Making chrysanthemums last?
Question: I plan to decorate my home with 100 hardy chrysanthemums for a party during the Thanksgiving holiday. Earlier this fall, every garden center in my area had thousands of colorful, potted hardy mums on display. However, since the garden centers have very few left, I am planning to purchase the plants this weekend and hold them for my party. I know chrysanthemums last for a considerable time when in bloom. What advice can you give to guarantee I will have multiple colors of flowers for my party, if I purchase mums this weekend? – Walter, Northern California Answer: Great idea! Using hardy chrysanthemums for Thanksgiving decorations is excellent. Selecting plants this weekend is even smarter. Hardy mums are the traditional flowering plant of the fall season and so are in great demand at this time of year. There should be many varieties of late-blooming, hardy mums still in the market at this time. You will find blossoms in shades of yellow, bronze, red, orange, pink, purple, crea
