Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Mums This Season

Mum season has arrived, and with it, our obsession with making this year the one where we finally get these orbs of autumnal buds to actually last. Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done.

With plants that practically smother themselves in blooms each year, as horticulturist Justin Hancock puts it, it’s no wonder we’re determined to make it happen. But lots can go wrong, from overwatering to browning leaves to droopy plants.

Hancock sounds off on the top care mistakes he sees with mums each year, plus how to fix them.

Mistake #1: They’re Getting Too Much Sun

The warmer the weather, the more likely your mums will see a quicker fade time. When summer-like temperatures have made an unlikely comeback with mums already on your porch, you’ll need to start making moves to keep them healthy.

Hancock suggests relocating them to a shady spot where they can stay cooler. That being said, too much shade can make mums more susceptible to disease and can also find them lacking in the energy they need.

Aim for 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day, though keeping it to the morning hours should ensure a cooler start that will run less risk of overheating your chrysanthemum.

Mistake #2: You Don’t Know When to Start Fresh

“Because mums are readily available—and relatively inexpensive—I’d be inclined to toss the plant as soon as it fades,” Hancock says. “For many folks, they’re temporary, so don’t be afraid to start fresh.”

The horticulturist says a helpful way to determine whether or not your mum is past its prime is by looking at the ratio of buds vs. faded flowers vs. open flowers.

If around half of your buds are still unopened, you will likely be able to change the trajectory of your plant and still get a good bloom before it’s too late, he says.

Mistake #3: You Need to Brush Up on Your Bloom Cycle Knowledge

One thing Hancock says beginner gardeners often don’t realize is that mums are temporary bloomers. Once that bloom cycle has ended, your plant is finished for the year.

Some might think the plant is dying or has died because the flowers have all dried up though your plant is still very much alive. Still keep watering it and caring for it, even though the annual show has ended, and you’ll be rewarded with a fresh bevy of blooms next year.

Mistake #4: You’re Not on a Consistent Watering Schedule

While there’s been plenty of speculation on the best way to water mums (soaking, seeming to be the most prevalent), Hancock says it’s more important to simply stick to a regular watering schedule—regardless of your watering technique.

“When mums wilt, they can look pretty dreadful—and they don’t always recover 100 percent, especially if they wilted a lot,” he says.

Mistake #5: You Bought Your Mums at the Wrong Time

Buying mums too early means they might not be able to take the heat, but buying them too late could put them in less-than-desirable conditions.

Hancock says the ideal temperature range for chrysanthemums is between 45 degrees F to 70 degrees F. While they can tolerate temperatures outside of these ranges, it can impact flowering.

“If you don’t mind buying replacement mums to keep the color show going and want to get an early start on the season, you can buy them as early as you want,” Hancock says.

Mistake #6: You’ve Cultivated Lopsided Chrysanthemums

When you took your mum home from the garden center, it was probably a somewhat symmetrical orb. Fast forward a few weeks and you have a lopsided, wilted shrub with dwindling hope it will ever bloom.

Hancock says heat reflection may be the culprit. If your mum is located near a sunny wall, heat reflecting off the wall might make your mum fade faster on one side. The same problem might arise on a porch where one side of the plant gets sun and the other only gets shade.

To remedy the issue, Hancock says simply rotating your mum can help it stay more round and symmetrical.