How long do potted mums last?

Garden mums may be grown in containers, or planted in beds with existing shrubs and flowers. Flowers generally last about two or three weeks, depending on the outdoor temperatures and how far along the blooming process was when the plants were purchased.

How do you take care of potted mums?

How to Care for MUMs and Keep Them Blooming All Season
  1. Place your mums in a sunny area in your home. Find a window that allows lots of sun in and be sure it gets at least four hours a day of direct sunlight.
  2. Keep the soil moist.
  3. Deadhead often for lasting blooms.
  4. Once your mums stop blooming, you can place them in the ground outdoors once the weather starts to warm.

Do mums do well in pots?

Mums do best in well-drained soil so use a potting mix (Vigoro All Purpose Potting Mix, $7, The Home Depot) in your container. If you are growing mums in pots for a single season, you can mix them in with other plants in a large container.

Do mums come back in pots?

Potted mums are autumn classics, with late-season color that boosts curb appeal or brightens a Thanksgiving table. Treat your potted mums with care, and they’ll come back whether you maintain them in the pot or plant them out in the garden.

Can mums come back every year?

Because people often think that mums (formally called Chrysanthemums) are at best a finicky perennial, many gardeners treat them as annuals, but this doesn’t have to be the case. With just a little winter care for mums, these fall beauties can come back year after year.

Do mums like sun or shade?

Chrysanthemums are sun-loving plants. Although they technically require only 6 hours of sunlight each day, the more light they receive, the better their growth, bloom and hardiness. Slight shade in hot, summer afternoons is appropriate in warmer gardening zones to prevent scorching.

Do you deadhead mums?

You don’t want to over-water your mums, however the worst thing that can happen is for them to get too dry. Deadhead often for lasting blooms. Take off wilted blooms and deceased stems/leaves not only makes your mums look more beautiful, it helps your plant to bloom longer.

When should I trim my mums?

It’s always best to cut mums back every spring shortly after they first begin to grow. Timing is everything. If you don’t cut mums back in early spring, then they are more likely to produce a premature and disappointing period of poor bloom in summer and a lackluster season of poor bloom in fall.

Can I plant my mums in the ground?

Technically, however, they can be planted in your garden any time before the first frost of fall. This means you can try removing the mums from your pot and planting them in the ground in the fall. Plant them at the same depth as they were in the pot and water them thoroughly after planting.

How do I save my potted mums for next year?

In the fall of the second year and beyond, leave the mums foliage in tact through the winter. Mulch the base of the plant with a thick two to three-inch covering of straw or leaves. This will help insulate the roots from extreme cold. In the spring, cut back the foliage, and repeat with summer cut back care.

How do you winterize mums in pots?

Choose a mostly dark cool area, such as an unheated garage shed or basement, which has temperatures between 32 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If temperatures could fall below freezing, wrap the pots with several layers of newspaper to protect the roots. Water your mums so that the soil is slightly moist.

Is Epsom salt good for mums?

Fertilizer Selection

Ideally, mums need 40-120 ppm calcium, 30-60 ppm magnesium and 25-75 ppm sulfur (75-250 ppm sulfate) on a constant basis. Often, Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) is mixed in the stock solution of a water soluble fertilizer to provide magnesium and sulfate.

How do I pinch back my mums?

To pinch back your mums, use your thumb and forefinger to snap off the terminal portion of each stem the plant produces. You can remove as many as half the total height of each stem, or you can choose to remove just the topmost growing point, if you want the plant to be taller.

Can I revive my mums?

If a mum’s roots are brown and dry, then the plant is probably deceased. If a mum’s roots are white and look healthy, then that plant is alive but needs some tender loving care to revive it. Clip off all deceased leaves and blooms. Doing so can encourage your plants to grow new leaves and flowers.

Do mums require a lot of watering?

Whether in a pot or in your garden, mums like lots of light. Mums thrive in full sun conditions as long as you give them enough water. After they are established, give mums about an inch of water per week.

How much water should I give my mums?

Early in the season mums should be watered like your lawn, about one inch a week. As the plants increase in size and summer brings warmer temperatures, your watering should increase proportionately. By flowering time in September and October, watering three times a week would not be too much.

How do I make my mums bloom?

Plant the mums in well-draining soil that receives full sun. Fertilize well to encourage blooms. If the mums produce spring blooms, pinch them back before late summer to encourage fall flowering.

What is the best fertilizer for mums?

To get the most from your garden mums, place them in a sunny location and feed them every 7-14 days with an all-purpose water-soluble plant food like Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. Or, you can feed and water your mums at the same time with Miracle-Gro® LiquaFeed®.

Will mums continue to bloom?

A: They won’t flower again this year, but should next fall. You can keep them in containers or plant them in the garden in an organically enriched, well-draining soil and in five to six hours of sun. Since the blooms have faded, cut the plants back to 2 inches above ground and mulch heavily.

What do you do with mums in the summer?

As mums begin to grow through the spring and into summer, they’re going to start producing buds. To get the most out of a mum, it’s best to prune those buds, pinching them back until the time comes to let the plants develop new leaves, branches, and flowers. That way they’ll look gorgeous next fall.