How Long Do Chrysanthemums Last in a Vase?

This expert advice on how to take care of chrysanthemums in a vase will make it easy to take care of these unsung heroes of gardening.

People often call these long-lasting flowers chrysanths or mums, and they’re popular for the wide range of colors and flower shapes they come in. In fact, some varieties are so different, its hard to believe theyre the same species. No matter which ones you like, our experts will show you how to easily take care of chrysanthemums in a vase.

With shapes like incurve, pompons, spoons, spiders, cascades, and quills, chrysanthemums can look classy and formal, simple and stylish (like big daisies), or amazing (with huge two-toned florets). Chrysanthemums are one of the best cut flowers for floral arrangements as theyre so pretty and last ages. It takes cut flowers 7–14 days to fully bloom, so they make great gifts and can liven up your home.

With their bountiful blooms and wide range of colors, chrysanthemums make a cheerful addition to any floral arrangement. But just how long will these popular “mums” last after being cut and placed in water?

The Basics

On average, cut chrysanthemums will last 7 to 14 days in a clean vase with proper care. Some varieties may start to fade sooner, while others can look fresh for 3 weeks or more

So chrysanthemums are one of the longest lasting cut flowers you can buy. Much longer than more delicate roses lilies, or tulips.

Their extended vase life makes mums a great choice for home decor, centerpieces, gifts, and any application where you want the flowers to stick around for a while.

Factors That Influence Longevity

Several key factors work together to determine just how long cut chrysanthemums will last in your home:

Flower Type – The specific variety makes a difference. Large exhibition mums and spider mums tend to have the best staying power. Smaller pom pom types may fade faster.
Maturity – Chrysanthemums harvested when fully open last longer than tight buds still emerging.

Care – Proper conditioning, hydration, nutrients, and environment prolong vase life.
Water Quality – Clean, bacteria-free water keeps stems healthy.
Temperature – A cool 60-72°F is ideal. Heat hastens decline.

So pay attention to flower choice, care routine, and growing conditions to maximize the vase life of your mums.

Extending Vase Life

Here are some tips and tricks to care for cut chrysanthemums and extend their longevity as cut flowers:

Cut stems at an angle while underwater when first arranging. This prevents air bubbles that block water flow.
Remove leaves that will sit in the water, since they promote bacterial growth.

Use floral preservative like flower food to provide nutrients and inhibit bacteria.
Recut stems every 2-3 days to restore water flow.
Change water routinely to stop bacterial buildup.

Display out of direct sun and away from heat sources like appliances or fires.
Mist flowers occasionally to increase humidity around blooms.
Refrigerate overnight to rehydrate if drooping.

Follow these care steps and your cut mums should thrive for 2 weeks or more!

Displaying Chrysanthemums

To highlight their lasting beauty, here are some ideas for displaying cut chrysanthemums around your home:

Arrange mums by themselves in a tall clear vase to showcase the flowers.
Mix chrysanthemum colors and varieties for contrast.

Pair mums with other long-lasting flowers like roses or carnations.
Mass several mums together in a basket, bowl, or pot for a bountiful bouquet.
Snip a few fresh stems every couple days to revive a fading arrangement.

Scatter single stems in small bud vases around the house.
Highlight their sculptural form by placing a single stem in a slim cylindrical vase.
Combine mums with fall fruits, foliage and gourds in a Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Popular Varieties

Some top picks for long-lasting cut mums include:

Exhibition mums – Giant, fluffy globe-shaped blooms on 18+ inch stems. Last 3+ weeks.

Decorative mums – Large, double blooms with curved or quilled petals. Vase life 2-3 weeks.
Football mums – Dense 2-4″ pompons on compact plants. Hold up well 1-2 weeks.
Button mums – Adorable 1″ spheres of tiny petals. Ideal for mini-bouquets.

Spider mums – Feathery, spidery petals. Last 2 weeks in arrangements.
Anemone mums – Single, daisy-like blooms with yellow centers, 2 week vase life.

Enjoy Their Staying Power

The beauty of chrysanthemums is their ability to grace your home with cheerful color for weeks on end. Following proper cut flower care and selecting long-lasting varieties will keep your mums fresh 14 days or more in the vase. Their staying power makes chrysanthemums a cut flower you can rely on to stick around.

Change the vase water regularly (Image credit: Alamy)

To keep bacteria from growing, change the water in your vase often. This is also good for taking care of lilies in a vase. If you want your chrysanthemums to stay healthy, don’t let water sit still. Keep giving them fresh water.

As with all flowers, Gary Wallis at Jane Packer says that a clean vase is the first thing that should be done to keep them in good shape. Clean the stems with a mild antibacterial cleaner to make sure that bacteria don’t grow in the water and hurt them. Fill the vase to approximately one third with clean water that has been pre-mixed with flower food.

We recommend changing the water every two to three days, says Valerie at 1-800-Flowers. Cut flowers will keep soaking up the water they live in because they need it to stay fresh.

Every time you change the water, use slightly warm water and cut the stems off at an angle, one to two inches from the bottom. This will give it more room to absorb water and make it more hydrated. Flower food should be replaced whenever your florals receive new water.

Each time you change the water in the vase, it’s easy to add a dash of this flower food that goes a long way.

Trim the stems at an angle (Image credit: Alamy)

Chrysanthemum stems will glue back together after being cut, so it’s important to cut them short before putting them in water. Trimming the stems helps to feed the bloom.

Valerie Ghitelman, Vice President of Sourcing and Design at 1-800-Flowers, says that flower stems, like chrysanthemum stems, should always be trimmed before they are arranged.

The blooms will last longer if you cut the stems at an angle. This will help them take in more water and nutrients from the flower food.

Fortunately, chrysanthemum are naturally, long lasting, flowers and this is common across all varieties, says Gary Wallis, co-founder at British and New York-based florist, Jane Packer. To ensure their longevity, cut at least 2cm/an inch from the stem at a 45 degree angle before arranging in the vase,

How to Make Fresh Flowers Last Longer

FAQ

How to keep chrysanthemums alive in a vase?

In the morning when plants are hydrated, cut the stems at an angle. Remove leaves that will be underwater and immediately place stems in tepid water. Bring the stems in water (with plant food added if you’d like) to a cool, dark place to rest overnight; this conditioning will extend the life of the cut flowers.

How to make cut chrysanthemums last longer?

So before placing the chrysanthemums in the vase, cut about 1 inch of their stems at a 45-degree angle. This increases the surface area for water absorption, allowing them to stay hydrated for longer. Also, trimming the stems is not a one-time thing. You’ll need to do this every time you change the water.

How long do mums last in a vase?

EXPECT MUMS TO LAST a long time in the vase, often more than two weeks. Add floral preservative to the water to help the cut blooms retain their vibrant coloring and also extend the vase life even longer.