
Chrysanthemum Pot Plants 
cCALEX LAURIE 
Chrysanthemum pot plants are extremely satisfactory when 
they are well grown and stocky. By shading, we are enabled to 
provide a succession of these plants from late August to early 
December, in this way filling a gap when few flowering plants 
are available. 
The usual method of using the leftovers from planting benches 
results in scrawny, leggy plants which are useless for sale. The 
alternative, frequently used, of planting outdoors and then potting 
in large pots in August or September, results in large, unwieldy 
plants with much of the lower foliage lost in the process. Oc- 
casionally such plants serve the purpose well, but their quality 
depends upon satisfactory outdoor conditions which are fre- 
quently difficult to control. 
The best method is to pot three cuttings in a five- or six-inch pot 
directly from the propagating bench. Those which are to be shaded 
should be so treated early in May, while the ones grown normally 
should be potted late in June or early July. By allowing about 
two weeks for proper rooting, the time of sticking the Cuttings 
may thus be readily determined. 
To grow plants satisfactorily by this method it is important 
to observe several fundamentals. First, after potting or panning 
the plants should be kept on a dry side until a good root system 
develops. Secondly, the soil should not be too rich—the nitrogen 
content should be low—if you test, below 25 p.p.m. Thirdly, 
the drainage should be perfect. Once growth begins to develop, 
a systematic pinching is necessary. This pinching should be over 
all—that is, every stem should be pinched at approximately the 
same level to insure a rounded head. For the normal flowering 
three pinches will be necessary, the last one in accordance with 
the dates suggested in the appended list. 
During the period of growth little fertilization is necessary, and 
growing on the dry side is paramount to produce short, strong, wiry 
stems. During that period the temptation is strong to give a dose 
of fertilizer, but it should be restrained until such time as the buds 
begin to develop to the size of a pea or larger, sothat little stretch 
will take place as a result of fertilization. 
The varieties marked with an asterisk look much better when 
disbudded to a single flower to a stem. They command a ready 
sale. 
