Making the Most of Mums!
We’re a little over a month into fall, and I don’t know about you, but I love seeing the fall decor all around! Nothing is better than seeing front porches dressed with pumpkins, hay barrels, corn stalks, and gourds. My absolute favorite though? Mums! They complete the perfect fall ensemble with their bright, beautiful colors. But how can you make the most of your mums throughout the season? We’re here to give you all the tips!
All about mums:
Mums, officially called chrysanthemums, are the iconic fall flower that people, including myself, go crazy for this time of year. Mums can come in a variety of shapes, colors, sizes and can be used as annuals (grow and die within a year) or planted as perennials (live for many years). Similarly to sunflowers and daisies, mums are part of the composite family. Flowers in the composite family are set apart from other flowers because of their unique way of their flower head looking like one single bloom. Don’t be fooled though! They’re actually made up of tiny, individual flowers. Who would have thought?! Surely not me!
Fun Fact: There are 13 different varieties of mums! Want to learn more about the specific types? Click here!
Tips to take care of mums:
Repot! - Oftentimes, the containers you purchase your mums in are too small of a space for the room that the roots need to grow. This can make it hard for the roots to find air and water. If you can, try to repot the mum in a container larger than what it came in. You can even mix them with other plants in a larger container if needed.
Sunlight! - We’re not the only ones looking for a little sunshine in our lives. Mums love it too! In fact, they need at least 6 hours of sunlight everyday, so make sure to give them the vitamin d they deserve.
Water! - No surprise here! However, I ALWAYS tend to over water or under water my plants and flowers. -It's a problem. I’m working on it.- Potted mums should be watered every other day or even daily depending on the weather. A great way to decipher whether your mum needs watering is to check if the soil is dry by sticking a finger a couple inches deep into the soil. When watering, you should add enough water until it starts draining out of the bottom.
Tips for planting your mums:
When - While fall is a more common time to plant mums, you can also plant them in early spring as well.
Where - Find a location where your mum will have at least 6 hours of direct sunlight and rich soil (you can always add compost or other organic material to help improve the soil!)
How -
Dig a hole (larger & deeper than the pot)
Use your fingers to shimmy apart the roots to prevent them from tangling
Put the mum in the hole
Fill the remaining hole with soil & water well
Add optional composted mulch around the base of the mum to help it keep moisture.
Follow these tips to make the most out of your mums this season. Don’t worry if you struggle like me though. I won’t tell. Mums the word!