How often do you have to water mums?

Don't let your mums get too dry or wilt between waterings. Water your potted mums at least every other day. They like to get about 1 inch of water per week. Water at the soil level (the base of the plant) and not on top of the foliage.

Do mums need water every day?

Chrysanthemums love full sun, and all that heat means they also need plenty of water. Give them a good soak after repotting, then water every other day or whenever the soil seems dry. Try to avoid allowing your plants to wilt.

How do you know when mums need water?

Stick your finger into the soil up to the second knuckle to see if it feels dry. Sometimes, however, this is not possible because the plant is rootbound and the soil is hard. Pick up the pot. If it is light, it likely needs to be watered.

Can mums get overwatered?

Take care not to overwater your mums as soggy soil can prevent them from flowering and cause root rot. Signs of overwatering include yellow leaves that turn black and fall off. Keep mums evenly watered to ensure the best flowering.

Do mums like the sun?

How Much Sunlight Do Mums Require? 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.

Watering Mums the Right Way

Can mums be left in pots?

Mums do best in well-drained soil so use potting mix ($8, 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.

How do you care for potted mums?

How long do potted mums last?

If you wait until things cool off before setting out your mums, you'll be treated to blooms for up to 8 weeks once you have the plants in place. And if you get a few warm days here and there after cooler weather arrives, you can stash your mums in your house or garage until temps drop again.

How long do 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.

Why are my mums dying?

A dying mum with dry leaves and faded flowers might be struggling to withstand too much sun, or it might not be getting enough sunlight for proper growth and development. Indoor mums do need bright light, but it should be filtered or indirect. Direct sunlight is too intense for indoor mums.

Can mums survive indoors?

Growing chrysanthemums indoors is easy and requires little special care beyond watering, good soil and drainage. Once the blooms are spent, you can keep the plant around for its deeply etched foliage.

Can mums be kept indoors?

Mums are spectacular fall plants that can be brought indoors and used for decorating. Caring for mums indoors is easy and with only a few tips you can keep a mum plant healthy for three to four weeks. They are a big bang for your buck as they are less expensive than most bouquets of flowers.

When should I buy fall mums?

Mid-September is the earliest time you should consider buying mums. However, each year the longer and hotter summers are pushing that date later and later into September, even into the month of October. As a rule, we at Southern Living recommend "buying plants as they start to break bud.

Can mums survive the winter in pots?

With potted mums, the first key is to never let them endure a freeze in their pot or container. Mums can survive light frosts and cold fairly easy, but a hard freeze can kill roots in pots permanently.

Why are my mums leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing Chrysanthemum Leaves – Poor Drainage

Garden mums that are planted in heavy soil or soil that drains poorly are not happy plants. The plants need well-draining soil to thrive. If the soil doesn't release water, the mum's roots drown and you see your chrysanthemum plant yellowing.

Do mums like rain water?

If it is dry and dusty, water your mums. The hotter and drier the weather, the more you will need to water. During periods of rainy weather, you might not need to water at all. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension recommends watering at least once a week during the growing season and more if the soil is sandy.

Is rain OK for mums?

If you love your pot mums and can't live without them, the best plan is to keep them in pots and keep them out of the rain. The perfect place for pot mums is on the covered porch, under an overhang or anywhere else you can keep them away from rain and soil.

Do potted mums need full sun?

Although mums planted in a spring garden need 6 hours of sunlight, fall potted mums need bright but indirect light. Place them a few feet back from a south-facing window or anywhere in a bright location without direct sun. Keep the mums' soil continually moist, but not soggy, by checking it daily with your finger.

Will fall mums come back next 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.

What temperature is too cold for mums?

Frost-Free, Not Worry-Free

When you live in a climate where the temperature doesn't drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, you can keep potted chrysanthemums where they are and they should resume growing in the spring. However, in warm-winter climates, the mums can suffer from being too wet during winter.

Is Miracle Grow good 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®.

How often do potted mums bloom?

Whichever variety you have, most mums will bloom continuously for about four to eight weeks. Pinching mums back is also important to encourage longer blooming periods. You'll want to start by pinching them back when the plant is just 6 to 8 inches tall, then do it again when the plant reaches 1 foot in height.

Why are my mums drooping?

You might be surprised. Water, but not too much – Mums do not like to get dry. When their leaves are drooping, which can happen ridiculously quickly, they are way too dry. Try to water before they get to that state.