Chrysanthemum Rainbow

🌱 Sowing Chrysanthemum Seeds: In Trays vs. Direct

🌿 Sowing in Trays (Recommended)

Chrysanthemums grow best when started in trays first—this gives them a gentle, controlled environment to get going, especially if your garden is still facing cool nights.

How to sow in trays:

• Fill seedling trays or punnets with quality seed-raising mix
• Sow seeds thinly on the surface and lightly press them in – they need light to germinate
• Mist gently with water and keep trays in a bright, sheltered spot (18–21°C is ideal)
• Germination takes 7–14 days

Tip: Bottom-watering helps avoid disturbing the tiny seeds!

---

🌼 Direct Sowing (Less Ideal)

Chrysanthemums can be directly sown once the soil warms up, but it’s trickier due to their fine seed and longer germination period.

If direct sowing:

• Choose a sunny, well-prepared garden bed
• Sow thinly, lightly press the seeds in, and keep soil moist until germinated
• Thin seedlings once they’re around 5cm tall

Note: Direct sowing is best in regions with warm, stable spring temperatures.

---

🪴 Soil and Position

• Position: Full sun (at least 6 hours/day)
• Soil: Well-draining, friable soil enriched with compost or aged manure
• pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0–7.0)

Tips for success:

• Improve clay soils with gypsum and organic matter
• In sandy soils, add compost to boost moisture-holding capacity
• A sheltered spot with good airflow reduces disease risk

---

🌿 Care and Maintenance

• Watering: Keep soil evenly moist, especially during dry periods. Avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal issues.
• Feeding:
  • Use a balanced organic fertiliser every 4–6 weeks
  • A liquid seaweed or compost tea during flowering boosts bloom quality
• Pinching:
  • Pinch out the main stem tip when plants are 10–15cm tall—this encourages bushier growth and more flowers
• Staking: Tall varieties may need support, especially in windy spots

---

🌼 Companion Planting Guide

Chrysanthemums are more than just a pretty face—they can actually help in the vegie patch too!

Companion	Benefit
Tomatoes	Repel nematodes and deter pests like aphids
Cabbage Family (Brassicas)	Help deter cabbage moth and loopers
Beans	Attract beneficial insects nearby
Nasturtiums & Marigolds	Boost flower bed aesthetics and attract pollinators

Avoid planting near:

• Potatoes – They compete for similar nutrients and can promote fungal diseases.

---

✂️ Harvesting Chrysanthemums

• Blooming Time: Late spring through autumn
• When to harvest: When flowers are nearly fully open for best vase life
• How to harvest:
  • Use clean, sharp snips
  • Cut early in the morning or late evening
  • Strip lower leaves and place stems in cool water immediately

Tip: For bouquets, harvesting regularly encourages even more blooms!

---

🛠️ Common Issues & Fixes

Issue	Symptoms	Fix
Aphids	Sticky leaves, curled growth	Spray with soapy water or neem oil
Powdery Mildew	White powder on leaves	Improve airflow, avoid overhead watering, treat with potassium bicarbonate spray
Leaf Spot	Yellow/brown patches on foliage	Remove affected leaves, apply copper-based fungicide
Weak Stems / Flopping	Tall plants falling over	Pinch tips early on, stake tall varieties
Poor Flowering	Few or small blooms	Increase sunlight, feed with bloom-boosting fertiliser

---

🌻 Seed Saving Guide

✅ How to Save Seeds:

1. Choose healthy, non-hybrid plants – Save from your best performers
2. Let some flowers fully mature on the plant until dry and papery
3. Snip dried flower heads and place in a paper bag or envelope
4. Gently crush to release the tiny, tan-coloured seeds
5. Label and store in a cool, dry spot away from sunlight

Seed viability: 2–3 years with good storage
Pro tip: Chrysanthemums can cross-pollinate easily, so grow one variety if you want seed that stays true-to-type.

---

🌼 Final Thoughts

Chrysanthemums are one of those joyful plants that pay you back tenfold in beauty and bounty. They may seem old-fashioned to some, but they’ve earned their place in the garden with resilience, long bloom times, and sheer charm. Whether you’re tucking a few into the vegie patch as pest deterrents, filling garden beds with late-season colour, or growing your own cutting blooms, chrysanthemums are a reliable and rewarding addition.

And remember—gardening is a journey, not a race. If your first season doesn’t go perfectly, that’s okay—it’s all part of the learning! Keep growing, observing, and most of all, enjoying the process.

---

---

Delivery Guarantee

We take great care to make sure your seeds arrive safely. If your order is lost or damaged in transit, we’ll happily send a replacement. Unfortunately, we can’t replace or refund orders that arrive later than the estimated delivery date, as delays can sometimes occur that are outside our control.

Please note that all dispatch and delivery times listed are estimates only. While we do our best to post promptly, delivery timeframes can vary due to postal service delays, weather events, or other unforeseen circumstances. We’re unable to take responsibility for any loss, damage, or cost that results from a late delivery.

An order is not considered missing until at least 20 business days have passed from the postage date. You’ll receive an email once your seeds have been posted, letting you know they’re on their way. If you don’t see it in your main inbox, please check your Spam or Promotions folders as sometimes our emails like to hide there.