What do mums look like in spring

Then came winter. The flowers faded, and finally, the blooms froze. At that point, I moved the two pots to the end of the porch and pretty much ignored them—until now. It's mid-April as I write this. What should I do with my mums now that it's spring? There's no shortage of chrysanthemum sales around here in the fall. In fact, after a long, hot summer, many people can't wait to get rid of their spent annuals and replace them with colorful potted mums, already blooming and beautiful.

Then there are those who nurture mums from year to year, letting the plants die off in the winter then pruning and caring for them through the summer, keeping them trimmed up so they'll be gorgeous again when cooler weather arrives. They won't look like this next fall without some serious TLC this spring.

How sweet of your dad! I'd rather receive a potted plant, such as mums, than cut flowers. Helps those memories last! I hope you get them growing again, BarbRad. Maybe some fertilizer would help. Bet you could ask at the local garden center and get some good advice there! Thanks for posting this. I've just been wondering what to do with my mums. They are turning green again, but they are staying very close to the ground. They were miniature ones to start with, but not this miniature.

Sylvestermouse, sounds like I could learn a lot from you! Thanks so much for the visit and your comments! Mums are among my favorite flowers. I have one that is about 10, maybe even 15 years old that my brother gave me when he came to visit one year. My thumb is sort of a neutral color, Margaret. When new growth appears simply pinch it off.

Leave only two or three leaves on the shoot. Pinch the very end. Pinching should take place in May, June and July. Pinch each plant only once per month. If the variety of mum is an early flower producer do not pinch in July or the new flower heads will be pinched. Pull weeds around mums as they appear so the weeds do to compete for light, nutrients and water.

Mums enjoy a 2-inch layer of mulch over their root system to keep it cool and moist in the height of summer. Peat moss, saw dust, bark chips or recycled plastic mulches are ideal. When should I plant my bloomed mums? Winter is fairly warm here You can plant them after they finish blooming. Remove the dead flowers and keep plants well-watered. Fertilize monthly. Don't be surprised if the mum plants bloom again in Spring. It takes even days and nights to trigger flower bud formation, and in southern latitudes such as yours, plants will do so.

Remove the dead flowers again and wait for a second flower show in autumn! Can you winter over other perennials in store bought pots? I didn't get around to preparing soil in new landscape area. Illinois Zone 5 Thank you. What about other perennial plants in pots, like if you my from the garden center, and they never got planted BUT still alive.

How or can I winter those over?? In Illinois Zone 5, supposed to be a harsh winter. I live in Zone 5-IL, too, and I overwinter many perennials in the garage, against a house wall, where it's warmer. Again, I water plants monthly to keep roots healthy. I bought an awesome mum in late September that I want to plant and I see that you suggest to put it in a basement or cool closet until spring. I do not have either of those but was wondering if my garage is an ok place, or is it too cold. I planted my little mum given to me on Mother's day.

It was tiny but now in early October, it is gigantic and has hundred of tiny buds on it. Some are now opening. It will be a madness of yellow if they all bloom before the frost. My question is this - Do Mum plants grow like a bush and very large and if so, how do I transplant some of it?

Yes, mum plants do grow huge! Spring is when to divide plants. Use a shovel to cut plant in half. Dig up one part and replant it.

Replace lost soil around remaining plant and water both well. Mums keep on giving! If I take care of my recently purchased potted mums in the basement as you suggest, and plant them in the spring, when will they bloom? I like having all these reds, oranges, and yellows in the fall, which is why I also get sucked into buying them.

Mums are even-light bloomers, meaning they bloom when the days and nights are even in length. Usually, mums bloom in fall. They start budding around Labor Day and bloom soon after. If your spring is mild, and you plant the mums in early March, you may get a spring bloom. If so, deadhead all flowers after they brown so that plants will bloom again in autumn. I bought a pot and left it the same way. I've been watering them everyday.

I live in Memphis. Could you pls help me to Save this plant. Love your blog. It's great. You may be watering too much. Or, it may be that the flowers have matured, are browning and falling off. That's a natural cycle. But, I'm betting it's too much water. Glad you like the blog. I bought 2 huge mums because I too go nuts in the fall when I see them. I want to keep these though. I live in South Dakota and the Black Hills and of course we have cold winters.

I think it is too late to plant right? Should I try and do what you suggest about keeping them in a dark closet and keep the roots damp till spring? Don't try to plant the mums! They'll die, even with a mountain of mulch.

Store them in a cold basement or cool dark closet. Be sure to water plants well before storage and then water every month to keep roots alive. Good luck! Spring, summer? You can also divide plants in half to get more plants. Keep them well watered after dividing. I live in zone 8. If I plant mums now will they survive the winter? We never get extremely cold, but winters do vary. You may have a chance of saving your mums. Don't cut the foliage or even the dead flowers.

After the first hard freeze--a night in the high 20's, heap inches of loose mulch such as shredded fall leaves or straw over the plants. They probably will make it. Hi, I just bought some beautiful mums yesterday and planted them today. Is their anything I can do to try to protect them so they won't die. I live in Va and it can get pretty cold here in the winter months. Peggy, you can try to save the mums by leaving all the foliage and flowers on plants after they die.

This helps to insulate roots. Then, heap six inches of shredded fall leaves or straw on top of plants. Why don't we see more mums in the spring???????? Why do they sell them in the fall??? I just learned a lot from reading this info!!!

I planted my Mum plant on mother's day and now it is late August and it has tripled in size. No flowers but lost of green. Do I cut it down for winter and cover it? Thanks for the help. If you live in a cold climate, it is best to leave the foliage on the plant, even after it has browned and died, to increase the plant's chance of surviving the winter.

If you do decide to cut off the foliage, wait until it turns brown. If the leaves are still green, it means that they are making food for the plant, which helps the plant to survive the winter. In either case, place a thick layer of mulch, such as straw, over the plants in late fall; remove in spring when growth starts.

In spring, you can prune out the dead leaves before the new ones start to develop. Now all I need to find is straw in Toronto, Ontario. However, I will. Thanks a bunch. If I bought the mums now but do not plant them, can they be left in the pot until next spring, then plant them?

You can try it. After the mums start to turn brown, cut them back to within 1 inch of the soil. Water and put the pot in a protected area example: garage, cold frame. Surround the plant with newspapers and place newspapers below the pot. Check your mums once a month or so to see if it's getting dried out and water if so.

In the early spring, you can plant the mums in the ground. Every single one of them has returned each spring and they are healthy and HUGE. I've divided them each spring for the past two years. I live in zone 5 Morris, IL.

I figured that if they didn't come back, I wasn't out that much money and it took very little time to plant them Happy growing! Thanks for info.

I will too bought some "cheap" mums and planted If not, not a big loss. I agree. I love mums and have consistently lost them when planting in the fall. Thank you for this article. Why are they not available to be planted in the spring? I have planted asters instead but do not find the same color choices available. Spring sources for mum plants include mail order catalogs, online mum specialty nurseries and large garden centers that cater to landscapers.

They often sell mum transplants in six-paks in May and early June. I have read that planting mums in the fall is not a wise thing to do. If this is the case, why are there very few mum plants available in the spring? I plant them in August which now I know I should plant them in May.

Maybe they should be named spring mums instead of fall mums--the name is deceiving! Skip to main content. You are here Life in The Garden. Chrysanthemums: When to Plant Mums. By Doreen G. September 30, About This Blog. Tags flowers chrysanthemum. What do you want to read next? How to Cut Back Perennials in Fall. Houseplant Care Guide. How to Overwinter Your Plants and The Best Fall Flowers for Your Easiest Roses to Grow for Beginners.

Pruning A Guide to Pruning Planting Fall Bulbs for Spring Good article, makes sense. Are mums generally available at garden centers in the spring? HOw to do mums in winter. Hi Debbie, In colder climates you need to store the mums in a dark cool place over the winter months. Prune in the spring and cut back all brown or dead growth.

Garage or basement. Water pots every weeks to keep roots hydrated. Thanks, Van. Thank you for your kind words. Glad that you are a reader of my blog. Where can u get chrysanthemums in Oct n what care is needed. The basement, most diffently! That's where I overwinter most of my potted plants. Place potted mums in a cool area that gets sun. East or west exposure is the best. Sounds like a good plan, Betsy.

Let us know next spring if the mums made it throught winter. Hi just bought 4 8' hardy mums can i put them in my basment til spring or can i plant them now. If you dig up the mums and replant in the next month, you are OK. Thank you so much! Unclassified mums exhibit a wide range of colors and sizes. Popular varieties include: Lone Star, Lili Gallon and Pacificum Steps to Planting Chrysanthemums You may be asking yourself how to grow chrysanthemums to fill your garden landscape as quickly as possible.

When to Plant Chrysanthemums? Planting chrysanthemum in the spring gives the perennial plant time to establish and adapt to its new garden home. Planting in the spring will also result in a bigger bloom the following season. Although some fall mums can survive winter if planted immediately, the odds are much better with spring-planted mums.

How Hardy Are Chrysanthemums? The majority of mum varieties are winter hardy in Zones 5 through 9. Some varieties, such as Mammoth Daisy, are hardy down to Zone 3. Local nurseries and garden centers will most often feature the varieties that are specific to local areas.

Avoid purchasing from floral shops — their mums are different, less hardy floral varieties. What is the Best Soil for Mums? Chrysanthemums can survive in most soils, but they thrive in well-draining soil with consistent moisture.

Growing mums in hard, dry soil prevents the roots from becoming well established, while wet, boggy soil drowns the roots. Finding the middle ground is key. To create a good soil for your mums, work your soil to a depth of 8 to 12 inches. Mix in 2 to 4 inches of organic material, such as compost or peat moss. The perfect soil texture can be tested by taking a handful and squeezing.

It should simply crumble. 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. Mums bloom due to their photoperiodic nature. When the plant senses a change in the length of darkness in late summer, it begins to set buds. Planting near artificial lights, such as security lights or porch lights, can alter the bloom time of your mums. Does Spacing Really Matter? It can be tempting to plant mums closely together.

However, keep in mind that by fall, most properly planted mums will reach up to 3 feet in height and width. Like many perennials, mums will often become larger each year. Even if your flower bed looks a bit bare when you first plant your mums, in time it will fill in. Spacing mums properly is essential for plant health. Plants that are too crowded compete for nutrients, have root system issues, attract pests and suffer from disease. Following the plant spacing directions for your chrysanthemum variety increases the health of your garden and protects your investment of time and money.

Caring for Chrysanthemums Mums are generally considered low maintenance plants. Mums require even moisture for the best growth. Consistent watering throughout the spring, summer and fall is essential.

Once the ground is frozen in the winter, watering can be suspended until spring warms the soil. Early morning watering, to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, is recommended. The ideal watering method for mums is one that applies moisture directly to the base of the plants.