Overwintering Chrysanthemums

Gardening
Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemum plants are just about the easiest of all of the perennials to grow. Chrysanthemums grow best and produce the most flowers if they are planted in full sunshine. They respond to plenty of food and moisture. There are hundreds of varieties of Chrysanthemums, giving you a multitude of options for height, colour, flower size and time of bloom.

 

How To Overwinter Chrysanthemum Plants

  • After your plants have been killed back by hard frost, cut them back to the ground and provide a light airy mulch of evergreen branches or similar material.
  • Frost heaving caused by alternate freezing and thawing of the soil can also a major problem. To help with these problems and keep the plants somewhat protected and dry, you can mound the soil up around each plant, as well as creating a simple drainage ditch alongside.
  • To help avoid the heaving try to keep the plants somewhat shaded and insulate their roots with a light airy mulch.

Over-wintering Chrysanthemums in Pots

  • Once the flowers fade, move the plants to a cool but well-lighted location.
  • Be sure to keep your plants watered, but don’t over water them. When the potting soil dries to a depth of two to three inches, water them well so that water runs out the hole in the bottom of the pot.
  • By keeping the plant in a cool, brightly lighted location, you can keep the plants alive until the worst of the winter is past and you can plant it outdoors.
  • If there is no new growth, it can be planted while the freezing temperatures are expected at night.
  • If new growth is present, wait until frost is past to plant outside.
  • Gradually acclimatize the plants as you bring them to life in the spring. Place them in a protected part of the garden, with partial shade, during the day, and in your coolest room at night.
  • As the temperatures moderate, there is less difference between day and night temperatures, then you can leave them out.

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