Chrysanthemum (Dendranhema grandiflora) has a high commercial value in the ornamental plant market. There is little information about when and how much water to apply. In general the flower growers apply too much water reducing yield and quality. In this research we identified the best substrate water tension that could assure quality and high yield. Treatments were composed of six levels of water tension in the substrate: -2; -3; -4; -6; -10 and -30 kPa. Results showed that -4 kPa of substrate water tension resulted in the highest number of pots with quality A1, considered the highest level in the grower's scale. Post-harvest was also evaluated and plants irrigated when substrate water tension reached -30 kPa presented longer durability.
Dendranthema grandiflora; analysis of growing; substrate water tension
