We get lots of chrysanthemum plants on sale here on sale in the run up to All Saints' Day (Day of the Dead), Peanuts, most of which have a tight, round habit, with hundreds of small flowers on them. I was told that they wouldn't survive our tough winters here, but I've planted quite a few of them outside, and all but a few have come through smiling, even after our severe mountain winters and even a brief spell of -22°. We cut them back hard in early winter once they've finished flowering and are well established, and when they start into growth in spring and early summer, keep cutting the leading shoots back to keep the ball shape. We currently have about 8 or nine beautiful plants which should, if appearances are anything to go by will, within a month, be covered in flowers. We were told that the original plants sold in florists and on market stalls will have been treated with a growth retardant to keep their compact shape, but maybe not! Worth a try!

Hi, even if they have been treated with a growth retardant, it will only work for 1 season, and it does nothing for the shape, only size, Derek.