4. Decide: Leave Outdoors or Bring Indoors?
Depending on your climate, you can either leave your mums in the ground or move them indoors.
- For Mild Climates:
- Leave mums in the ground. The mulch and foliage will protect them.
- Avoid cutting them back until spring.
- For Harsh Climates:
- Dig up the plants and transfer them to pots.
- Keep them in a cool, dark place like a basement or garage, where the temperature stays between 32°F and 50°F.
- Water sparingly—just enough to keep the soil from drying out completely.
5. Revive in Spring
As the weather warms, it’s time to bring your mums back to life:
- Remove Mulch: In early spring, gradually remove mulch to allow new growth to emerge.
- Prune: Cut back the old stems to about 2–3 inches above the soil to make way for fresh growth.
- Fertilize: Apply a balanced fertilizer to encourage strong, healthy growth.
- Divide, if Needed: Every 2–3 years, divide large clumps to prevent overcrowding and promote blooming.
Additional Tips for Healthy Mums
- Pinch for Bushier Growth: In early summer, pinch off the tips of the stems to encourage bushier plants with more blooms.
- Provide Sunlight: Mums thrive in full sun, so plant them where they’ll receive at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
- Water Consistently: Water deeply and regularly, as mums have shallow roots that can dry out quickly.
Benefits of Overwintering Chrysanthemums
By taking the time to winter over your mums, you’ll enjoy:
- A more sustainable garden with less waste.
- Larger, healthier plants that produce even more blooms in subsequent years.
- A sense of accomplishment knowing you’ve nurtured a living plant through the changing seasons.
Conclusion
Chrysanthemums are far from disposable. With minimal effort, you can help these hardy perennials survive winter and reward you with beautiful blooms year after year. Whether left in the garden or brought indoors, your mums will continue to thrive, proving they’re one of the most resilient and rewarding plants you can grow. Start wintering your mums today, and enjoy their beauty for many seasons to come! 🌼
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