Everybody keeps justing at me about how easy mums are to grow, but I've managed to kill every one of them I have ever tried. Am I jaded for not feeling bad about that? I figure the potted pretties I buy are one step more sustainable cut flowers. If I get no more than a few days of color, aroma therapy and delight from them, they are still a welcome addition to my life.

A splash of something bright and colorful can be strong medicine.

Mums are very easy to grow. Mine are in the ground, not pots. Once the frost hit them, they'll brown out and die down. But the roots will be okay and come back each spring.

You can separate by root division. Creating more each year.

Be sure to lay dried grass trimmings, newspaper or leaves around the base of the plant. For cold weather protection. Mums are usually stated in late winter indoors. So Easter will have good color.

I don't like them, never buy them. It's alot of work and I think waste of money. I remember mom buying them once when I was a child, and even before frost, they started looking ugly in the ground. Maybe it was just our soil. I think you have to put an ungodly amount of water on them. And they are annuals right? I prefer low maintenance plants that come back every year and don't have to be brought in in winter.

Interesting info on mums. Sounds like they are kind of tricky to deal with. they're so pretty, though, I'm like arfie and would be happy to have them even for a few days. I'll try to plant them, too, I guess and put some leaves around the base like Seamus suggests. thank you.

I live in the Midwest and have grown many mums. Here the best way to care for them is to cover them around Thanksgiving. Do not cut the plant down just cover it. You can use leaves or straw. I put straw in burlap bags that I purchase. Feed bags work too. The bags make clean-up easy. If you cut them back, most will not come back in spring. I've used this method for years. Other climates may do it differently. Here we have below zero winters.

I got my mums today! One big yellow plant and two smaller ones, orange and purple. I'm going to try to plant them in the next few days I guess. Good advice dahlia. do you just put the burlap bags on top of the plants or prop up around them?

Hi Wendy. Fill the bags with straw or leaves. Either tuck the open ends under or slip stitch shut with twine and a yarn needle. Place the whole filled bag on top of the mum. Use 2 bags for bigger mums. This provides coverage from the freeze /thaw that happens throughout winter. I put bricks, patio blocks or something heavy on top so that don't blow away. Snow will also help to hold them down. I cover my roses and butterfly bushes this way too. In spring when you uncover, there will be little green shoots ready to go. I just ordered used coffee bean bags online to replace some of my older burlap bags. They last many years but do eventually rot and fall apart. Be sure to hang the bags out to dry out before you store them in spring for next fall. Plastic tubs are great to store the bags in until needed. Good Luck!!

I live in the Midwest too. Now I know why mine always do so poorly! Thanks Dahlia and good luck Wendy!

thx for the specific instructions Dahlia. that is a huge help! Thx for the good luck wishes Ghostwolf. This group has been really inspiring to me so far. I'm a very beginning gardener and have never had the confidence to go very far but with the support here, I think I can accomplish some cool things in the yard and garden. very excited.

Best of luck to you. Always keep in mind that Mother Nature is the real gardener! We just work for her. If at first you don't succeed, keep trying.