Mum Questions Answered!

When we think of fall flowers without exception mums are the first ones that come to mind. They are an eye-catching mass of fall color! With proper care mums will put on a display of fall color like no other. Fortunately for the homeowner most of the care for big, bright, full mums has already been done before you ever purchase them. This is why it’s important to purchase the best mums you can find.

How do I pick out a good mum?
A great mum should have dark green leaves, dense strong branches, and plenty of flower buds. If leaves are pale green, branches are floppy, or if you can see into the plant canopy there is
very little you can do to fix these plants so steer clear of them.

How do I take care of my mums?
-Start with well grown high-quality plants (come check ours out!)
-Mums need full sun (8+ hours) to flower and look their best. When they are in flower you can move them to a shadier spot if you want.
-Water frequently. Mums require plenty of water when it is warm and the plants are actively growing. When they are in full bloom they require much less water.
-When mums begin to show color there is no need to fertilize anymore. If you purchased them green you will want to fertilize weekly until they flower.
-Mums flower for a period of time so if they are in full bloom in August they will be done blooming early in the fall.

Will my mums come back every year?
We get a lot of questions about hardy mums. Many stores even have the label "Hardy Mums," which is very confusing for the customer! All fall mums are perennials (ChrysantheMUMS) but the modern mums have been bred for better flower quality, color, and plant habit. Basically what this means is that their ability to overwinter has not been considered and they will come back very inconsistently. We suggest you enjoy and appreciate the beauty of your mums for the fall season, and treat them as an amazing annual. If you want to plant them in the ground in hopes they come back the following year we suggest planting them early, sometime in August before the flowers are tightly budded. You will need to keep them well watered and fed. Mums need to be planted in full sun (8+ hours per day). Mums also need to be planted in a very well drained bed.

We hope this information will help you care for and enjoy you mums this coming fall season. Fall is a wonderful time of year so make sure you take some time to enjoy the blues skies, cool crisp air, and your gorgeous mums, of course!