Caring for Potted Mums

It’s almost fall!  I can’t believe how fast the summer went, but here we are.  School is in session, football season is starting, and it’s time to think about decorating the house for the season.  Nothing says fall more than pretty potted mums set by the front door. 

Mums, also called chrysanthemums, have their origins in China, where they were used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.  They made their way to Europe in the 17^th century and are now one of the most common outdoor fall decorations in the US.   In fact, it is our biggest fall seller.  We have more than 3300 individual plants in 34 different varieties this year.  Some of the varieties flower in late August and early September.  Others don’t flower until much later in the fall. 

The most frequent question we get about mums is, “If I plant them in the ground will they come back next year?”  The simple answer is probably not, but maybe.  The types of mums we sell in pots in the fall are considered annuals.  They are specifically bred for increased bloom size and color.  To do that, some of their cold hardiness is sacrificed.  But you might get lucky. A few of our customers have had success. If you want to try it, plant them in a spot where they are protected from winter winds.  Wait until ground freezes, then cover them with leaves or another mulch.  Remove the covering in early spring, and keep your fingers crossed.

We recommend getting mums at garden centers like Pleasant Prairie Greenhouse, rather than big box or grocery stores.  Mums are really thirsty plants, and staff at big box stores often don’t have the time and expertise to keep them properly watered.  They won’t last nearly as long if someone has let them get dried out and wilted. 

Look for healthy, green foliage.  Avoid any that look wilted or have yellowing leaves.  If you need your mums to last a long time, choose ones with flowers that are just starting to emerge, rather than ones in full bloom. 

Caring for mums is relatively easy.  Here’s how:

1. If you can, repot your mum into a larger pot when you get home. Gently loosen any tightly bound roots once you remove it from the pot.  Then plant it in new pot, making sure to keep the soil level the same as it was in the old pot.  Leave about an inch of space at the top of the new pot. 
2. Water them immediately after repotting and whenever the top inch of soil is dry. You’ll want to check them every day. Water them slowly and thoroughly, until water runs out the hole at the bottom of the plant.  If you use a plant saucer, empty it after watering and after any rain.  When watering, insert the watering can spout underneath the leaves so they stay dry.  This will prevent any fungal disease from developing.  If you do forget to water them, and they wilt, you can revive them with a thorough watering, but they might not be quite the same.  The colors may not be as bright, and they might not last a long time.
3. Set them in a sunny location. Mums need at least six hours of sun a day to bloom well.  They may like a little afternoon shade on hot days, though.  If weather is very hot, move them to the shade temporarily to prevent them from drying out. Mums in bloom will do well indoors, too, if kept in bright indirect light.
4. Deadhead spent and fading flowers by pinching them of just above the next set of leaves. This will keep your mums healthy and looking great.  

Mums are stunning when displayed in big groups that show off their vivid colors.  Or mix them with echibeckia, asters, grasses, or ornamental peppers to create a one-of-a-kind arrangement. Of course, they look great with pumpkins and gourds situated around them, too.  If all that sounds like too much work, let us do it for you. We have some great planters ready to go, or we can help you select the right plants for your fall décor.  We are open Friday-Sunday through October.  For hours and more information find Pleasant Prairie Greenhouse on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.pleasantprairiegreenhouse.com.