chrysanthemums as well as plant walk, talks, and floral demonstrations.
Learn more about Mumvember, Lan Su’s month-long celebration of the Chrysanthemum »
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