Almost nothing — except maybe pumpkins and pumpkin spice lattes — says autumn quite like chrysanthemums.
Popular for their vibrant colors, ability to withstand colder conditions and resistance to deer grazing, potted Chrysanthemum x morifolium (aka mums) dominate the marketplace from late August through the first week of September.
Mums are a hardy perennial, which have been cultivated in China and Japan for more thana 1,500 years. The plants are thought to have medicinal properties that promote immortality. Through cultivation and hybridization, the mum flower can be found in several forms —single, double daisy and pom-pom. The mums’ flowers come in green, yellow, orange, rust, red, purple and white, and range in price from approximately $10 for 6-inch pots to $35 for 15-inch pots.
Here’s how to nurture potted mums:
Bloom timing and care: For best results, purchase mums when their buds are just beginning to open. If placed outside in autumn, cooler temperatures will promote longer blooming for up to a month. Place pots in the sun and keep the soil damp. Never allow mums’ soil to dry out. As a general rule, Labor Day weekend is a good time to move potted mums outdoors, but keep in mind that timing can vary based on weather conditions. For example, wait until mid-to-late September to put mums out if the weather remains hot. Selecting mums with closed bloom buds and opting for hardy varieties will ensure plant longevity.
Overwintering potted mums: To extend the life of a mum plant that has been outside, remove the plant from the pot, dead head (remove) the flowers, break up the root system and replant with fresh potting soil in a larger pot. Keep the replanted mum inside a cold garage or outside, mulched, in a sheltered area. After the last frost, replant the mum in a sunny spot.
If originally placed inside, keep the soil moist and do not allow the pot to dry out. The flowers are dead headed, repotted and placed in a bright window and kept moist. With proper care, mums have up to a five-year lifespan.
Pinching Mums for Bushier Growth: Pinch back mums’ stems in spring or early summer to promote a fuller, more abundant flowering in the fall. Likewise, prune the tip of every stem in spring or early summer, removing any buds that have started to form. Pinching will delay bloom time and force your mum to produce new growth with an abundance of flower buds.
Outdoor planting time for mums: Early spring is the best time to plant young mums, allowing them to establish strong root systems in the soil.
One last note, mid-September is an excellent time to plant perennials, shrubs and trees and bulbs for spring flowering. The soil is warm, temperatures are cooler and the soil retains its moisture. These conditions are ideal for strong root growth.
Rebecca Brown began her career as a horticulturist more than 25 years ago and studied at the New York Botanical Gardens. She has been a University of Maryland, Baltimore County master gardener for five years and is a backyard beekeeper.
Norman Cohen is a retired chemist. He has been gardening for 39 years and has been a University of Maryland, Baltimore County master gardener for 13 years. Cohen also provides gardening education to the public at local farmers markets.
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