Tips for Keeping Potted Mums Looking Great
Have you ever purchased a chrysanthemum (better known as mum) to decorate for fall, just because they’re beautiful, they scream fall to you and you couldn’t resist, just to get it home and have it looking pathetic in a couple of weeks? That’s so aggravating! And, it just feels like money out the window.
After many years’ experience and lots of money wasted on potted mums for my outdoor fall vignettes, I’ve put together these tips for keeping potted mums looking great. With these tips and a little care, you can get the biggest bang for your buck from your potted mum.
Let’s just cover a few basics about chrysanthemums before we get started. There are annual fall mums used mainly for outdoor fall decorating and there are perennial or hardy mums that are planted right in the garden and return year after year. I have both, but for this post we are talking about annual potted outdoor mums (not indoor mums or florist mums) that only live a few months in the fall. Some of you lucky gardeners in warmer gardening zones can plant your annual mums in the ground and have them return next year.
The Best Time to Buy Potted Mums
First of all, let’s go shopping. Now this is the first rule of thumb in keeping potted mums looking great – don’t buy your mums too early. I know we have readers from all over the country, so it’s an important thing to know when too early is. Know the extended weather forecast for your area. Your potted mum will do well in daytime temperatures in the 60s and below.
Outdoor potted chrysanthemums like cold weather and a light first frost won’t phase them. For instance, here in Minnesota – Zone 4b, it’s best to wait until mid to late September or early October before purchasing mums. Don’t give in to temptation when the garden centers and grocery stores start displaying all the beautiful mums in late summer.
So this year, I’m totally guilty of breaking my first rule. I purchased my mums about a week and a half ago, when the weather was nice and cool, and I was feeling all cozy and ready for fall. I love this time of year so much that sometimes I totally jump the gun. Can you relate? Now this week, we have had several days with temps in the mid to upper 80’s and my mums’ little buds are popping like crazy.
How to Shop for Potted Mums
Let’s pretend there’s a chill in the air, we have our sweatshirts on, and we’re in the mood to get some outdoor fall decorating done. Let’s go shopping together and I will give you some tips for picking out the best mums. When I walk up to a gardening center and see this – beautiful mums in full bloom, it’s pure sensory overload! BUT, wait, we do not want to buy these mums.
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Don’t you just love to look across a big box store greenhouse and see hundreds of pots of mums. These aren’t the mums for us either.
Aren’t these gorgeous! Such pretty plants! The rich vibrant color is what fall is all about. But, these won’t be coming home with us either.
So here’s my BEST tip for keeping mums looking great – pick out mums that have tight flower buds with lots of new growth, like this next picture. I realize it’s not instant gratification, but in the long run it will be a better purchase. They are full of tight buds with very few open flowers. Now, these are the mums we want to buy.
Here’s a Pin to save to one of your Favorite Gardening Boards or Fall Boards on Pinterest:
Watering Tips for Your Potted Mums
My number three tip for keeping mums looking great is to make sure they have enough water. All the tips are important, but this one is probably the most important. Mums are thirsty plants and like to be moist, and do not respond well to dry soil.
Once you have your mums home, immediately check to see if the soil is damp by simply sticking your finger in the top inch of soil. If the soil feels dry, give them a nice slow soak. Also, grab a saucer that you have laying around or an old plate and put that under the pot. These saucers are the ones I use and they work perfect. The saucer will catch the water run off and help to keep the plant moist at the bottom where the root ball will soak up the moisture.
Even if you’re going to plop the entire pot into a more attractive container, put a saucer under it. Another good watering tip is to water at the base of the plant, closest to the roots, very slowly. At the same time though you don’t want them to have to much water. So, if it rains or you notice there’s still water in the saucer the next day, dump it out so the mum doesn’t get to moist and rot. Be sure to feel the soil to see if it’s moist every day.
Tips for Keeping Potted Mums Looking Great – Deadhead
Here’s my fourth tip for keeping mums looking great. As your mum continues to bloom, pinch off the dead blooms and even old stems, or the ones that are fading and turning brown. For you non-gardeners, that’s called deadheading. This just keeps the plant looking tidy. Sorry, but in the case of annual mums, it does not promote rebloom.
A Few More Tips For Keeping Potted Mums Looking Great
In closing, just a few more tips for keeping your mums looking great. If the weather forecast shows lots of sun and the temps moving to the upper 70s, consider moving your mums to a more shady spot temporarily. In fact, if you are in warmer climates, consider keeping your outdoor potted mums in an area where they do not get full sun. Yes, potted fall mums are considered full sun plants (6+ hours of sun per day) and need plenty of sun, but if you want them to last longer, I suggest giving them a little protection from hot afternoon sun.
I used to never repot the mums I purchased for my outdoor fall displays, until a few years ago. I found out that the mums that were repotted into a larger pot and had fresh potting mix added in, lasted much longer than the ones that were not repotted. Adding some organic matter from your compost pile into the bottom of the new pot will go a long way in making your mum last. Other than adding a little compost when you repot your mums, it is not necessary to fertilize them. They have already been fertilized a ton by the grower and adding more will not improve their odds of lasting longer. Try repotting and see what you think.
Potted fall mums make such a great addition to your home’s curb appeal and really are the best way to add charm to your fall outdoor decorations or your front porch. Taking care of your mums with these simple tips, will be your best bet for getting your fall mums to last longer.
When landscape starts looking really drab in late fall around Thanksgiving, often times I will purchase a new mum or two to freshen up the front porch. Do you have any other tips that you practice to keep your fall mums looking great? Please leave a comment below and let me know, I’d love to hear from you!
Here are some other Fall Gardening posts you’ll enjoy:
Tips on Transitioning Container Gardens to Fall
Fall Outdoor Decor Ideas
Fall Gardening – Thinking Ahead to Next Spring
Planting Bulbs in the Fall For Amazing Spring Flowers
Fall Porch Decor
Thanks so much for stopping by Gingham Gardens today. I so appreciate your visits and your kind comments. Feel free to hang out for awhile and check out a few of my fun Fall Gardening posts.
Happy gardening for a little while longer,
Joanna
Some super cute fall decor items to go along with your potted mums:
p.s. Please help me out by pinning the pins to your favoritese pictures. Simply hover in the upper left-hand corner and click the “pin” icon. There are some more pins at the bottom of the page. Thanks!!!!
p.p.s. Follow Gingham Gardens on Pinterest for lots of great gardening ideas and tons of gardener’s eye candy.
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This is the first year I have a potted mum (giant Costco one) that’s thriving! It’s gorgeous! I’ve had it for about a month, and it’s on my back deck as that’s the only place that gets sunlight on our south-facing home. I would love to move it to the front of the house with my pumpkins and fall decor, but it’s completely shaded all day. Will my beautiful mum fizzle out if I move it?? (We are in central IA, if that matters.)
Hi Lindsay – thanks for stopping by Gingham Gardens. I bought a big beautiful mum from Costco too. I kept it shaded on really hot days, but now that temperatures have cooled down, I moved it back into full sun. So yes, go ahead and move it as long as it isn’t getting really hot there. It certainly won’t last forever, but hopefully you’ll get a few more weeks out of it. Good luck and happy fall, Joanna
I live in South Texas… I usually buy mums in October… and I end up planting them in my garden when the blooms start to fade.. our winters are so mild here, the mums usually come back up in the spring for an early bloom! That’s for all the tips!
Hi Dixie – thanks for stopping by Gingham Gardens. You’re lucky, annual mums come back for you. Happy gardening, Joanna
I live in MN too. I always see the small potted 4” mums at the stores, can I buy them and replant into bigger pots so they will grow to a larger size? Or will they never fill up the pot during our short fall growing season?
Hi Vanessa – thanks for stopping by Gingham Gardens. The only benefit you will get from replanting those small mums is that you might get a longer bloom time, but they won’t grow any bigger. I’ve been experimenting and planting those small mums in the ground and last year, I had four survive winter. That’s never happened before. Good luck and happy fall, Joanna
I live in northern Illinois and usually repot them for decorating around my front entrance which is mostly shade but some dappled sun as the trees lose their leaves. Because of the lack of direct sunlight should I still be buying mums with tightly closed buds or should I buy them slightly opened? I usually try to pick plants that are about half and half.
Hi Donna – thanks for stopping by Gingham Gardens. Do an experiment this year and buy a mum that has tightly closed buds and see how it does. Next year you’ll know which works best for you. Happy fall, Joanna
Hello, I thoroughly enjoyed your article on mums and found it to be very helpful and useful. I’m hoping to be more successful in tending to the mums this year and with your article I’m planning on a good outcome. If I remember ( can you relate), I will send pictures.
Thanks again and happy fall!
Hello Joan – I’m happy you found our article on potted mums helpful. Good luck and happy fall, Joanna
Hi Joanna, I am a fellow Minnesotan. I do buy the annual potted mums every fall, smaller ones for my front steps, purchased at Home Depot or Menards. And then, before the ground freezes, I plant them in my large , flower garden, because I can’t just toss them into my compost. Every single following spring, my annual mums continue to surprise me, they start to peak out in late spring, grow slowly during the summer months, and bloom again in the fall. You should see what are now huge plants that survived our 2022/23 winter, full of buds, and beginning to open, after just one season. I do the same with store Easter lilies, plunk them in my garden. The following spring, sure enough, they pop up and bloom again. I don’t do anything special. Nature seems to win out!
Hi Diane – thanks for stopping by Gingham Gardens. Great tips! Last year was the first time I have had mums that were sold as annuals return in my gardens. We had a mild winter, but lots of snow cover and just maybe that was it. Anyway, I’m happy and I will plant more of those “annual” mums in my gardens this fall. Happy gardening, Joanna
Live in Tx. Planted mums in ground. Will put straw at base over winter.
Do I cut back all blooms and continue to water through the winter?
Hi Debbie – yes to your questions. Thanks for stopping by Gingham Gardens!
Mums are often planted in the spring, from March through May, and are perennial plants. They have plenty of time to establish root before the winter by being planted now. Additionally, you can plant nuts in the fall, at least six weeks before the first frost, which, depending on your area, can be in September or October.
Hello Iris – thanks for stopping by Gingham Gardens. Yes, you are correct about perennial mums. However, this article is really about annual potted mums. Happy gardening, Joanna
I live in Oklahoma and it’s temperature now are in the 60 at night but 80 during day. I really enjoyed reading all your tips about Mums. I bought plant full of flowers all bloomed Can I get the plant to produce more buds by pinching off all dead blooms? Gosh I learned so much from you. Your amazing! Loved your creative fall decorations. I love crafting. I made my fall wreath but I’m adding give thanks so it’s good till after thanksgiving! I will use your wisdom and pray I have better luck next year ; God willing! I started saying this when I was young “ your never too old to learn”. I don’t always but it’s good to learn one new thing daily!
Hello Dawn – thanks for stopping by Gingham Gardens. Unfortunately, deadheading mums down not promote more flowers. However, many in your zone have good luck with planting their mums in the ground and getting them to return the following year. I’m so glad you’re learning lots from Gingham Gardens. Happy gardening, Joanna
These sound like great tips! I didn’t realize that these are considered annuals! Now I will have less stress and no more trying to make them survive!
Hi Carol – thank you for stopping by Gingham Gardens! I’m so glad you found the post about outdoor potted mums so helpful. Come back soon! Happy gardening and happy fall, Joanna
This was wonderful and helpful information. I am concerned tho because the only area where I can put my mums in the afternoon sun on the west side of my house here in Ohio. I guess my only hope is that the weather won’t be too hot in Sept.
Hello Connie – thanks for stopping by Gingham Gardens. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Just be sure to check your extended forecast before you purchase your mums and you may want to wait a little longer before buying. Good luck and happy fall, Joanna
I have a question for you ? Ok I live in apt. And I have great sunlight but I would like to know is their any way I can keep my mums in my apt. All winter . Or can I root them and start a new mum during the winter months here where I live . Thanks I love reading up on the mums . I have some more questions for you sometime.
Hi Mary – that’s a great question and I will be honest, I’m just not sure. I know others can overwinter their annual mums outdoors, but I don’t know of anyone that has ever brought them in for the winter. I say just go for it. A lot of gardening is experimentation. Yes you can definitely take cuttings from your mums. Happy small space gardening, Joanna
Well after reading your post, I definitely broke the two major rules. Purchased them to early plus bought them fully bloomed. I live in a small town and the few places that have them available, it’s a minimal selection, so I took what I could get. I didn’t want to wait to go out of town. Yes, I was over excited!!
I am from Iowa and we too had the awesome cool weather then the Good Lord gave us some more hot weather. I’ve kept them watered. Even giving them miracle grow a time or two. They’ve been dead headed a handful already as well. The only thing I haven’t done is put a tray under the pot. I guess I’ll be doing that to see if that will help at all.
My mums are just sad and it makes me disappointed in myself for not being able to keep them looking healthy. I probably have $150 worth of mums that look like green bushes. Not exactly what I was wanting for my outdoor Fall décor.
If you have any suggestions, I will take it. I would just love to see a few blooms before its time to get rid of them for the year.
Hi Lori – thanks for stopping by Gingham Gardens. I’m sorry you didn’t find this article before you purchased your fall mums. Unfortunately, once annual potted mums bloom they will not rebloom again this season. Depending what gardening zone you are in, some are able to plant annual mums in their gardens and they return the following year. Here in my zone 4b gardens, I have not been so lucky. At least next year, you’ll remember not to purchase your mums too early and to buy mums with tight buds instead of blooms. I think the only thing you can do this year it to buy more mums. Happy gardening, Joanna
If you plant them they will come back. I usually get a few blooms in the Spring. Cut they back on the 4th of July and they will mound better. When they get too big–they do spread–split them just like you split hosts a in the Spring. Mine look lovely along my driveway in the Fall and give me something green along there in the Spring and summer.
Hi Cathy – thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. It depends what gardening zone you are in and whether or not you purchased “hardy” mums for your area. I agree that perennial mums are lovely and very prolific as you have described. In my area, one has to look pretty hard to find perennial mums, but the annual varieties are every where. Happy fall, Joanna
I cut back till mid july fir northern Ohio but after the blooms die off I dont cut the mums back in fall. I leave till spring and cut back when frost chance has passed. They come back better every year.
Thanks for your tip, Jill!
I wish I had read this before purchasing this year’s mums. I am going to purchase more.
Ha ha, mums are cheap. I usually end up buying a few more later in the season. Thanks for stopping by.
Mines are in the ground I purchase them from a nursery I didn’t know there were different mums hope my last. And thank you for the tip..
Thanks for stopping by Gingham Gardens. I’m happy you enjoyed the article on mums. I hope your mums last and come back next year. A lot depends on what gardening zone you are in. Good luck and happy gardening! Joanna
Great tips!
Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Blessings,
Cindy
Thanks for stopping by, Cindy.
I love me some mums! Thanks for all the great tips!
Thanks for stopping by, Debby Ray! I love me some mums, too!
I love fall. My favorite time of the year
God does know what He is doing He made me an October baby. FALL IS A GREAT CELEBRATION TIME FOR ME AND i love mums. Oh my gosh
I am getting some tomorrow after church. I can’t wait
But yes mine die in a week or so
Thank you so, so much for these tips. Does it matter how long in sun or shade if the temperature is right? Thank you and God bless you for sharing your expertise, Maribeth
Hi Maribeth, I’m so glad you stopped by! My daughter is an October baby too! Yes, Fall is a wonderful season. Mums do like the sun as long as it isn’t too hot. Good luck, happy birthday and have an awesome Fall enjoying God’s beautiful creation.
a little advice on buying MUMS….if want to keep for the next year planted in garden not get annuals (annuals only live this one year)
So true, Dorene. In my area it’s a bit difficult to find perennial mums. Most of the mums for sale are the annual ones. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
I ask the garden centers if their mum’s are perennial to our zone 4. I’m surprised by how many aren’t. I love them because honey bees love them ,🤗
Hi Linda, you are right it is difficult to find hardy mums. I’m not sure where you are located, but I was able to pick one up at a local nursery called Bachman’s. They had about a dozen. 🤷♀️
Great tip for potted mums, Joanna. It was 97 here on Saturday. So far, I haven’t bought a mum. Thanks for sharing at Gardens Galore!
Thanks for stopping by, Pam. It was in the 90s here for several days. Now we’re getting much needed rain and the temps are cooling down.
Wonderful tips! I always seem to kill mine before the chill in the air arrives.
Thanks Pamela for stopping by. Good luck with your mums this year.
Great tips, Joanna. But like you I broke the rules I usually follow last week. Even if you buy tight buds in my area you need two sets of mums to last. It has been 96 here the last week.
Usually, the stores drag getting them in because they realize keeping them are hard. I am in zone 8.
Hi Bonnie, I find it very difficult not to buy mums right after Labor Day. Last week I found some quart-sized mums for $1.25. I couldn’t resist. The lady several days temps have been in the upper 80s into lower 90s. That’s too hot for me. Good luck and happy gardening!
Great tips! Thanks for sharing with us at the To Grandma’s House we go link party!
Thank you for sharing these tips! I have not had the best luck with mums, and living in Montana, the season is pretty short. But I haven’t followed these tips, so maybe there is still hope!
Hi Cherryl, thanks for stopping by. Mums are one of the few flowers that will take a frost and that’s why they make such great fall flowers. Plus, they are sooo pretty. Just pick up a few and give them a try again and don’t forget to water. Good luck!
Beautiful!! I have not bought my Mums yet but will be doing so soon. Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Hi Debbie, our temps have cooled down a bit and I’m loving it. Thanks for stopping by and happy gardening.
I love this tip! While I love gardening, I am never lucky with mums and me thinks it was water. Simple but what a great tip!
Thanks for stopping by, Angie. I’m happy you enjoyed the tips on mums. Good luck?
Thank you so much for these great tips on picking mums! I would love to have some by my front door, although sadly it gets no sunlight there and I doubt it will cool off enough to go out and buy mums anytime soon. But I loved looking at your pictures, they’re such pretty flowers!
Hi Loni – thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Come back soon!
Good advice. That’s exactly how I buy mine and I bought mine 2 weeks ago. Good thing too is that mums do bloom a long time so they really seem like a good investment. I like setting them in different containers for a fun seasonal look. The rain has finally stopped and it’s only going to be around 65 today! Loveing it!
*loving 😊
Thanks, Liz! I love the cooler temps too. I still have lots I want to get done in the gardens. Happy gardening for a bit longer!
Hi Joanna,
I’m going to be featuring you at Sweet Inspiration on Friday!
Thanks a bunch, Florence.
Yup, you know your stuff girl! I’m always telling my friends not to buy the ones in full bloom. I just pinched some of my spent blooms off of my mums today. I’ve had them for a few weeks. Thanks for sharing your tips with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Oh, I’m so glad to have these tips about Mums! I really haven’t known that much about them, even though they’re here in Garden Centers every year. I live in Alabama, where it is hot and humid and in the 90’s even now. I didn’t know mums liked 60 degree weather, or don’t like direct sun, or to be moist, although I do try to deadhead. I’m going to be doing as you suggest from now on b/c yes, I confess, we bought one the other day. I’ve planted them in the ground before too, b/c I hate for the money I spent on it to end up on the curb like I see so many do, but they really get much too leggy, even though I pinch them off. Cheapskate me, usually doesn’t buy them at all, but I succumbed this year.
These are great tips! I think you get what you pay for too. I bought a gorgeous $3 mum that lasted a week. My $6 mums are still going strong!
So true, AnnMarie. Thanks for stopping by and come again soon!
That’s such good advice about not buying mums too early. Here in Texas it will be late October before we might hope to see the sixties, but the stores get mums much earlier. I’ve learned the hard way to wait! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Cecilia – today in Minnesota the high will be 90. That’s just crazy for this time of year. Patience pays off.
I live in the AZ desert and have had very good luck with mums. We (meaning my hubby) built some raised beds around some trees in our front yard a couple of years ago. He added some very rich top soil with fertilizer and also added auto-irrigation. Early last Fall, we planted several of the 4″ pots of mums that absolutely exploded in size and retained their beauty until late June when the flowers turned dark, but the plants stayed green for awhile longer. I’m not very good about gardening when it’s 115 degrees, so the plants stayed that way until recently. I started trimming the mums way down to the ground where there is new growth coming in like crazy. I think your tips are great, but I think you also have to learn what works in your part of the country….experiment a little bit.
Yes, Carol, you are correct. Thanks for stopping by and come back soon.
Of all the flowers out there, chrysanthemums are probably my favorite Joanna. We’re very lucky here in South Africa. They’re one of those perennials that keep on giving and growing. They just survive on their own with a little bit off feeding and a dash of fertilizer for love. We cut ours down quiet a lot after they’ve flowered and they’ve become these gorgeous lush bushes of happy colors. Next time I go to the nursery I’ll keep your tip about looking for tight buds in mind. Sometimes I’m too impatient to see the flower
Thanks for stopping by, Michelle, all the way from South Africa. Come back soon!
I will, I love your posts Joanna 😉
SUCH great tips and none of these were ones I knew about — probably why ALL of the mums I buy . . . die a quick death. I have not bought any yet but I will definitely think about getting them later in the season and following your tips!
Lauren – thanks for stopping by. Good luck with your mums this year.
Thanks for stopping by, Lauren, and good luck with your mums.
thanks so much for the tips you shared. I love mums in the fall, so very pretty they are so colorful and help with the feeling of fall. I will be purchasing mine in a few days and thank you for sharing the tips I will find them very useful
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Angie, thanks for stopping by. Enjoy those mums!
Great advice! I love mums and appreciate the tips.
Donna, thanks for stopping by.
Good tips. I pick out the mums with them beingmo mostly closed too. I enjoy all the different colors that are offered- so much fun! I’ve got two plantersin front of my garage that I always replant with mums. We’ve been war here but I hear a cold snap is coming in this week.
Liz, thanks for stopping by.
Good advice as always!
Thank you for these tips.. II’ve had some luck saving mums by leaving them in the pots & storing them over winter. I stored them under an overhang against a south facing wall . I live zone 7 and this worked for me . I watered them very lightly 2 or 3 times until spring when I planted them in the ground.. One yellow one is in a small laundry tub & has been reblooming for five seasons.
I would love to be able to do that. I do have a few mums in the ground that are hardy in my zone 4. Thanks for stopping by.