What causes my chrysanthemums to do the big flop? One even came out of the ground! We have had a lot of rain lately, and it seems like a lot of plants did the big floppy, from roses to sedum, and now the mums. Is it all weather-related?
Yes, certainly the weather contributes to the big flop. Certain perennials just can’t stand up to heavy mist and rain.
Some gardeners stake their flop-prone plants before they flop over, while others dig them up and grow things that don’t flop.
You can prune perennials to help prevent flop. Typically you cut a perennial back by 1/3 a few months before it flowers. This causes the plant to branch out, producing a bushier, shorter, less floppy plant. In The Well-Tended Perennial Garden (Tracy DiSabato-Aust, 1998), the author suggests that staking be done early: …after the first flush of growth but before full growth. The stems need to be sturdy, and flower buds should not be formed yet…[stake] without adulterating the normal habit of the plants. Follow the natural line of the stem. (p.63)