There’s nothing that says “fall” quite like mums. Whether they’re brightening up your front porch or adding a burst of color to your garden beds, mums (short for chrysanthemums) are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to decorate for the season.
But while they’re beautiful when you bring them home, many people quickly discover that those cheerful blooms don’t always last as long as they hoped.
The good news? With a little care and attention, you can keep your mums looking vibrant for weeks—and if you choose the right type, you might even enjoy them again next year.
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to care for mums so they bloom longer and stay healthy.
1. Choosing the Right Mums: Garden vs. Florist
The first step to long-lasting blooms happens before you even bring your mums home. Not all mums are created equal.
- Florist mums (also called exhibition mums) are typically grown for temporary indoor use. They’re beautiful but not designed to handle outdoor weather or come back year after year.
- Garden mums (or hardy mums) are bred to withstand cooler outdoor conditions. With proper care, these can survive mild winters and bloom again the following year.
When shopping, look for tags that say “hardy,” “garden mum,” or the botanical name Chrysanthemum morifolium. Nurseries and garden centers usually offer hardier varieties than big-box stores or grocery markets.
Choosing the right plant from the start will give you the best chance at longer-lasting blooms.
2. When to Buy Mums for the Longest Blooms
The stage of bloom your mum is in when you purchase it plays a big role in how long it will look beautiful at home.
- Look for plants that are mostly in bud—tight, unopened blooms with just a few flowers starting to open.
- Plants that are already fully blooming will be gorgeous for a week or two, but they’ll fade much faster.
By starting with mostly buds, you’ll enjoy the full progression of blooms over several weeks.
3. The Best Location for Mums
Mums love sunlight. To keep them blooming as long as possible:
- Place them in full sun. Aim for at least 6 hours of direct sun per day.
- Shelter them from harsh conditions. High winds, heavy rain, or extreme heat can damage blooms. A covered porch or protected patio is often ideal.
- Ground vs. container:
- Container mums are perfect for decorating porches and entryways. However, pots dry out faster and may require more frequent watering.
- Planting mums directly in the ground helps maintain consistent moisture and offers more insulation during cooler nights.
4. Watering Tips to Keep Mums Blooming
Consistent moisture is key to healthy mums.
- Water deeply but avoid soggy soil. Check soil daily, especially for potted mums. Water when the top inch feels dry.
- Water at the base of the plant, not overhead. Wet foliage can encourage disease and cause blooms to brown faster.
- Avoid letting pots dry out completely. This can lead to wilted blooms that don’t recover.
During especially hot or windy weather, you may need to water daily to keep container mums hydrated.
5. Fertilizing Mums for Continued Blooms
If you buy mums already blooming in the fall, skip fertilizing for the season. At this stage, fertilizer won’t encourage more blooms—it may actually stress the plant.
Suppose you’re planting mums earlier in the season (late spring or summer for garden mums). In that case, you can fertilize lightly with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every few weeks to support strong growth before bloom season starts.
6. Deadheading for Longer Bloom Time
Deadheading is one of the simplest but most effective ways to extend your mums’ blooming period.
- What is deadheading? It’s simply removing spent flowers to encourage the plant to keep producing new blooms.
- How to do it:
- Use clean garden shears or simply pinch off faded blooms just above the next set of leaves.
- Check your plants every few days and remove dying blooms regularly.
Keeping your mums tidy not only helps them stay attractive but also signals to the plant to put energy into producing fresh flowers.
7. Protecting Mums From Cold Snaps
Fall temperatures can fluctuate dramatically, especially as the season progresses.
- Watch the forecast. Cover your mums overnight with an old sheet, towel, or frost cloth if a frost is predicted.
- Move containers. If your mums are in pots, you can easily move them into a garage, shed, or covered patio on cold nights.
- Extended freezes: Prolonged freezing temperatures will end the blooming season for most mums.
A few simple precautions can help extend your display well into late fall.
8. Post-Bloom Care: Can You Save Mums for Next Year?
If you purchased hardy garden mums, you may be able to enjoy them again next year.
- After blooms fade: Cut the plant back to about 3–4 inches above the soil.
- Mulch heavily. Apply a thick layer of mulch to insulate the roots during winter.
- Spring care: Once new growth appears, remove mulch, water regularly, and fertilize as new shoots grow.
Some gardeners also bring potted mums indoors before winter and store them in a cool, dark place, watering sparingly until spring.
Note: Overwintering success can vary in colder zones depending on your climate and the specific variety.
9. Quick Troubleshooting Guide
Even with the best care, you might run into a few issues. Here’s a quick guide:
- Yellowing leaves: Often caused by overwatering or poor drainage.
- Wilted blooms: Usually a sign of underwatering or heat stress.
- Leggy growth (early in season): Typically due to insufficient sunlight or lack of early pinching back.
With prompt attention, many issues can be corrected before serious damage occurs.
Mums are one of fall’s best traditions—and with a few simple care steps, you can keep them blooming beautifully for weeks on end. Start by choosing hardy garden mums, give them plenty of sun, water them consistently, and stay on top of deadheading. If you’re lucky, your mums might even reward you again next year with another colorful display.
Enjoy your mums this fall—and don’t forget to take plenty of porch photos while they’re at their peak!
