How to Buy Potted Mums to Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck
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? I'm cheap and that just feels like money down the drain to me. Join me and let's go shopping together, so I can show you how to pick out mums to get the biggest bang for your buck.
First - don't buy your mums too early! I know you folks are from all over the country, so it's important to know when too early is. Look at an extended weather forecast. Mums really like temps in the 60s. I live in Minnesota - Zone 4b and it's best here to wait until mid to late September or early October before purchasing mums. If you purchase potted mums too early and the temps heat up, your mums will not last.
When I walk up to a gardening center and see this, it's pure sensory overload! BUT, wait we don't want to buy these mums.
Oh my, these are GORGEOUS! But, wait, be strong, we definitely do not want to buy these.
Second - pick out mums that have tight closed buds, like the picture above. I realize it's not instant gratification, but in the long run it will be a better purchase. Now, these are the mums we want to buy. Why, you ask, because these beauties will last for weeks.
Third - Be sure your new plants have sufficient water. Once you get your mums home, don't just plop them down and forget about them. Mums like to be moist, so don't let them dry out.
I like to put my pot of mums in a 1/2 bushel basket or some other festive container to add some character to my fall displays. In the bottom of the container, I add a saucer to catch water runoff and to help keep the mums moist.
Fourth - Deadhead your mums. For you non-gardeners, deadhead simply means to pinch off the flowers that are spent and turning brown. This will keep your mum looking good and will also encourage new buds to form.
Do you like to add mums to your outdoor fall decor? There are more tips in this post to keep your mums looking great. If they are taken care of, potted mums will last several weeks. Happy Fall!
Comments
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Thanks for the great tips!
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You’re welcome. Good luck
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This is great information. I had quit buying them due to their short lives, but now I understand better how to get more bang for my buck as you put it. Thank you so much for this very practical and helpful info! Happy Fall to you!
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Thank you and good luck!
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
I live in the South and have mums that are planted in a bed. However, over the summer, these plants have become very leggy. When is the best time to cut them back to be more compact and still have blooms in the fall?
Can anyone tell me what the difference is between garden mums and hardy mums? Which one is better to get if you want them to come back yearly?
I live in south Florida I need to plant something out my front door Flowering
or not but for year around low ground
cover any suggestions