Chrysanthemums: Fall Flowers That Bring Beauty Each Year
2022-11-02
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1As the weather turns colder in some parts of the world, signs of autumn begin to appear.
2The leaves of some trees turn bright shades of red, yellow, and orange.
3At this time of the year depending on your location, you may also see a familiar flower: chrysanthemums.
4We often call them "mums," for short.
5In parts of the United States, many people use chrysanthemums as decorations.
6The flowers sit next to pumpkins for Halloween, October's famous holiday.
7But then the mums are thrown away along with rotting jack o' lanterns.
8This yearly tradition bothered plant expert Jessica Damiano.
9In a recent article for the Associated Press, she wanted to know why people simply threw away their mums.
10So, she asked some of her neighbors in Long Island, New York.
11Everyone had the same answer: They thought the flowers were annuals -- flowers that only last for one season.
12Damiano explained that there are annual and perennial mums.
13Perennials come back for several growing seasons.
14Garden chrysanthemums, she adds, are actually perennials.
15Annual chrysanthemums are often sold in stores as potted gift plants.
16Special plant stores usually sell perennial mums.
17If the plants are not labeled at a store, Damiano said to look at the leaves.
18The large, flat leaves of perennial mums have deep cuts around the edges.
19The narrow leaves of annuals do not.
20Perennial mums are hardy flowers.
21But they cannot survive freezing temperatures.
22They also cannot survive extreme summer heat.
23So, that means about half of the United States is good for growing mums.
24Perennial chrysanthemums, Damiano said, come from China.
25Kaifeng, a city in China's Henan province, is famous for its mums.
26Each year, the city holds a popular festival to celebrate the flowers.
27Chrysanthemum festivals are also held in other countries -- like Pakistan, Germany, South Korea, Japan, and the United States, to name a few.
28Chrysanthemums come in shades of orange, red, rust, pink, purple, yellow, cream, and white.
29Some can grow to nearly one meter in height.
30They reach their mature size in about three years.
31In warmer climates, they bloom again in spring.
32Here are some chrysanthemum planting tips.
33Plant mums in well-draining soil. And plant them as early in the season as possible.
34Spring is the best time -- if you can find them at plant stores.
35In the United States, that can be difficult.
36Damiano said she has done well with fall plantings.
37But that might not work if temperatures drop below freezing within six to eight weeks of planting.
38So, she added, there is a risk.
39Adding compost to the soil improves drainage.
40It is also a good idea to set the plant into the ground at the same depth as it was growing in its container.
41Make sure there is enough space between plants to prevent crowding.
42Planting the mums too close together can lead to mold, mildew, and fungal diseases.
43If plants become overgrown, separate them in spring after new growth appears.
44Mums grow best in full sun with moist soil.
45So, do not let the soil dry out. It is also a good idea to fertilize them regularly.
46The flowers are heavy feeders.
47Put mulch around the plants to help keep up the soil moisture and keep out unwanted plants.
48Add more mulch after the ground has frozen.
49This protects roots from freezing then warming then freezing again.
50When plants stop growing, leave them in the garden over the winter.
51The above-ground plant matter, although dry, will help to further protect roots.
52Cut back the dry plant matter in spring after new growth emerges.
53Starting in their third year, cut back one-third of the plants' growth three times per season:
54at the beginning and middle of June and again during the first week of July.
55Do not worry if you remove small flower buds.
56This will lead to more blooms and create fuller, bushier plants.
57If chrysanthemums are not hardy in your zone, you can still enjoy them.
58Potted mums do not do well in the heat.
59So, do not buy them in late summer.
60They will survive better and longer if you wait until temperatures cool.
61With potted mums, move them inside overnight if temperatures drop to freezing.
62Water thoroughly when the soil dries out.
63But again, do not let the plants stay dry for too long.
64The plants should remain alive until spring, when you can bring them back outdoors.
65Do the same in warmer climates.
66Damiano warns that when spring or summer temperatures get too hot - between 27 and 31 degrees Celsius -- bring the plants indoors.
67Do not bring them outdoors again until things cool down in autumn.
68I'm Anna Matteo.
69And I'm Andrew Smith.
1As the weather turns colder in some parts of the world, signs of autumn begin to appear. The leaves of some trees turn bright shades of red, yellow, and orange. 2At this time of the year depending on your location, you may also see a familiar flower: chrysanthemums. We often call them "mums," for short. 3In parts of the United States, many people use chrysanthemums as decorations. The flowers sit next to pumpkins for Halloween, October's famous holiday. But then the mums are thrown away along with rotting jack o' lanterns. 4This yearly tradition bothered plant expert Jessica Damiano. In a recent article for the Associated Press, she wanted to know why people simply threw away their mums. So, she asked some of her neighbors in Long Island, New York. 5Everyone had the same answer: They thought the flowers were annuals -- flowers that only last for one season. 6Damiano explained that there are annual and perennial mums. Perennials come back for several growing seasons. Garden chrysanthemums, she adds, are actually perennials. Annual chrysanthemums are often sold in stores as potted gift plants. Special plant stores usually sell perennial mums. 7If the plants are not labeled at a store, Damiano said to look at the leaves. The large, flat leaves of perennial mums have deep cuts around the edges. The narrow leaves of annuals do not. 8Perennial mums are hardy flowers. But they cannot survive freezing temperatures. They also cannot survive extreme summer heat. So, that means about half of the United States is good for growing mums. 9Perennial chrysanthemums, Damiano said, come from China. Kaifeng, a city in China's Henan province, is famous for its mums. Each year, the city holds a popular festival to celebrate the flowers. Chrysanthemum festivals are also held in other countries -- like Pakistan, Germany, South Korea, Japan, and the United States, to name a few. 10Chrysanthemums come in shades of orange, red, rust, pink, purple, yellow, cream, and white. Some can grow to nearly one meter in height. They reach their mature size in about three years. In warmer climates, they bloom again in spring. 11Planting tips 12Here are some chrysanthemum planting tips. 13Plant mums in well-draining soil. And plant them as early in the season as possible. Spring is the best time -- if you can find them at plant stores. In the United States, that can be difficult. 14Damiano said she has done well with fall plantings. But that might not work if temperatures drop below freezing within six to eight weeks of planting. So, she added, there is a risk. 15Adding compost to the soil improves drainage. It is also a good idea to set the plant into the ground at the same depth as it was growing in its container. 16Make sure there is enough space between plants to prevent crowding. Planting the mums too close together can lead to mold, mildew, and fungal diseases. If plants become overgrown, separate them in spring after new growth appears. 17Mums grow best in full sun with moist soil. So, do not let the soil dry out. It is also a good idea to fertilize them regularly. The flowers are heavy feeders. 18Put mulch around the plants to help keep up the soil moisture and keep out unwanted plants. Add more mulch after the ground has frozen. This protects roots from freezing then warming then freezing again. 19When plants stop growing, leave them in the garden over the winter. The above-ground plant matter, although dry, will help to further protect roots. Cut back the dry plant matter in spring after new growth emerges. 20Starting in their third year, cut back one-third of the plants' growth three times per season: at the beginning and middle of June and again during the first week of July. Do not worry if you remove small flower buds. This will lead to more blooms and create fuller, bushier plants. 21If chrysanthemums are not hardy in your zone, you can still enjoy them. 22Potted mums do not do well in the heat. So, do not buy them in late summer. They will survive better and longer if you wait until temperatures cool. 23With potted mums, move them inside overnight if temperatures drop to freezing. Water thoroughly when the soil dries out. But again, do not let the plants stay dry for too long. The plants should remain alive until spring, when you can bring them back outdoors. 24Do the same in warmer climates. Damiano warns that when spring or summer temperatures get too hot - between 27 and 31 degrees Celsius -- bring the plants indoors. Do not bring them outdoors again until things cool down in autumn. 25I'm Anna Matteo. 26And I'm Andrew Smith. 27Jessica Damiano writes regular gardening columns for The Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted this for VOA Learning English. 28___________________________________________________________________ 29Words in This Story 30shade - n. the darkness or lightness of a color 31decoration - n. something that decorates or beautifies 32jack o' lantern - n. a lantern made of a pumpkin usually cut to resemble a human face 33garden - n. a plot of ground where herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables are grown 34label - v. a slip (as of paper or cloth) that is attached to something to identify or describe it : to name or describe with or as if with a label 35hardy - adj. able to survive unfavorable conditions (as of weather) 36bloom - n. the flowering state 37compost - n. a mixture largely of decayed matter of once living things (as grass) or their products (as coffee grinds) and used for fertilizing and conditioning land 38moist - adj. slightly or moderately wet 39mulch - n. a covering (as of straw or sawdust) spread over the ground to protect the roots of plants from heat, cold, or evaporation, prevent soil loss, control weeds, enrich the soil, or keep fruit (as strawberries) clean