How to care for fall mums
It’s that time of year for the ever so popular flower, chrysanthemums AKA mums. Here a few tips to choosing and keeping your mums looking great on your porch.
Choose mums with tightly closed up flower buds and lots of them dispersed all over the plant. Yes, you can get overly excited and choose the already blossomed ones with perfect color and lushness. Do not fall into that trap. If you properly take care of your mums they will end up looking that way soon enough. Mature blossomed mums may mean less living time on your front porch.
Keep moist and watered. But don’t over water. Water at the roots and slowly. Mums like soil that is moist and not dry. Check the top inch of your soil with your finger.
Do not allow for too much sun or heat to get to these flowers that prefer cooler temps. Mums are full sun plants but in hotter temps like upper 70s you should be mindful and allot them some shade.
Pinch off the dead stems and blooms once they are brown and dried up. (Deadheading) is the proper term for this. This just keeps them looking tidy and allows for the newer growth to stand out.
Enjoy this seasons’ chrysanthemums!