People have been growing chrysanthemums for more than two thousand years.

Mums make bright and colorful gardens. People in China and other Asian cultures
make tea with the flowers. Giacomo Puccini, the great Italian composer, even
named one of his works after chrysanthemums, "Crisantemi." One basic kind of
mum is the hardy or garden mum. The other basic kind is the florist mum. The
garden mum is better able to handle different growing conditions. There are many
varieties of mums. The decorative mum is often seen in gardens.
Another popular type, the quill mum, has long, straight petals like a tube or needle.
Chrysanthemum blooms can be white, yellow, gold, red or other colors. The plants
often grow one meter high. The soil for chrysanthemums should be kept moist but
well drained so it does not get too wet. Newly planted mums should be watered two
or three times a week, depending on conditions. Plants established in the ground
may do well just with normal rainfall. Mums grow best in full sunshine. They produce
colorful blooms when days get shorter and nights get longer. The life cycle of the
plant depends on the amount of daylight.
This is why experts advise against placing mums near nightlights or streetlights. The
light may interfere with their normal growth cycle. The plants may develop buds too
soon. In climates where temperatures fall below freezing, plant mums at least six
weeks before the first frost is expected. That way, the plants will be well established
for cold weather.Placing mulch around the plants can protect them from the cold.
Consider using straw or shredded leaves for the mulch.
The material will also add nutrients to the soil. Some gardeners say the most
beautiful presentation comes from planting mums close together. But be sure to
leave enough space to let air flow between the plants. If not, there may be a greater
chance of disease. To get more blooms, gardeners pinch back the branches when
new growth has reached fifteen centimeters. Squeeze about five to seven
centimeters off eachbranch. Pinch it again when a branch grows another twelve to
fifteen centimeters. Stop the pinching about one hundred days before you want the
plants to bloom.
For VOA Special English, I'm Mario Ritter. For more gardening advice, along with
activities for learning English, go to voaspecialenglish.com. (Adapted from a radio
program broadcast 07Feb2012)

Diakseshttp://voaspecialenglish.blogspot.co.id/2012/03/really-its-ok-to-pinchmums.html

Orang-orang telah tumbuh krisan selama lebih dari dua ribu tahun. Ibu
membuat kebun cerah dan berwarna-warni. Orang-orang di Cina dan budaya
Asia lainnya membuat teh dengan bunga. Giacomo Puccini, komposer besar
Italia, bahkan nama salah satu karyanya setelah krisan, "Crisantemi." Salah
satu jenis dasar ibu adalah hardy atau taman ibu. Jenis dasar lainnya adalah
ibu florist. Taman ibu lebih mampu menangani kondisi pertumbuhan yang
berbeda. Ada banyak jenis ibu. The ibu dekoratif sering terlihat di kebun.
Jenis lain yang populer, yang ibu pena bulu, memiliki panjang, kelopak
lurus seperti tabung atau jarum. Krisan mekar bisa putih, kuning, emas,
merah atau warna lain. Tanaman sering tumbuh satu meter tinggi. Tanah
untuk krisan harus tetap lembab tapi dikeringkan dengan baik sehingga tidak
terlalu basah. Baru ibu ditanam harus disiram dua atau tiga kali seminggu,
tergantung pada kondisi. Tanaman didirikan pada tanah dapat melakukannya
dengan baik hanya dengan curah hujan normal. Ibu tumbuh terbaik di sinar
matahari penuh. Mereka menghasilkan mekar berwarna-warni ketika hari
mendapatkan lebih pendek dan malam lebih panjang. Siklus hidup tanaman
tergantung pada jumlah siang hari.
Inilah sebabnya mengapa para ahli menyarankan agar menempatkan
ibu dekat nightlights atau lampu jalan. cahaya dapat mengganggu siklus
pertumbuhan normal mereka. Tanaman dapat mengembangkan tunas terlalu
cepat. Dalam iklim di mana suhu turun di bawah titik beku, ibu tanaman
setidaknya enam minggu sebelum embun beku pertama diharapkan. Dengan
cara itu, tanaman akan mapan untuk weather.Placing mulsa dingin di sekitar
tanaman dapat melindungi mereka dari dingin. Pertimbangkan untuk
menggunakan jerami atau daun diparut untuk pupuk itu.
Bahan ini juga akan menambah nutrisi ke tanah. Beberapa tukang
kebun mengatakan presentasi paling indah berasal dari penanaman ibu
dekat bersama-sama. Tetapi pastikan untuk meninggalkan ruang yang cukup
untuk membiarkan aliran udara antara tanaman. Jika tidak, mungkin ada
kesempatan lebih besar untuk penyakit. Untuk mendapatkan lebih mekar,
tukang kebun mencubit kembali cabang ketika pertumbuhan baru telah
mencapai lima belas sentimeter. Peras sekitar lima sampai tujuh sentimeter
dari masing-masing cabang. Mencubit lagi ketika cabang tumbuh lagi 12-15
sentimeter. Menghentikan mencubit sekitar seratus hari sebelum Anda ingin
tanaman berbunga.
Untuk VOA English khusus, aku Mario Ritter. Untuk saran berkebun
lebih, bersama dengan kegiatan untuk belajar bahasa Inggris, pergi ke
voaspecialenglish.com. (Diadaptasi dari program radio siaran 07Feb2012)

Really, Its OK to Pinch Mums

Chrysanthemums have been growing for more than two thousand years. There are many
varieties of mums. The mums often grow one meter high.
The soil for chrysanthemums should be kept moist but well drained so it does not get too
wet. And mums will grow best in full sunshine. So, mums placed in near nightlight or
streetlight. for cold weather, placing mulch and straw will to protect mums from the
weather.
Mulch and straw can be good nutrients to the soil of mums.
To get more blooms of mum, you can do like:
o Pinch the branches again when new growth has reached fifteen centimeters
o Squeeze about five to seven centimeters off each branch.
o Pinch it again when a branch grows another twelve to fifteen centimeters.
o Stop the pinching about one hundred days before you want the plants to bloom.
The mums will be beautiful presentation if its planting close together, but have enough
space to let air flow between the mums.
The speaker of this video is Mario Ritter, from VOA Special English.