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Read More September 7, 2023 | Blain's Farm & FleetHow to Care for Potted Mums
Learn how to properly care for your mums this fall.
Mums, short for chrysanthemums, are a must-have for your front porch in the fall. Mums are unique because they thrive in cold weather that most other types of flowers can’t survive. Plus, they come in a variety of beautiful warm colors, like reds, pinks, oranges, and yellows.
All these factors are what make them the fan-favorite fall flower. If you want to decorate the outside of your house with these beautiful flowers this season, Blain’s Farm & Fleet is here to give you some tips on how to take care of them. If you properly care for your mums, they should last a long time.
Plus, right now you can get your fall mums in a variety of colors and sizes at select Blain’s Farm & Fleet Garden Centers!
Repotting Your Mums
The first thing you should do after bringing your mums home is repot them. The pots most mum plants come in are typically pretty small. And the roots end up getting overcrowded at the bottom of the container. And let’s face it, the pots they come in usually aren’t that pretty, anyway!
Make sure you repot your mums in a bigger pot or planter than the one they came in. The larger the pot, the more room they’ll have to grow. Your pot should also have drainage holes at the bottom.
If you really want to get in the fall spirit, you could get a seasonal pot, such as one that looks like a Jack-o-lantern.
When repotting, carefully loosen the root ball so they’re not tightly bound together. Use a potting soil mix that has good drainage.
Watering Your Mums
After you repot your mums, water them well. Then, water your mums every time the top inch of soil feels dry. On average, you should give them about one inch of water per week. And this should be spread out throughout the week.
Make sure you don’t let your mums get too dry between waterings. If this happens, the flowers will start wilting.
You should also water them at the base of the plant, not on top of the flowers. Wet flowers won’t last as long.
Proper Sunlight & Temperature
Mums like to have plenty of direct sunlight. They should get at least four to six hours of sunlight every day.
You also want to prevent your mums from extreme heat or cold. They grow best in USDA gardening zones 5 to 9, but some varieties can survive in even colder weather.
If it gets above 75° F, move your mums to a partially shaded area. They don’t do well in warmer temperatures.
Preparing Your Mums for Winter
If the temperatures won’t get below 32° F where you live, you can continue caring for your mums as usual. But if it’s going to get colder than that, you have a few options.
Some people choose to let their mums die once winter hits, and they just buy a new plant each fall. But you can treat mums as a perennial flower, and there are ways you can keep them alive year-round.
If you want to keep your mums outside, you can plant them in the ground. Then, put a good layer of mulch on top of the soil to help protect them.
If you want to keep your mums potted, you also have the option to bring them indoors during the winter time. Keep them by a window that gets indirect sunlight. And continue to water them enough so the soil doesn’t dry out.
For more tips on caring for your flowers, check out our other Gardening articles.
