Disbudding is a practice that produces one large terminal flower. One bud is allowed to mature on each stem, and others are pinched off. Disbudding works best on large standard and exhibition-type chrysanthemums. Plants can be supported by driving a stake several inches from the plant and loosely tying the plant to the stake with soft twine or similar material. Late flowering of mums may be caused by using an inappropriate cultivar, insufficient sunlight, excess fertilizer, too much or too little water and late pinching.
Several methods are available to winterize non-hardy cultivars of mums.
Plants can be dug in the fall and planted in a cold frame in a protected location. Mulch these plants with leaves or straw when temperatures drop below freezing, cover the cold frame with boards or plastic fill, and then cover the entire storage unit with six or more inches of mulch. Pinch occasionally to maintain the shape. Even the so called 'hardy' mums may not consistently over-winter in Nebraska. Loose mulches such as leaves, if applied properly, may increase winter survival.