Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Cut off dead growth
• Method 2 of 3: Pinch off or stimulate fuller growth
• Method 3 of 3: Take care of your chrysanthemums after budding
• Tips
• Necessities

Koppen is the gardening term for cutting dead blossoms and growth on a plant. While it may make you nervous about tilling your chrysanthemums with garden shears, cupping is actually a very healthy process for your plants. They will look neater and more beautiful. Chrysanthemums in particular benefit from pinching and pinching stems in the spring to prepare them for their late summer and early fall bloom. Heading and pinching your chrysanthemums keeps them short and full, as well as providing more side branches that yield a fuller and healthier looking plant.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Cut off dead growth

1. Head chrysanthemums from late spring to mid summer. The best time to head or prune chrysanthemums outdoors is from late spring to mid-summer. This is the period before the flowering season, which gives the flowers time to grow from the cut stems. Heading during the warm season also makes exposed areas less likely to be exposed to cold temperatures.
   • If your chrysanthemums are in a greenhouse or indoors, you can top them as soon as you see dead growth as the plants will not be exposed to cold weather.
2. Find flowers that are fading or dead. When it comes time to head your plant, inspect the plant to find the wilted flowers and dead branches. Most chrysanthemum flowers are orange or yellow in color when they are healthy, and brown when they are dead or dying. Dead flowers are also likely to be drier than the other healthy flowers on the plant, and the petals often have a papery, brittle texture.
3. Pull dead flowers off the plant with your fingers. If your chrysanthemum has only a few dead flowers, you can simply pull the brown flowers off the plant with your fingers. To do this, grasp the chrysanthemum stem just below the dead flower. Then you squeeze and break off the dead flower.
   • If your chrysanthemums are indoors or in a greenhouse, this method is probably best for you as you can head the plants all year round and you don't have to worry about exposing the plant to cold temperatures.
4. Cut off larger amounts of dead flowers with garden shears. If many of the flowers on your plant are dead, but the stems are still alive and producing buds, you can use garden shears to cut several flowers at once. Place the shears at an appropriate angle under the dead flowers and cut, removing the flowers from an entire area of ​​the plant. Repeat until you have removed all dead flowers.
5. Cut at the bottom of the stem for strong pruning. If most or all of your chrysanthemum's flowers and stems are dead, you will need to use garden shears to prune the plant. As soon as you see new, green growth emerging from the ground, take a pair of sharp garden shears and cut off any dead parts of the plant as close to the ground as possible. This not only eliminates dead flowers, but also dead stems, allowing the plant to start over.
   • You may be concerned that you are cutting off too much of the plant. However, if your chrysanthemum is a perennial plant that has survived a winter season, you will need to cut off not only the flowers but also the dead stems.
   • Make sure to perform strong pruning sessions in the spring or early summer. This gives the new growth of the plant time to grow properly before the flowering season, in the fall, arrives.
6. Do not prune chrysanthemums that are outside after they bloom. Once your chrysanthemums have bloomed in the fall, you may have a tendency to head out the dead blooms you see among the healthy ones. Resist this temptation if the plant is left outdoors in an area with a cold winter season, as budding flowers just before the cold weather sets in will leave your plant vulnerable.

Method 2 of 3: Pinch off or stimulate fuller growth

1. Pinch off chrysanthemums during late spring and early summer. Pinching refers to pinching off the top of a plant's stems to encourage fuller growth and flowering. Pinching can be done at the same time as removing dead flowers in late spring to early summer. Doing it before winter can leave the plant vulnerable to the cold weather.
   • Pinching is not absolutely necessary, but is a good addition to your cup routine as it can make your plant fuller and healthier while keeping the shape compact and dense.
2. Identify long thin stakes to pinch off. Since pinching works best on long stakes that you want to make fuller and more beautiful, take a good look at the plant in late spring and early summer and look for stakes that you would like to have shorter. It is best to pinch off the chrysanthemums when the new shoots that appear in spring are 7.62-10.16cm long.
   • Also watch for points that are dead or brown.
3. Grab a point under the first set of leaves. Once you've found a few stakes that need to be pinched, grasp the tip of a shoot just below the first set of leaves. That is 1.27 to 2.54 cm from the tip down.
4. Pinch off the tip with your fingernails. Use your fingernails to pinch the tip and discard the pinched tip of the plant. Repeat the process on all unhealthy or overly long stems.
   • Pinching off not only shortens the height of a large plant, but also encourages rapid growth of leaves and flowers under the pinched area.
5. Stop throttling from mid-June to early August. The optimal time for chrysanthemums to stop pinching is mid-July, so that the plant has time to grow properly before the flowering season begins. If your chrysanthemum is cultivated early, you should stop by mid-June. If it is a late cultivated plant, such as the "Minnyellow" or "Minngopher" chrysanthemums, you can stop pinching off early in August.
   • Look up the type of chrysanthemum you have to determine if it was cultivated sooner or later.

Method 3 of 3: Take care of your chrysanthemums after budding

1. Discard dead flowers and branches. After topping your chrysanthemums, it is important to discard any dead flowers, branches, and stems that you have removed. Pests, such as snails and slugs, can lay their eggs in the dead plant parts and take over the plant, damaging it.
2. Mulch your chrysanthemum in the spring. After topping and pinching, it is good to mulch your plant as it can add nutrients to the soil and protect the fragile plant from cold spells. Add a few inches of lightweight mulch in the spring or summer, after topping. Also add mulch in the middle or late fall to protect the plant in winter.
3. Make sure chrysanthemums get sun after they have been pruned. Chrysanthemums need a lot of sun, and it is good to give them the nutrition they need right after they have been pruned. After topping an indoor chrysanthemum, place the plant on a sunny windowsill. Try to plan outdoor chrysanthemums to get at least a few hours of sunlight after topping. of soil feels dry, add water. ”|}} EXPERT TIP

   

   Maggie Moran

   
   
   Home and garden specialist Maggie Moran is a Pennsylvania gardener.

   Maggie Moran
   Home and garden specialist

   Did you know? Chrysanthemums need at least five hours of sunlight per day. The moisture of the soil is also important and should be checked daily. When the first inch of soil feels dry to the touch, water.

Tips

• Weeding in your garden is also an effective way to stimulate the growth and flowering of your chrysanthemums.
• Make sure to look up what specific type of chrysanthemum you have so you know when the bloom period is.
• Always disinfect your garden shears with rubbing alcohol before and after you use them.

Necessities

• Sharp garden shears
• Mulch