Chrysanthemum advice please

Primula-Pie

Hoping for some advice. My mother gave me a very nice potted chrysanthemum for Easter, but I'm not sure how to take care of it. I thought they flowered in autumn. It is full of flowers just now, but I really don't think it likes the temperature in my house, the lower leaves are drying a little and it also looks like it doesn't enjoy being in the pot it came in (looks a bit small, I can find it a bigger one). Would I be able to plant it outside and turn it into an autumn flowering one and keep it going, or is it too cold for it outside at the moment? What is the best way to look after it? I have absolutely no experience with chrysanthemums!

Thank you.

Primula-Pie

I took a photo of it, in case that helps.

DimWit

It is a lovely mum, single-flowered ones are very prolific! You can cut off all flower stems a few inches from the base once the flowers fade. Commercial mums are usually potbound, so remove the excesYou s of roots and replace the compost. You can place the mum in a sheltered, slightly shaded site in the garden mid-May, but I warn you: these plants are much easier to maintain in a pot! Nurseries get mums to bloom all year long, but mortals only do it in the autumn...

Primula-Pie

Fabulous, thank you. That is a pretty one too. I have only containers and pots in my front garden (previous owner had gravelled/concreted it all), so if it's going to be easier to look after in a pot when it's time to put it outside that sounds perfect for me. I'll get it sorted in some new compost. Really appreciate the help!

Blue Onion

Some mums are hardy.. and others are not.  I have no idea about yours.  I've grown them in pots and in ground.. I would say in ground is easier, really.  For now, put it somewhere bright and cool, and stick your finger in the soil to see if it needs watered.  As DW said, start hardening it off mid May by putting it outside for longer each day over the course of a week, then leave it out for the following week day and night.  Cut off dead flower heads as they happen.  Put it into the ground or a larger pot outdoors somewhere in full sun.  If it survives this winter, it will flower in the fall next year. 

Primula-Pie

Thanks! Unfortunately it came with no information at all so I don't know what type it is, and it seems difficult to find out, I've tried looking online but there are bazillions, I had no idea! Will just have to see what happens with it.

Buttercupdays

I have kept a couple of these before, but I don't think the ones usually sold like this are hardy.
I repotted mine into a larger pot with some decent compost and it flowered well. When flowers finished I cut it back and kept it in frost-free GH. In spring it grew new shoots (you can use some for cuttings if you want!) and then flowered again. You could probably keep it several years if you are better at remembering to feed things than I am!

Primula-Pie

Thank you! I do kind of have a feeling from looking at it that there is probably little chance of it surviving winter outside where I live. I will keep it potted then I can move it about when I need to and try to keep it protected from frost in my mini greenhouse up against the house wall, I'd like to keep it going as it was a nice gift and the flowers are really cheery.