Mums are the quintessential fall flower. They are pretty hardy plants with bright flowers that can be put outside or brought inside for fall decor. This book tells you everything you need to know to take care of moms and make sure they look their best.
Mums are spectacular fall plants. They can be planted indoors or outside and will reward you with blooms from September until frost. They are perfect for fall decorating. Taking care of mums is simple. Here are some tips to keep them happy and healthy.
Mums are a big bang for your buck as they are less expensive than most bouquets of flowers. They look great in pots on a front porch or back patio, on a kitchen counter, or in the ground along your front walk.
Here are some tried-and-true tips for taking care of mums and making sure those lovely fall flowers look their best.
With their burst of cheerful color and ruffled, full flowers, chrysanthemums make fantastic gift plants and indoor companions But while they may look high maintenance, mums are actually quite easy to care for indoors if you follow some basic guidelines
Below are tips for selecting the right mums, providing what they need to thrive, and keeping them blooming beautifully inside your home.
Choosing the Best Chrysanthemums for Indoors
Chrysanthemums come in countless varieties, but not every type will do well as a houseplant. When selecting mums for indoor growing, look for:
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Compact size – Avoid giant exhibition mums which can grow over 3 feet tall! Opt for more petite varieties in the 1-2 foot range. Dwarf mums like ‘Little Auto Time’ and ‘Spring Blushing’ are ideal.
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Prolific blooms – Look for mums bred specifically for profuse flowers in indoor conditions The Super Hero series and Recurring Mums are some examples.
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Well-rooted – Don’t purchase mums that are rootbound or appear stressed. Pick plants with healthy foliage and visible root growth from the drainage holes.
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Label specifies indoor use – Some mums are sold just for outdoor garden planting. Make sure the tag or care instructions say the variety works well indoors.
Stick with traditional garden mum varieties instead of more temperamental Belgian or spray mum types. Avoid forcing mums intended for fall gardens. Optimal indoor mums will provide 3-4 weeks of enjoyment inside your home.
Providing Proper Lighting Conditions
One of the keys to healthy chrysanthemums is placing them in the right lighting conditions Here’s what mums need to thrive indoors
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4-6 hours of direct sunlight – Near an unobstructed south or west facing window is ideal. East can work too. Rotate the plant occasionally for even sun exposure.
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Avoid full day direct sun – Too much hot sun will fade flowers and stress the plant. Draw curtains or use a sheer filter if needed.
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No artificial light at night – Street lights, lamps, etc. can confuse the plant’s bloom cycle. Keep away from nighttime light pollution.
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Bring outdoors in spring – Let plants enjoy real sunlight for 2-3 weeks when temperatures warm up. Then bring back inside to rebloom.
Give mums the brightest spot in your home without frying them. Adjust conditions as needed to maintain perfect lighting.
Watering Chrysanthemums Properly
Chrysanthemums demand consistently moist soil. But that doesn’t mean you should overwater. Follow these indoor mum watering tips:
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Check soil daily – Stick your finger in the pot and water when the top 1-2 inches of soil become dry.
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Avoid soggy soil – Let excess water drain fully from the pot’s bottom before returning the drip tray.
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Water under foliage – Wetting the leaves can cause fungal issues. Water at soil level instead.
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Use room temperature water – Cold water straight from the tap can shock plant roots. Let water sit out first.
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Increase humidity – Misting leaves or using a pebble tray can boost moisture when air is very dry.
Water thoroughly until it drains freely from the pot’s holes. Then allow the soil to partially dry before soaking again. Proper moisture prevents leaf wilting andDrooping.
Feeding Indoor Chrysanthemums
While chrysanthemums don’t need frequent fertilizing, providing nutrients occasionally will keep yours looking its best:
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Use soluble plant food – Liquid fertilizers are easy for plants to access. Apply every 2-3 weeks.
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Pick balanced formulas – Look for equal NPK ratios like 20-20-20 or all-purpose mixes. Avoid bloom boosters.
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Half strength dilution – Too much fertilizer can burn roots. Mix at 50% strength rates.
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No need to feed in winter – Discontinue fertilizing when plants enter dormancy. Resume in spring.
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Watch for nutrient buildup – Flushing the soil occasionally prevents excess salts.
Proper fertilization keeps mums flowering vigorously. But more is not better. Stick to occasional, mild feeding.
Caring for Chrysanthemums After Blooming
While individual flowers only last 2-3 weeks, the mum plant itself can live on. Here’s how to care for mums after blooming:
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Deadhead spent blooms – Snip off old flowers to encourage new buds. Stop deadheading once plant fades.
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Cut back in spring – In early spring, prune stems back to 6 inches. New growth will emerge.
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Plant outside in fall – Let mums go dormant outdoors over winter. They rebloom in autumn gardens.
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Provide winter mulch – Where winters are cold, insulate dormant plants with a thick layer of straw or leaves.
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Discard after 1-2 years – Indoor mums struggle to rebloom after a couple seasons. Start fresh with new plants.
Enjoy gorgeous blooms for a few weeks, then let nature take its course. Mums need a rest period over winter in order to rebloom again next year.
Troubleshooting Common Indoor Mum Problems
Follow these tips to overcome potential issues with indoor chrysanthemum care:
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Wilty leaves – Increase watering frequency. Move to a cooler spot. Mist leaves.
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Leaf yellowing – Usually a sign of overwatering. Allow soil to dry out between waterings.
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Dropping leaves and buds – Likely caused by inconsistent watering. Keep soil evenly moist.
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No new blooms – Needs more sunlight. Pinch back tips to encourage branching.
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White powdery mildew – Improve air circulation. Remove affected leaves promptly.
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Pests like aphids – Wipe away with a damp cloth or use insecticidal soap.
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Botrytis blight – Space plants out for air movement. Water at soil level, not leaves.
Catch problems early and improve care. Well-cared for mums will reward you with weeks of beauty indoors.
Enjoying Chrysanthemums as Gorgeous Houseplants
Now that you know how to select the right mums, properly care for them, and handle any issues, you can look forward to these benefits of growing chrysanthemums indoors:
- A splash of lively color during dreary winter months
- Beautiful bouquets as holiday table centerpieces
- Long-lasting blooms to enjoy up close for weeks
- A spot of brightness in low-light indoor conditions
- Versatile hues like classic yellow, bold red, and pretty pink
- Intricately shaped ruffled, button, pompom, and daisy blooms
- A cheerful gift for birthdays, hostesses, teachers, and friends
Chrysanthemums are affordable, readily available, and easy to find year round. Their bright petals and dense arrangement of blooms will instantly elevate any space. Follow this indoor mum care guide and you’ll have a gorgeous houseplant that thrives inside your home.
Plant Or Put Mums In A Sunny Spot
Mums love the sun, so plant them outside where they will get at least six hours of sun a day. When you plant mums inside, put them somewhere sunny to keep them happy and healthy.
Mums can be planted indoors or outside and will reward you with blooms from September until frost. They are the quintessential fall flower.
Mums are thirsty plants. They do not, I repeat, do not like to be dry. Mums dry out surprisingly quickly, but they don’t like sitting in wet soil like most other plants do.
Put mums in the ground and water them well. Then, give them a little water every day (but not too much) until they are established.
If you have mums that you have repotted, check the soil daily. Put your finger up to your second knuckle in the ground. If it feels dry, give your mom some water. Never water the plant from the top down; only water the soil. This way, the leaves and flowers won’t get wet. This will keep them from getting things like mold.
If your mum’s leaves start to droop or wilt, give the plant a lot of water right away. Droopy leaves are a sign of a stressed plant no matter where they are planted.
Mums that are kept in their plastic containers tend to dry out very quickly. Even if the soil seems damp, the roots on the side of the plants can be dry. You can check to see if your plant needs water by picking up the plastic pot. If it feels dry, soak it well.
I would also soak the mums in water for 30 minutes in the sink that was filled with utility sink water before I transplanted all of my indoor mums. I did this for years.
As much as mums like to be watered, they do not like to stand in water. So make sure any pot you put them in has good drainage.
I don’t always follow this rule because I have a few beautiful urns that don’t have holes in them to let the water drain out. Outside urns that don’t have drainage holes get lined with the small plastic pots that summer annuals come in. You can also use plastic bottles, sticks and twigs, rocks, and more. To keep a mum’s roots from getting wet, the bottom of the pot should have a place for extra water to drain.
When I plant mums inside, I don’t always provide drainage. This might make them not last as long. But they are easy to replace.
Cutting off or pinching off anything that isn’t healthy on a plant is called deadheading. Deadhead leaves that are old, dead stems, and dead blooms. This will ensure your mums look their best and are healthy. Deadheading also help new flower to form and bloom.
Planting Mums Indoors Or Outdoors In Containers
Mums usually come in black plastic containers. You can keep mums right in those containers if they are not too pot-bound. But put the plastic container inside another larger, more decorative container. If you want to enjoy the beauty of your mum plant, make sure the pot you put it in is pretty. I know many, if not most, of us keep our decorative indoor mums in their original black containers. It might be worth the work to repot them, though, since mums in their original plastic posts don’t last as long as mums that have been repotted.
A lot of the mums we get in our area were planted in heavy soil from the fields where they grow. This heavy soil is not a very good choice for keeping mums healthy indoors. So I like to transplant my mums, using good quality potting soil, into a decorative container. A good potting soil offers a healthy environment for mums and ensures good drainage. Here’s how.
I move my mums to new pots. To get the mum out of the pot, I gently squeeze the sides of the pot to separate the soil. Resist the urge to remove a mum by pulling it out by the foliage. Mums have brittle foliage, and you can break off parts of the plant. Trust me, I’ve done that. Instead, gently turn the pot over and slide the mum out. If the mum is badly rootbound, soak the whole plastic pot in water until it loosens.
When I take the mum out of the pot, I carefully remove any clumps of soil around the root ball. If the roots are stuck in the pot, I gently pull them apart. Then the mum is ready to be replanted. I’ve repotted mums for decades, and these tips work!.
I then plant the mum in a container larger than the pot they came in. This will help to ensure my fall perennials will have a healthy and good start.
If there is some extra space around your mum pot, you can put small pumpkins, gourds, or even fake leaves inside it. This is such a pretty fall look. However, don’t overcrowd or be rough with this plant, as the stems break easily. Gentle is best when handling mums.
Chrysanthemum Gardening Guide: Care, Propagation, and Expert Growing Tips
FAQ
How long do indoor chrysanthemums last?
How do you take care of potted chrysanthemums?
How long will potted mums last?
Why is my potted chrysanthemum dying?
How to care for Chrysanthemum houseplants?
Keep chrysanthemum houseplants where they can receive good air circulation and avoid excess humidity. In most cases, caring for container mums is a short lived project. This is because they flower for 3 to 4 weeks and then stop. Indoor conditions are not correct to force them to re-bloom and creating the correct conditions is a pain in the neck.
Can chrysanthemums be planted outside?
RELATED: Just as it’s easy to take care of your chrysanthemums indoors, it’s very easy to take care of mums outside! 1. Like indoor mums, outdoor mums should be planted in a place where they have plenty of space. They have shallow roots and don’t thrive well when in areas with other plants’ roots to compete with.
How do you keep Chrysanthemum blooming in winter?
If you want to keep your chrysanthemum blooming throughout the winter, you can try providing additional light with a grow light. Place the light about 6 inches above the plant and leave it on for 12-14 hours per day. Keep an eye on the plant and adjust the light as needed to prevent the leaves from burning.
What temperature should chrysanthemums grow?
The optimal temperature for chrysanthemums is between 62 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. “Mums also like humidity, and ideally, it should be between 70% and 90%, which is easy to obtain in a greenhouse, but less so indoors,” Noyes adds. “So, if you grow and care for mums at home, aim for 40% to 50%; anything under this will cause them to suffer.