Chrysanthemums, how to care for these perennials?

There are two different types of chrysanthemums, flowering chrysanthemums and chrysanthemum of the garden. Botanically, both belong to the Chrysanthemum genus and there are many hybrids in each category. The main difference between them is their life cycle. Claugh at methe floral ones are grown as annual plants that do not return every year, while chrysanthemumle garden, also known as chrysanthemum resistant, they are perennial plants.

A sure way to distinguish the two types of chrysanthemums is that flowering chrysanthemums, because they are usually sold in pots in the fall, are covered in numerous flower buds that are about to open. Garden chrysanthemums, however, can be found in nurseries already in spring; they have a creeping growth habit and more of the foliage is visible between the flowers.

Read on to learn more about growing chrysanthemums as perennials and annuals.

What kind of chrysanthemums should you plant?

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Flower chrysanthemums

This is the type of ubiquitous autumn chrysanthemum that is usually sold in flower shops, supermarkets and greenhouses. These are specially grown to be sold in pots for the autumn flowering season.

These bushy plants grow 1 to 2 feet tall at maturity and can spread just as widely. The plants are so densely covered with small flowers that the foliage is barely visible and secondary. The leaves of the floral chrysanthemum are slightly more delicate than the leaves of the garden chrysanthemum, tending to be thinner, narrower and often less toothed than the leaves of the garden chrysanthemum.

Blooming chrysanthemums come in a wide range of colors, including white, yellow, pink, orange, red, burgundy, cream, salmon and bi-color. When purchasing flowering chrysanthemums, select those that have as many closed buds as possible, because the number of buds determines how long they bloom. Once there are no more shoots, the plant is at the end of its life cycle and is discarded.

Although flowering chrysanthemums are potentially winter hardy in zones 7 through 9, this type of mum is not meant to survive the winter. The plants have very shallow roots, making them poorly equipped for winter, even in warm climates.

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Because of their short lifespan, flowering chrysanthemums are usually planted in pots rather than in the ground, making it easier to dispose of them after they have served their purpose as a fall flower display.

Garden chrysanthemums

Like flowering chrysanthemums, hardy chrysanthemums bloom in the fall, but are planted in the spring so they have the entire growing season to establish themselves. Hardy chrysanthemums grow underground shoots, or stolons, which give them the ability to survive the winter and return each year. They are hardy in zones 4 through 9.

The plants grow quickly, reaching their mature height of 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide in a single growing season. Their growth habit is less dense and looser than that of flowering chrysanthemums with fewer but larger flowers. More foliage is visible in garden chrysanthemums. In terms of colors, hardy chrysanthemums offer just as many options as flowering chrysanthemums.

Chrysanthemums in the garden begin to bud when the days get shorter at the end of summer. They flower from late summer until autumn and for up to eight weeks.

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It is better to plant garden chrysanthemums in the garden and not in pots, because their roots need space to grow, and in the garden soil they are better insulated from both summer heat and winter cold.

How to properly care for chrysanthemums

Despite the differences between florist and garden chrysanthemums, caring for these fall-flowering plants isn’t all that different.

• All chrysanthemums need lots of sunlight, at least six hours of sunlight. In too much shade, they will become leggy and flower less prolifically.
• The soil must be rich, moist and well-drained. If the soil in your desired location is less than ideal, before planting, amend it with organic matter to improve soil quality and drainage. The pH of the soil should be slightly acidic to neutral (6.2 to 7.0). Since most flowering chrysanthemums have roots, it is recommended to replant them in a slightly larger pot, with fresh potting soil, as soon as you purchase the plant.
• Like all potted plants, flowering chrysanthemums require frequent watering, usually daily in hot weather. Garden chrysanthemums, once established, have moderate watering needs, but grow best with consistent moisture.
• Garden chrysanthemums should be well fertilized in spring with a slow-release granular fertilizer and again in mid-summer with a fertilizer rich in phosphorus to encourage flowering. Avoid any fertilizing in late summer, as it leads to excessive vegetative growth, which is vulnerable to cold damage.

Give potted chrysanthemums a quick boost of nutrients by adding a complete liquid fertilizer, diluted in half, about once a week. To encourage garden chrysanthemums to grow thicker once the plants have grown about 6 inches tall in spring, you can pinch the tips of each branch several times until midsummer.

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