If you do not remove the spent flower stems immediately, seed capsules sometimes form. You can get seeds from these and use them to propagate your chrysanthemums. However, you can also purchase seeds in specialist shops and online, often from rather rare chrysanthemum varieties.
How to grow chrysanthemums from seeds?
To grow chrysanthemums from seeds, you should stratify the seeds by storing them in moist sand in the refrigerator for several days. You can then either sow the seeds directly outdoors or in pots with potting soil. Chrysanthemums germinate best at temperatures between 14 and 20°C.
Chrysanthemums are cold germinators
Chrysanthemums are cold germinators. This means that a cold winter phase must first be simulated before sowing. The expert gardener calls this process “stratification” and is, in principle, very easy to carry out. To do this, put the seeds together with some moist sand in a freezer bag or other easily sealable container. The package goes into the vegetable compartment of your refrigerator for a few days. Once stratification is complete, separate the seeds and sand again and then soak the seeds in warm water for about 12 hours. This causes the seeds to lose their germination inhibition and can be sown.
Direct sowing outdoors
You can of course save yourself this process and sow the chrysanthemum seeds directly outdoors. Direct sowing takes place either in March (but then cover the cold frame with foil) or in the months of August and September. The seeds are planted at a depth of about one to two centimeters.
Prefer chrysanthemums
Alternatively, simply grow the young chrysanthemum plants on the windowsill. After stratification, plant the seeds about two centimeters deep in pots with potting soil, cover them with perforated cling film and place them in a bright but not too warm place. Chrysanthemums germinate best at a temperature between 14 and 20 °C. You can grow the young plants from February onwards. Keep the substrate moist but not wet.
Care for young chrysanthemums properly
The young plants should be transplanted into humus-rich soil early, but they can only be put outdoors after the Ice Saints at the earliest. Slowly acclimate the young chrysanthemums to direct sunlight, but do not plant them outdoors yet. Planting out is only advisable in the second year when the plants are more robust and hardy. In the first winter they should be hibernated under cold house conditions.
Tip
Chrysanthemums can also be propagated without much effort via top cuttings or by root division. Both methods show a higher success rate than growing plants from seeds.
