Buffalo, New York, so yes, it gets cold. I never attempted mums in the ground for the reasons stated in the article. But I've been keeping potted mums alive for 3 years, which is at least a full year longer than they should ever live. Some only make it one more season, some make it 2, but some actually bloom a third time. I currently have 2 pots that are blooming, probably for their last year. I buy some unopened mums in early October and put them in terra cotta or a quality, heavy duty plastic pot, using decent potting soil. After they open and the flowers fade near the end of the month, I leave them outside until the first big frost. As I put my garden to bed for the winter, I chop the mums down, then put the pots in the unheated garage. In April, I bring them out into the sun and water. Usually it takes about 2 weeks to see new green. If there is no green in 3 weeks, that particular mum is done. Mums grow slowly over the summer. You won't get flowers until about September, at least in northern latitudes. Every few years, I need new mums to replace the old. People just throw out the mums after autumn. Don't waste them if you want them next year! I don't know why some of mine last 3 seasons. 2 is expected. 3 is just cool!
Buffalo, New York, so yes, it gets cold. I never attempted mums in the ground for the reasons stated in the article. But I've been keeping potted mums alive for 3 years, which is at least a full year longer than they should ever live. Some only make it one more season, some make it 2, but some actually bloom a third time. I currently have 2 pots that are blooming, probably for their last year. I buy some unopened mums in early October and put them in terra cotta or a quality, heavy duty plastic pot, using decent potting soil. After they open and the flowers fade near the end of the month, I leave them outside until the first big frost. As I put my garden to bed for the winter, I chop the mums down, then put the pots in the unheated garage. In April, I bring them out into the sun and water. Usually it takes about 2 weeks to see new green. If there is no green in 3 weeks, that particular mum is done. Mums grow slowly over the summer. You won't get flowers until about September, at least in northern latitudes. Every few years, I need new mums to replace the old. People just throw out the mums after autumn. Don't waste them if you want them next year! I don't know why some of mine last 3 seasons. 2 is expected. 3 is just cool!