Why My Young Chrysanthemums Whither?

Question

I bought 3 young daisy like chrysanthemums in small pots about a month ago and plan to replant them outdoor in April. But their leaves start to fade from bottom to top. I repot them into 1 bigger pot together using water control potting soil. Nothing changed. One of them died already, 2 others stop growing. I didn’t find any matched pictures or explanations about this problem. I like chrysanthemum and want to survive them but don’t know how. Please help me!

Answer 1

I notice that the container is quite large, compared to the size of the plants. This will mean that there is a large portion of the soil that is not colonized by roots. This soil, being under and away from open air, will not dry out very fast. This will lead to rot, which is happening here.

In situations like this, it is difficult to keep the balance between too wet and too dry. I can suggest, however, to keep the pot closer to dry soil weight, which you can test by picking up the pot with completely dry soil in it. Only water a little around each plant just as they start to wilt from being dry. (Don't let it wilt completely. Just enough to notice.)

Once they are large enough to start showing vigorous growth, you can begin to water more, and more. Watching when they wilt from dryness is the best indicator, in container, though. The wetting and drying process is part of the way that roots take up nutrients and breathe.

Here is a collection of articles that will help you with the care of Chrysanthemums in container:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/chrysanthemum