The article describes best practices for chrysanthemum care.
Photo credit: Lori Voll-Wallace
Ahhhh, the crisp fall air, the musky smell of pumpkins, the fermenting smell of apples, the brilliant colors of changing leaves and Mums!
Chrysanthemums, a flowering plant often referred to as "mums," are a fall decorative staple. You will find large pots of them on porches, in gardens, perched on hay bales, in Thanksgiving centerpieces; the options are seemingly endless. And, you can find them in so many different varieties, it is mind- boggling. However, for many, the mystery behind mums is how to make them last - through the fall and from year to year. This article will explain the basics of how to care for your mums.
If you plan to plant mums, how resilient they will be largely depends on your hardiness zone. In York County, we live in hardiness zone 6a. So how does this translate for mums? It means you should ideally plant your mums in the spring to give it the best shot at survival. This seems counterintuitive because we see mum sales in the fall. Not to despair, you can also plant them in early fall, but with less success than in the spring.
Things to Remember:
Plant in the right location.
Plant your mums in the right location and they will thrive. Mums prefer sunny spots that are well-drained. Give them plenty of room to expand. They are not a fan of over-crowding.
Keep them moist.
Mums have shallow roots. Make sure to add a thick layer of mulch over your mums to keep the soil most, but do not over-water them. It will kill them.
Fertilize them.
Fertilize mums in spring if you have planted them in the fall or in a previous year. You will also want to fertilize them with a highly phosphorus fertilizer in the fall to promote strong root growth. Many gardeners will use the fertilizer 5-10-10, which means it has 5% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 10% potassium.
Keep the clippers at bay.
Do not trim back mums at the end of fall. Keeping their stems intact will help protect them through the harsh winters we can sometimes face. Trim and divide them in spring
Planter (florist) mums
Now, if you are keeping your mums for a decoration and do not care about their hardiness, keep their soil moist and remember to compost them once the season is done.
Written by Adrian Stouffer, Penn State Master Gardener York County
