If you want to decorate your home for fall, flowering mums are a must-have. However, wouldn’t it be amazing if you could extend the blooming period of these plants for as long as possible?
Mums, or Chrysanthemums to use their proper name, may be quite expensive. Sadly, it appears that their price increases year after year.
With this in mind, it is in the best interest of every gardener to maximize their “bloom” for their investment. Here are three easy tips for extending the life of your autumn mums and their stunning blossoms.
Purchase Wisely At First
Getting the most out of your mum plants starts right when you buy them at the store.
Unfortunately, you shouldn’t bring home mums whose blossoms have already opened. In fact, if they are in their peak of bloom, they may only have two weeks or so left of vibrant color.
If you need them right away for a display, that could be perfect. However, you should avoid purchasing these plants if you want your mums to last for at least a month.
Mums in any stage of bloom, even those sold in stores, should be avoided. Find plants that are bursting with buds but haven’t bloomed yet. It’s ideal if the bud is as compact as possible.
The next two secrets will help you get the most out of your mums’ current stage of development, and they will also help them last longer.
And when shopping for mums, keep in mind that it’s best to choose the kind that can be planted and enjoyed year after year.
Watering Mums
You have picked a powerful Mum; now it’s up to you to provide her the finest care you can. For this reason, it is essential to maintain regular, adequate watering using the correct technique.
Autumn’s less humid and dry air can quickly dry out the soil in potted plants. Especially if the plant needs more water than usual to grow flowers.
Mums need regular watering to maintain their blooming period. If you water them infrequently and inconsistently, it will shorten their overall bloom cycle.
You should use your fingertip to feel the soil every day to make sure it is fine. It’s time to water if the soil is dry about an inch down. It is recommended to water your mums once a day, or more often if it is particularly hot outside.
It really matters how you water your plants.
As counterintuitive as it may appear, the method through which you water your mums has a major impact on how long their flowers will remain in place. First, make sure your mums are never watered from the top down.
Mums quickly lose their color and vigor when their blossoms are drenched. In fact, it can shorten the lifespan of a flower by half!
Instead, direct the stream of water to the outer corners of the container or down below the bloom line if you’re using a hose. It’s crucial not to drown the flowers.
Location
The flowering longevity of your mums might also be affected by where you put them on display. While mums can tolerate direct sunlight, it significantly shortens their blooming period.
The longevity of your flowers can be greatly increased by planting them in partially shaded or mostly shaded areas. It can even lengthen the time they appear healthy by two weeks!
Mums require direct sunlight for bud development, although they will still open their flowers in indirect light.
To that end, porches, patios, and even areas shaded by shrubs and trees are wonderful alternatives. They not only keep the sun’s rays at bay, but they also shield the mums from heavy rains.
Flowering kale and cabbage plants would be a lovely addition to your autumn displays. When properly cared for, their vibrant fall color can linger all the way through December, making them a wonderful complement to holiday displays.
