If wilting chrysanthemum plants occur, be sure to check for cutworms. These nocturnal feeders will be found hiding in the potting media during the day. First examine the stem of the wilting chrysanthemum.
Cutworms can remove the soft green outer layer from the predominately woody stem.
This girdling will prevent water movement from the roots upward to the rest of the plant. A coarse spray of Sevin or Diazinon directed around the base of the plant should be made from late afternoon to early evening. Get in the habit of checking 50 - 100 plant stems periodically for cutworm damage. Especially, check plants with any signs of wilting. It is best to treat them early when they are still small and before much damage has occurred.