I think I told you about the two pots of mums that I overwintered outside, what if anything should I do with them now, it is really not warm enough to plant them in the ground(highs in the 30's) and (lows in the teens), should I repot them in fresh soil and bring them into the entryway where it is a little warmer and see if they are still alive? The pots they are in are still good but would fresh soil do better than what they are in now?
I'd put them in that entry way to see if they'll come back. If they do, then I'd repot them with fresh soil, or go ahead and plant when it's warmer.
should I leave them in the bigger containers that they are in or take them out? They were in a bigger pot and a bucket, they had leaves around them to keep them insulated, could I take them out of there and just set them on the floor on plastic?
I picked the Belgian mums up and the water just poured out of the bottom, so I stood there and let it drain out and put it on a piece of plastic and then picked up the other one and put it on the same piece of plastic, it is not very warm in the entryway but it is warmer than outside.
gardennut- I would give your mums a big drink. Leave them where they have been all winter, and if they are still alive, they should be showing signs of coming out of dormancy soon. I wouldn't plant them or remove them from the container they are in until you know for sure that they are growing again.
mums coming back My big mum that my hubby got me is showing some life, the belgian mum is dead I think, I keep moving them to wherever the sun is, that is why I left them in pots.
That's good news! So do you think you'll be planting the Mum in the ground? I find that they do well (in my zone 5 anyway) when they are planted in the spring, and then pinched or cut back through June. It lets them grow full and bloom pretty in the fall.
3 out of my 6 huge mums didn't make it through this past winter. I hope one closer to east side of the house is ok.
The foliage of mine died back this past winter but they have been sending up green shoots for the last month so the roots survived. Even found some in places I did not plant them in...at least I don't think I planted them there
Sometimes if the winter is not too cold mums, especially the hardy ones, can survive in pots. For northern locations get the plant into the ground about 6 weeks before first frost. Ideally the plant should be planted in spring to have the best chance of wintering over. Understand your winter conditions, don't plant a mum where cold winds will desiccate the plant. Springtime plants can be pruned back after flowering. Any pinching of new growth to promote bushiness should cease July 4th to assure an abundance of fall flowers. Fall plantings cut back only the faded flowers leaving the stems. There is a phloem story in there somewhere. Hmmmm…. Anyway, winterize your plants for the cold season with mulch. Springtime should bring you new shoots. and more garden fun. It's spring!! When you are in your local garden center to get your spring flowers look for hardy mums and give them a try. Jerry
repotting mums I checked the potted mums that my hubby gave me and the roots were coming out of the drainage holes, so I got a bigger pot and took the mum out of the old pot and put it in the bigger one. Then I took the rest of the potting soil and filled it in, now can I put it where it will get morning sun or should I try to leave it in the shade? repotted mum ( photo / image / picture from gardennut's Garden )
