How to grow ball chrysanthemums from seedlings?

Soil - pH 5.5, loose
Growing location - Sunny. If you will plant in the shade, the flowers will be smaller. If in partial shade, the flowers on the sunny side will open first, while those on the shady side will still be in buds. This will lead to uneven blooming.
Planting distance - Approximately 80 cm apart. They should not touch each other. If they do, the plants will form a broom-like shape, which is acceptable but not the expected ball shape. It doesn’t look nice if one side is broom-like and the other is spherical.
Watering - Regular watering is needed, the soil should not dry out. The plant will become leggy and the ball shape will not be maintained. If growing in a pot and it’s not under the open sky, water a little but every day, preferably in the morning, pouring water onto the soil. If you water the plant itself, there is a considerable risk of fungal diseases.
Fertilizing - If the soil is well-prepared, fertilizing is not crucial. However, in pots, fertilizing is necessary. Preference should be given to soluble mineral fertilizers, which are applied along with watering.
Overwintering in the garden - It’s possible in mild, snowy winters, but the breeder says that Latvian conditions are too harsh. You can experiment, but it’s important to understand that next year, the plant will likely revert to a bush or broom shape. The ball shape only remains from one shoot. During wintering, root shoots and many new shoots are formed. Therefore, if overwintered, you should dig it up in the spring and divide it.
Overwintering in a pot - This is possible. Trim the plant back to the roots and keep it in a room with a positive temperature (up to +8°C). Water very minimally. In the spring, repot and divide the bush into a single shoot.
Pruning or shaping - Pruning is not necessary. The ball shape is genetically ingrained. Since chrysanthemums are relatively easy to propagate from cuttings, some people prune them to obtain planting material. If you do this, you should allow about two weeks before the flowering begins.
Propagation: Officially, propagation of these varieties is not allowed, and we do not do it ourselves. If it’s purely for personal enjoyment, the internet is full of guides. Considering that wintering is uncertain, the best option is to overwinter the plant in a basement, completing all tasks together (dig it up, overwinter it properly, divide it correctly, and replant). In our opinion, it’s more cost-effective to buy a ready-made plant. For those looking to save even more, we offer young plants in early May. They can be purchased for 70 cents (the plant size is around 2-3 cm). We haven’t sent such small ones with Omniva, so it’s better to pick them up in person. If someone wants to take the risk, feel free to write to us, and we’ll send them.