Tips for Caring for Fall Potted Mums

Enjoy the colorful blooms of Fall with these tips & tricks for caring for Fall potted mums in containers.

After all the blooms of Summer start to fade away, I like to look for options to add some color to our Fall outdoor spaces as well.

Fall mums seem to be the obvious choice. However, after purchasing a beautiful potted mum one year, I discovered they can die very quickly without proper care.

This year I did some research so that I can enjoy my pretty yellow mums by the front door as long as possible.

What type of Fall potted mums should I buy?

Although you can certainly grow mums in your garden and straight in the ground, today we’re discussing mums grown and sold in individual containers.

There are many types of mums with varying colors and characteristics. From quill mums to spoon mums, they come in so many shapes and colors and provide many lovely options for your garden.

Hardy Mums vs Floral Mums

As you are making choices regarding mums, keep in mind that there are 2 main categories of mums – hardy mums and floral mums.

Hardy mums are perennial flowers that can be left in the ground and come back year after year. They tend to bloom longer.

Floral mums are decorative flowers that only bloom one season and are typically sold in mass at grocery stores and outlets like Walmart. They are often referred to as “potted mums”.

How to care for a Floral Potted Mum so that it lasts as long as possible

The type of mum that I purchased for our front entryway is a bright yellow floral mum. Here are the tips I’m following to make it last as long as possible.

• Shop for floral mums that aren’t all totally in bloom. Look for mums that have some flowers still in the bud stage so they will have time to open up.
• Remove the decorative paper that covers the pot (if it comes with one) and water the plant well. You never know when the store has last watered the mums, so check right away to see how dry it is. If it is really dry, fill a container with water andset the mum in it for 30 minutes. The thirsty roots will soak up the water that it needs.
• Floral mums don’t like to dry out, and they don’t like to be overwatered either. To make the watering process easier, purchase a floral saucer to fit under the pot and fill it with water when it goes dry. (It may need water every day.) Since mums like to take on water through the roots, that will help keep them happy.
• Deadhead spent and wilting blooms. By removing the sad and wilting blooms, attention will be drawn to the blooms that are still vibrant and thriving.

For more tips on container gardening, you might like this post:

• Growing hydrangeas in pots