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Okay - so I went out today and spent way too much money on fall mums for my entry steps. And since I'm cheap and all, I'd like to keep them as long as I can. I don't want to plant them in the ground because a) I don't have any place to plant them where they would look good and b) The whole point in buying them was to put them on my steps. Is it possible to keep mums from year to year in pots, and if so, how?
bbbbbbbbb "My only regret is that I have but one life to lose for my country." -Nathan Hale Posts: 1 | From: Murray, Kentucky | Registered: Sep 2003
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Hi Jordan! Welcome to The Garden Helper, the web's friendliest and most helpful site!
Now about those mums...Before I get started, a very important note - make sure those containers you put them in have very good drainage! Mums hate "wet feet", it will kill them quicker than anything else!
You should have no problem overwintering your mums from year to year, with a little care. Your mums should continue to flower and grow until the first hard freeze, after which you should cut them back to about 3-4 in., and move into an unheated garage or other outbuilding. Water (not too much) about once a month during the winter. The plants will be dormant during this time, so don't expect any growth. In the spring, move back outside, water well and feed with a 1/2 strength general purpose plant food. Some people "pinch" the growing tips once a month during the spring and early summer (to promote bushiness), some people just let them grow (and possibly flower). Either way, give them a "hard pinch" (prune back to about 4 in) the first week in July. This will stop any flowering, and force the plant to put it's energy into making lots of new buds for fall. Keep an eye of them, as container plants will dry out much quicker than those in the ground. A little "bloom booster" (high phosphorus) fertilizer added at the time of the hard pinch is benficial, but not absolutely necessary.
The above steps should keep your mums happy for a few years, at least!
Nikkal
bbbbbbbbb The Earth does not belong to us - We belong to the Earth ~Oriah Mountain Dreamer~ Posts: 307 | From: Memphis, TN z8 | Registered: Jun 2003
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One thing I found out about mums is that they can be extremely hardy....I had several in pots on my covered front porch last year...I left them there untouched through winter. I wasn't going to keep them but this spring I noticed they were starting to grow! So I cut them back, gave them some water and now they're blooming beautifully again.
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also.in the spring.i'd move them up to a lil larger size pot& divide in spring every 3 years......and when you cut your tops in july you can root them for more plants
bbbbbbbbb I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!
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