Chrysanthemums soon inside: In the garden, the perennials freeze to death
Created: 09/25/2022, 09:00
By: Ines Alms
The joy of blooming is her trademark.
Autumn chrysanthemums in all colors enrich balconies and terraces in tubs - but frost is dangerous for them.
The busily blooming autumn chrysanthemums should not be confused with the hardy garden chrysanthemums, which are also known as winter asters.
Because autumn chrysanthemums are frost-sensitive plants that are often cultivated in tubs and thus beautify balconies and terraces.
When it gets cold, you should overwinter the perennials indoors, otherwise they freeze easily.
Chrysanthemums soon inside: In the garden, the perennials freeze to death
Autumn chrysanthemums bloom all around the plant, unlike long-stemmed winter asters.
© imagebroker/Imago
Few other perennials can unfold such a splendor of flowers in autumn.
Most autumn chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum indicum), which, in contrast to the winter asters, have a rather spherical habit, are perennial and can be overwintered.
On the other hand, according to
Better Homes & Gardens
, you should n't make the mistake of planting them from the tub into the garden when you do a big fall clean.
Since they don't have enough time to develop enough roots, they won't withstand the frost.
So it is best to keep them in their pots indoors or in the greenhouse until spring.
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Overwinter autumn chrysanthemums in pots
In order to continue enjoying the chrysanthemums next year, you should note the following:
Repot immediately after purchase: The roots usually take up most of the pot.
Transplant the flowers into a larger container to give the roots room to spread.
Gently loosen knotted roots before repotting.
Water the newly potted plants thoroughly and don't let them wilt.
After acclimatization, they should be watered whenever the soil feels dry.
If the lower leaves look limp or start to turn brown, water more often - but not over the leaves as this encourages disease.
Winter: Give the chrysanthemums some liquid fertilizer with a high phosphorus content before the first frost, this stimulates root growth.
As soon as the first severe frost comes, you should move the plants indoors or in an unheated garage.
Cut off dead blooms, but the branches should not be pruned at least until spring.
Mulch and a jute sack provide additional protection for the plant.
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As soon as it gets warmer again in spring, the mulch or winter protection is removed and the pot can go outside in the sun again.