Wondering how to keep those expensive mums you just purchased blooming longer into fall this year?
As gorgeous as mums can be for adding fall color – they can also be frustrating. A plant that looks incredible at the garden center can begin fading just a week or two after you bring it home. Its flowers start turning brown, its leaves wilt, and before long, that once-beautiful mum looks as though fall has already passed it by.
The good news is that mums don’t have to fade quickly. In fact, with the right care, they can continue flowering for four weeks or more. Even better, keeping them blooming doesn’t require expensive fertilizers, special sprays or hours of work.
The secret is simply giving mums the moisture, sunlight and protection they need while removing old blooms as they fade. Here is a look at four simple fall care secrets that can keep your mums flowering longer than ever!
How To Keep Your Mums Blooming Longer
#1 Water Your Mums The Right Way
More than anything else, improper watering causes fall mums to fade early. Mums have thick, dense root systems that can use a surprising amount of moisture, especially when plants are growing in small nursery containers.
Once a mum becomes severely dry, its blooms and buds can quickly shrivel. Although watering may revive its foliage, damaged flowers rarely recover. That is why consistently checking the soil is far better than waiting until the plant begins to wilt.
Check potted mums every day by pressing your finger into the top inch of soil. If it feels dry, water the plant thoroughly. During warm, sunny or windy weather, a container mum may require water every day. Larger pots and mums planted in flowerbeds usually retain moisture longer, but they should still be checked regularly.
Always water mums at the base of the plant. Their dense foliage can make this challenging, so gently lift the branches and direct the water onto the soil. Continue watering until moisture drains from the bottom of the container.
Avoid pouring water over the flowers and foliage. Wet blooms deteriorate faster and are more likely to develop spots, mold and mildew. Watering at the soil level keeps the flowers dry while delivering moisture directly to the roots.
Just as important, never allow a mum to sit in standing water. Decorative foil, plastic sleeves and containers without drainage holes can trap water around the roots. Mums need consistent moisture, but soggy soil will suffocate their roots and cause the plant to decline.
#2 Give Mums The Right Amount Of Sunlight To Keep Them Blooming Longer
Mums need sunlight to stay healthy and continue opening their buds. As a general rule, give them at least four to six hours of sunlight each day. Without enough light, their stems become weak, their foliage thins and many unopened buds may fail to develop.
However, there is a big difference between bright fall sunshine and intense afternoon heat. A mum sitting on a hot concrete porch or against a sun-baked wall can dry out rapidly. Excessive heat also causes blooms to mature and fade much faster.
For the longest flowering period, place mums where they receive morning sun and some protection during the hottest part of the afternoon. Morning sunlight dries away dew and provides energy for the plant without subjecting its flowers to hours of intense heat.
Cool fall temperatures naturally help mum blooms last longer. If unusually warm weather arrives, moving container mums to a location with light afternoon shade can add valuable days or even weeks to their flowering display.
Be careful not to move them into deep shade. A covered porch that receives no direct sunlight may seem like a protected location, but the lack of light will weaken the plant. Bright, gentle sunlight combined with cooler temperatures creates the ideal balance.
It also helps to rotate potted mums every few days. Mum plants naturally grow and bloom toward the strongest light. Turning the container keeps growth even and allows all sides of the plant to receive their fair share of sunshine.
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#3 Remove Fading Flowers Regularly
Deadheading is one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep mums looking fresh. As blooms age, they turn brown and begin producing seed. The plant then directs energy toward those aging flowers instead of the buds that still have the potential to open.
Removing old blooms allows the plant to concentrate its resources on its remaining flowers and unopened buds. It also improves air circulation through the dense canopy and instantly makes the entire plant look brighter and healthier.
Check your mums every few days and remove flowers as soon as they begin to fade. Use a clean pair of scissors or pruning snips to cut the old flower and its short stem back to the first set of healthy leaves. You can also pinch individual blooms off carefully with your fingers.
Try not to pull or tear at the plant. Mum stems can be brittle, and tugging on one spent flower can break off a branch holding several healthy buds. A quick, clean cut avoids unnecessary damage.
When selecting mums at the store, choose plants with more closed buds than open flowers. A fully blooming plant may look more impressive on the day you buy it, but a bud-filled mum will usually provide color for a much longer period.
#4 Protect Mums From Frost, Wind & Heavy Rain
Mums thrive in cool fall air, but their flowers are still vulnerable to harsh weather. A light frost, strong wind or pounding rain can quickly damage delicate petals and turn healthy blooms brown.
Keep container mums in a sheltered location whenever possible. A protected porch, patio or spot near the house can help shield them from wind and heavy rainfall. The goal is not to keep them indoors all fall, but to prevent unnecessary weather damage.
When frost is forecast, move potted mums into a garage, shed or enclosed porch overnight. Return them to their sunny location the following morning after temperatures rise. This simple routine can extend their display well beyond the first few cold nights of autumn.
For mums planted in flowerbeds, cover the plants before sunset with frost cloth, an old bedsheet or a light blanket. Use stakes if necessary to keep the covering from crushing the blooms. Remove it in the morning so the plant can receive light and fresh air.
Avoid using plastic directly over the plant. Plastic offers little insulation where it touches the foliage, and trapped condensation can make flower damage worse. A breathable fabric covering provides much better protection.
Heavy fall rains can be nearly as damaging as frost. If several days of wet weather are expected, temporarily move potted mums beneath an overhang. Keeping the flowers dry protects the petals, but remember to continue checking the soil and watering at the base when needed.
Should You Fertilize Mums While They Are Blooming?
Mums purchased in full bloom do not need heavy fertilizing. In fact, applying a strong fertilizer in the fall can force tender new foliage at the expense of flowers. It can also encourage growth that has little time to harden before freezing weather arrives.
Most nursery mums already contain enough nutrients to finish their flowering cycle. Good watering, adequate light and regular deadheading will do far more to extend their blooms than fertilizer ever will.
If a mum has been growing in the same container since early summer and appears pale, a very weak dose of balanced liquid fertilizer may help. But for newly purchased fall mums, it is usually best to skip feeding altogether.
Remember that if your mums are garden mums – they can be overwintered and saved. For more on that, check out our article: How To Overwinter Mums – The Secret To Saving Your Mums!
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This Is My Garden is a garden website created by gardeners, for gardeners. Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books and speaking for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. They publish three articles every week, 52 weeks a year. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along!