NEXT MEETING – Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 10 AM at Volunteer Park Conservatory
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Hi All,
Hoping everyone had a Merry Christmas. I am looking forward to a happy and healthy New Year!
Hoping everyone had a Merry Christmas. I am looking forward to a happy and healthy New Year!
Even though it’s cold outside there’s lots to do in January to prepare for the 2025 growing season!
1) Clean and prepare your cutting beds;
2) replenish your starting supplies;
3) Get your stools growing and producing shoots for cuttings; and
4) Establish your 2025 growing plan (including the varietals and quantities you plan to grow).
Speaking of the cold…
During this time of year frost and freeze protection strategies should be in place. Stools will probably survive one or two frosty days in a row, however a 3rd frost likely will kill many of the stools. Protecting stools from rain (keeping the plants dry) promotes necessary semi-dormancy. When stools are wet there is a much higher risk of frost kill.
Remember that stools should be kept in a semi dormant period until 20-30 days before you wish to take cuttings. To wake them up and promote shoot growth feed moderately with a high nitrogen fertilizer such as our mid-season fertilizer (20-10-20) or Miracle Gro.
If you need some inspiration developing your growing plan take a look at the main page of the ECA website – www.ecamumclub.org. There you will find a link to a list of most of the varietals grown by ECA club members.
We all have our favorites and those that are reliable producers however, I encourage you to try something new. When making your growing plan, don’t hesitate to ask for help. We have many experienced growers willing to assist.
As you are bringing your plant stools out of dormancy you may find that you will have some non-producers. If you fear you have lost specific varieties pass that information along to our membership via email or at the meeting. Sharing this information will prompt others to start more cuttings and help replace your lost stock.
Lastly, We’re changing the newsletter format. We’ve also added a cultivar spotlight. Enjoy!
Looking forward to seeing you at our January Meeting on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 10 am and throughout the New Year!
Happy Gardening!
Sue
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Chrysanthemum True Fact
- Chrysanthemums are the national flower of Japan,
- associated with the autumn moon and the Imperial Seal of Japan.
Cultivar Spotlight: Connie Mayhew
Description:
- Flower Color: Pale, creamy primrose
- Bloom Time: Late season (October 18 – November 4)
- Plant Height: 3-4 feet
Classification:
- Type: Irregular Incurve
- ECA Class: 2Y
Connie Mayhew is the emblem of the Evergreen Chrysanthemum Association. This varietal is a solid performer in the Pacific Northwest. It has won premier bloom honors in various exhibitions including ECA shows.
The Connie Mayhew chrysanthemum is a floral treasure with an interesting provenance and exceptional beauty. Originally believed to be bred in Australia, this cultivar, with its pale, creamy primrose blooms, soon captured the hearts of gardeners and horticulturists alike.
In 1951, this attractive chrysanthemum made its way to the United Kingdom, arriving under the name ‘Watanabi.’ Its arrival marked the beginning of a new chapter, as it quickly gained popularity for its exquisite form and delicate color. This chrysanthemum was renamed ‘Connie Mayhew,’ and quickly became a star with the UK Chrysanthemum community.
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Upcoming Club Deadlines and Opportunities:
1. Peat Tray Orders: 11 JAN 2025
Action: Peat tray orders.
Deadline: Contact Mark Ross by 12/15/2023.
Contact: Email Mark at [email protected].
2. ECA Kings Mums Group Order: 5 January 2025
Action: If you are planning to order from Kings Mums in 2025, join our ECA group order.
Benefits: Quantity price discounts, priority status, and delivery.
Deadline: Email your list to Erika Harris by 01/05/2025
Contact: Email Erika at [email protected].
Note: ECA will pay for the group order; you can reimburse ECA for your purchase once it arrives. $6 per cutting. Please list the cultivar with the number per cultivar you are interested in buying.
3. ECA Master Growing List: Due Now
Action: Send your 2024 Chrysanthemum growing list of what cultivars you grew this year, in any format (Excel, Word, take a photo of your hand written list.) to Michael Boudreaux.
Why: We are trying to get a complete list of what club members are growing, track what cultivars are still in circulation.
Deadline: ASAP.
Contact: Email Michael at [email protected].
4. ECA 2025 Membership Dues: Due Now
Action: Pay your 2024 Evergreen Chrysanthemum Association dues
Deadline: ASAP.
Contact: Erika Harris [email protected]
Note: Send a check payable to Evergreen Chrysanthemum Association c/o Erika Harris PO Box 66155 Burien, WA 98166 or Pay at our ECA Meeting
5. ECA Cutting University – Saturday February 15, 2024 10 am – 2 pm
Action: Learn how to propagate chrysanthemums from cuttings.
Bring your LABELED plant stools that have root stock to the cutting college so cuttings can be taken
Why: we want all of our club members to know how to propagate mums from cuttings
Contact: Sue Joyner [email protected]
Note: We’ll order pizza for lunch from Zeke’s.
There’s always the question about growing mums on last year’s stools…
Mums grow best on new roots because new roots absorb nutrients better than old roots which become woodier with age.
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SUPPLIES:
- M&R soil less mix
- Plant tags
- Twist ems
- Early Season Fertilizer
- B9
Upcoming ECA Calendar for 2025
Saturday, January 11, 2025 10 am – Noon – Cutting Preparations
Saturday, February 10, 2025 10 am – Noon – no meeting – cutting University instead
Saturday, February 15, 2025 10 am – 2 pm – Cutting University
Saturday, March 8, 2025 10 am – Noon – Club Plant Sale
* Saturday, April 5, 2025 10 am – Noon – Club Plant Sale
Saturday April 12, 2025 9 am – 2 pm – Public Plant Sale
Saturday, May 10, 2025 10 am – Noon – Bonsai and Cascades
Saturday, June 14, 2025 10 am – Noon – Hybridization discussion
* NOTE Meeting Date is first Saturday of the month
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Happy Gardening!
