7 Ways To Make Fall Mums Last Longer • love beauty thrive

Gorgeous fall mums.

It’s not officially autumn until you have a pot of stunning chrysanthemums blooming beautifully on your front porch.

The rich, vibrant shades undeniably make fall mums the perfect (and most popular) plant for autumn decorating and harvest displays.

They also can dry out (and even die) very quickly and easily, being prone to stress and dehydration – but not if you know a few tricks!

Want your gorgeous fall mums to bloom longer (and maybe even again next season)? We’ve put together a list of 7 easy ways to make fall mums last longer and keep them blooming beautifully all autumn.

There is nothing prettier.

BUY QUALITY

Start with healthy mums. Buying a plant that is fresh and has just been delivered to the store is ideal (less chance of repeated drying out and stress). Look for strong, dark green leaves.

BUDS NOT BLOOMS

Buy a plant full of tight buds, not flowers. Don’t buy flowering mums already in full (or even partial) bloom. These plants are closer to the end of their life cycle, with much less colour left and will fade soon.

REPOT YOUR FALL MUMS

Store bought, potted mums are often rootbound (hard for the soil to retain water). Repot your new plant right away, in a slightly bigger pot with fresh potting soil (lots of room for healthy growth).

THE RIGHT LIGHT

Mums love the sun. They’ll bloom in full force. But full sun and heat quickens the blooming cycle and shortens the life of the flowers. Opt for partial sun/shade instead, and your blooms will last much longer.

TWO WATERING RULES

First, water consistently. Don’t let them dry out (mums dry quickly). Check the soil every day to see if your plant needs water. Inconsistent watering/repeated drying causes stress (shortening life span).

Second, water soil (not blooms). Never water mums top down over the flowers, but from under the blooms (base of the plant) instead. If blooms are soaked, they fade and their life span shortens drastically.

DEADHEADING

Remove any dying or dry flowers regularly (as you see them). Not only will the plant be prettier, but also healthier (allowing your mums to last much longer) and may even bloom again next season.

OVERWINTERING

Buy hardy fall mums. Keep them healthy with care, and you might have success with overwintering (replanting/landscaping mums for blooms every year). It’s tricky, but so gorgeous that it’s worth a try!