This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.People have grown chrysanthemums for more than two thousand years.Chinese and other Asian cultures make tea with the flowers. But mums also make bright and colorful gardens.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 than the florist mum.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 to one meter in height.The soil 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. In dry conditions they will need more water.
