Spring Mum Follow Up

Hi everyone,

I hope you're well. Today, I wanted to provide an update on our mum project. This spring, we're experimenting with controlling day length by covering and uncovering a table and growing some of our mums underneath. It has been a fascinating journey so far, and I'm eager to share our progress with you. See my previous post about spring mums for an introduction to the project.

Blooming Successes and Challenges

We've identified several varieties that bloom beautifully under the current conditions. However, we're also anticipating some challenges, particularly with those varieties that may not be ideal for spring growing due to their requirement for really short day lengths. Despite this, some of our mums are thriving.

Our early favorites include the "Grandchild," a lovely lavender mum that adds a delightful splash of color to our spring collection. Another standout is "Sienna Bronze," and we're also nurturing "Ticonderoga," a football-style mum noted for its large-headed blooms. The "Fall Charm" variety is also showing promise.

While we have encountered a bit of powdery mildew, it's manageable. We strip the leaves when incorporating these flowers into bouquets, so it hasn't been a major concern. Each day, we carefully monitor under the table for plants that are budding, and once they show buds, we move them out from under the table to the side to let them flower fully.

Syngenta Overwintered Mums and Heirloom Varieties

The mums that we overwintered from Syngenta are performing well, thanks to our careful selection of early-flowering varieties. These mums are designed for single-season growth, which means we won't be hybridizing or propagating them further due to patent restrictions. However, we're focusing on heirloom mums and those sold to home gardeners that are robust for flower work. These are the varieties we're particularly interested in breeding, as they’re well-suited for floristry and can be allowed to go to seed.

The variety that's captured our hearts is "Grandchild." Its stunning spring color makes it a standout, and we're excited to collect and mix pollen between varieties to expand our stock.

Trial with Ella Pots and Fertiss Propagation Pods

Next, I want to talk about our trials with the Ella Pots and Fertiss propagation pods, which we used for some of our mum cuttings. Both have shown promising results.

The cuttings planted in the Fertiss pods, an Oasis product, are thriving with healthy white roots. They're almost ready for shipping despite their small size. The Ella Pots have produced similarly good results, with seedlings showing vigorous root growth, though they can be a bit tricky to remove from the trays.

Both options are effective, but the seedlings in Fertiss pods seem slightly more vibrant. However, if you're looking for domestically made products, the Ella pots, which we sourced from a nursery in North Carolina, are a great option.

Final Thoughts

The additional petals on some of the mums make pollination tricky, but we're making progress. We’ll try removing the petals to expose the pollen and stigma and make crossing easier.

Thank you for following along with our journey. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to reach out.

Best regards,

Linda