Which plants do you mean? The usual ones which flower in late summer autumn are not annuals and definitely don't need watering daily, if at all once established. Dead heading helps but I wouldn't feed them at all unless they were in pots long term.

I think they are annual in my zone 5, no?

I call the mums you find in the fall "throw aways". They seldom make it through my winter. So I get them as fall decorations and discard when done.

Perennial mums are best planted in the spring. They have a whole growing season to establish themselves and if they are the correct variety for your zone, will return for many years with little care. Check out Bluestone Perennials for mums suited to your zone.

this time of year.. bigboxstores offer all kinds of mums for instant impact in fall ...

they are extremely variable as to whether they will winter over ... i once mail ordered a bazillion cuttings ... i found out.. they vary from z5 [or colder] to z7 ...

they can not be planted and grown form seed. this time of year ... its simply the wrong time of year .... for this fall ....

i used to find local neighbors ... friends.. gardeners.. and beg pieces of very hardy local plants ..

ken

I buy them as annuals but they always look terrible. Just wondering what care they need....lots of water? Lots of sun?

No they do not need lots of water. See above. Sun, yes.

Hi Emily, I'm surely no expert, but try ordering a mum called Clara Curtis for planting in the spring. It spreads like crazy, blooms a long time, and doesn't need any special attention. I think Clara Curtis is especially hardy and would survive for you.

The trick to wintering mums here is to plant them as soon as you buy them so they have a chance to grow roots. Even then, they might not make it.

If you just want them for autumn decoration, buy plants whose buds haven't opened yet. They will last longer. Keep them watered because they dry out fast in those pots and will wilt. Best if you pot them up in bigger pots. They will die over winter. No deadheading is needed. Part sun is good.

Emily, can you tell us if you want to plant these these in pots or in the ground? That makes a difference.

Hey Jerseygirl, I am on coastal nj zone 7a. I planted my garden mums in the ground. Actually they were transplanted from another house. They survived a few winters for me and they look gorgeous in the fall when most of the blooms are gone. when they are done blooming, you can get them back so they don't become to tall and encourage to be more bushy. It really works.

I usually just leave them in the pots they come in.