Chrysanthemum morifolium

Japanese name: 小菊
Scientific name: Chrysanthemum morifolium

[Overview]
A group of garden chrysanthemum cultivars; perennials.
The head flowers are less than 9 cm across.
The leaves are simple, alternate and pinnately lobed.
There are many flower forms, and the flower colors are also rich.
Training styles not possible with other chrysanthemum groups, such as bonsai style and cascade style, can be used.
It is also used for kiku-ningyo (chrysanthemum dolls).

[Cultivation]
Propagate from shoot cuttings or by dividing shoots.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, fertile site with weakly acidic to neutral soil.
Poor sunlight or too little fertilizer reduces flowering.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface in the pot has dried.
If it runs short of water while in bloom, the flowers fall early.
Moving it to a place sheltered from rain during the flowering period keeps the flowers from being damaged.
Apply slow-release fertilizer from spring to autumn, and giving extra phosphate when the buds are growing larger improves flowering.
In spring to early summer, cut back hard, leaving about 1/2–1/3 at the base, to increase the number of branches and flowers.
Pests and diseases include powdery mildew, gray mold, leaf blight, rust, black spot, brown spot, Awadachi-gunbai, Kikusui-kamikiri, aphids, cutworms, thrips and spider mites.

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