You can always grow mums as annuals. They do provide wonderful fall colors and work great at filling in empty spots where summer bloomers have faded, especially considering they can quickly reach up to 3 feet in height. Look for plants with lots of unopened buds to have blooms well into the fall season. Planting these specimens in the garden in late summer or early fall does not guarantee sufficient time for the plants to become established. This is not a problem in warmer climates, where a bit of deadheading will satisfy most mums after bloom, but in areas with sub-zero winters, perennial plants need strong roots to anchor them into the ground. The repeated freezing and thawing of the soil will heave the plant out of the ground and kill the roots. Spring-planted mums will have plenty of time for root growth. Many gardeners are surprised that their garden mums start to bloom in mid to late summer. If you want fall flowers on your mums, you will need to pinch the plants back periodically throughout the summer. Start when the plants are about 4 to 5 inches tall and repeat every two to three weeks until July 4. This will cause the plant to get stocky and bushier, and by late summer, it should be covered with flower buds.
Light
Although mums can handle partial shade, you will get the fullest plants and the best blooms in full sun. Chrysanthemum flowers are “photoperiodic” which means they bloom in response to the shorter days and longer nights experienced (in the Northern Hemisphere) in fall. Therefore, do not plant chrysanthemum flowers near street lights or night lights; the artificial lighting may wreak havoc with their cycle.
Soil
All mums prefer fertile, well-drained soil, with lots of organic matter or compost worked in. They like a soil pH slightly on the acidic side.
Water
Mums prefer evenly moist soil. Water the plant when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry. If watering in a pot, water the soil surface using a watering can until moisture begins to drain from the bottom of the pot. Check your pots for drainage holes before committing to using them. Water should drain freely through the soil and out the bottom of the pot when watering. Soil should remain moist, but not soggy. Soggy soil can cause root rot and other diseases.
Temperature and Humidity
As one of their nicknames “hardy mums” suggests, they can handle cool temperatures. Mums can overwinter in the ground, and they do so even better in the warmer climates. For fall-planted mums to have a better chance of survival in cold areas, you need to give the roots and crown of the plant extra protection. First, leave the foliage on the plants until spring. Do not prune them back after frost has turned them brown. Then, either mulch the plants heavily with at least 4 to 6 inches of mulch or dig up and plant in a pot and move the plants to a more protected spot in the garden for the winter. If you choose to move the plants, do so before the first hard freeze. In warmer climates, consider heat delay. If you have high temperatures, particularly at nighttime, it can cause the plant to flower later than it usually would. Heat delay can cause irregularly formed flower buds, erratic flowering, deformation of the plant’s crown, and other developmental issues. To bypass this problem in hotter climates, look for cultivars with higher heat tolerance.
Fertilizer
It is crucial to feed chrysanthemums during their vegetative phase. Use a 20-10-20 fertilizer when planting and during the vegetative growth period. Superphosphate helps aid root development. Once established, switch to a 5-10-5 liquid fertilizer. The general rule of thumb is to begin after all danger of frost has passed. That way any new growth forced by the nutrients will not be in danger of damage from icy weather. Established plants should not be fed after July, so new growth is not injured by frost.
Chrysanthemum Varieties
There are multiple mum varieties available based on the desired flower color, bloom time, and petal shape.
‘Ruby Mound’: early-season bloom with large, maroon-red flowers‘Patriot’: mid- to late-season bloom with pure white pompom-shape flowers’Tripoli’: very late-season bloom with daisy-like flowers of vibrant pink with yellow centers
Propagating Chrysanthemums
You can propagate mums several ways: division, seeds, and cuttings. The most straightforward and fastest method will be through division.
Division: Divide plants that have grown in the garden for at least two years. Younger plants will not have a sufficient root system to survive. By every third spring, divide chrysanthemums to rejuvenate them. Do this in the spring. Pick plants that are at least 6 inches tall. Be careful not to damage the roots. Replant at least 18 inches apart. Seeds: Mums can grow from seeds, but it is best if you use purchased seeds. If you attempt to plant seeds from your own plants (most are hybrids), the resulting plant may not be true to the parent. If you are OK with a mystery result, then go for it. Start seed indoors, six to eight weeks before your last frost date, and harden off plants before transplanting outdoors. Cuttings: This is an excellent method to get a replica of the plant you have. It does away with the mystery that comes with seeds. Although this method does have extra steps, you have to cut a stem that is at least 4 inches, pinch off the lower leaves, dip the cut end into a rooting hormone, plant it in a container, wait about four weeks or so for a root to grow and for the plant to grow another 2 inches, then transplant it outside.
Potting and Repotting
Repotting is the single most important thing you can do to increase the longevity of your mums. Most mums are completely root-bound when you get them. The roots have taken up the entire pot, which makes it really hard for the soil to retain any water. To repot, choose a container that is a little bigger than the last container. Fill the bottom of the new pot with good quality potting soil. Break up any roots you can, but do not damage the roots. When you put the plant in the new pot, the surface of the soil should be an inch below the lip of the new pot. Make sure you have soil, not air surrounding the roots. Tamp down the soil gently. Give the pot a good watering until it flows out of the bottom of the pot.
