Full Answer
How big do hardy mums get?
How to Grow Hardy Mums Botanical Name Chrysanthemum morifolium Common Names Hardy mum, garden mum, florist's daisy Plant Type Herbaceous, perennial Mature Size 2–3 ft. tall, 1–2 ft. wide Sun Exposure Full 7 more rows ...
Are hardy mums poisonous to humans?
The leaves and flowers of hardy mums are mildly toxic to humans, as well as to dogs, cats, and horses. If you wish to grow them as true perennials, garden mums can be a bit fussy.
Can You overwinter hardy mums?
In fact, with just a bit of care, you can overwinter hardy mums with ease. No matter if they were in pots, hanging baskets – or even planted in the ground. The Secret To Saving Mums Keeping your mums alive from year to year all starts with selecting the right mums at the time of purchase.
What are the benefits of hardy mums?
Hardy mums, on the other hand, are highly valued in landscaping because they bloom primarily in the fall, helping you to achieve four-season interest in your yard. They come in a wide array of colors as well as different flower forms and growth habits.
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How to keep mums from splitting?
When watered from the top, the individual mum plants will eventually split apart. Watering mums at the side of the pot will prevent the container from splitting.
When do mums bloom in Michigan?
Mums are available in Michigan starting in mid August. Unfortunately, the temperatures in mid August are often too warm. Warm temperatures cause existing blooms to become discolored or to not open. It is better to purchase mums for long lasting fall color starting mid September.
Do mums have buds?
Mums have continuous blooms. Behind every set of flowers is a set of buds ready to take its place. To enjoy flowers all fall, dead head any spent flowers.
Is a garden mum the same as a hardy mum?
Garden mums are the same thing as hardy mums. Nurseries and garden centers have stopped calling them hardy mums overtime. Mums need special care to over make it through the winter. Mum overwintering is dependent on placement, pruning and conditions.
How to grow mums in the fall?
Plant mums as soon as the soil warms in the spring. From late spring to mid-summer, pinch back the tips and flower buds on all shoots to make the plant bushier and prepare it for a dramatic fall show. For optimal blooming, the plants should be fertilized regularly throughout the growing season. After the blooms fade, cut the plants down to about 6 inches, and cover them with straw or another dry mulch to protect the roots over winter. Established plants should be lifted and divided every two to three years.
Why do mums struggle in the winter?
Extreme heat can cause the plants to struggle. And regions with hard winter freezing can see the plants succumb to cold unless they are covered with deep mulch. Mums prefer some humidity, but if the humidity is high, make sure they have good air circulation to prevent rot or disease.
Why are mums so late in the season?
Furthermore, because mums flower so late in the season, they are nondescript, though not unattractive, in the garden until blooming time . Thus, they are best planted next to early bloomers. As the spring flowers die back, the mums will fill in and hide their unattractive fading foliage.
How to fertilize chrysanthemums?
It is crucial to provide nitrogen and potassium to chrysanthemums during their vegetative phase. Feed the plants before flower buds form to promote healthy roots, bud development, and a vigorous plant. 2 Start a feeding cycle in March, April, or May, depending upon your zone. You can get a time-released fertilizer (12-6-6), which feeds the plants for about three months. With this fertilizer, you might only need to feed the plants once. The general rule of thumb is to begin after all danger of frost has passed. That way any new growth forced by the nutrients will not be in danger of damage from icy weather. Established plants should not be fed after July, so new growth is not injured by frost.
What are mums toxic to?
Mums do contain substances that are toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, so take care to plant them where they won't tempt curious animals. 3 On the plus side, mums contain a toxin called pyrethrin, used in commercial insecticides, making it a natural insect repellent. 4 .
How to propagate a hardy chrysanthemum?
Propagating Hardy Chrysanthemums. You can propagate mums several ways: division, seeds, and cuttings. The most straightforward and fastest method is through division. Division: Divide plants that have grown in the garden for at least two years. Younger plants will not have a sufficient root system to survive.
When do chrysanthemums bloom?
These plants grow fast, and you should have flowers in the first growing season. Bloom times vary with variety and climate from early September through mid-October. Botanical Name. Chrysanthemum spp. Common Name. Garden mum, garden chrysanthemum, hardy chrysanthemum, hardy mum, mum. Plant Type.
What is the color of mums?
The hardy shrub-like plants are available in various colors, including pink, red, white, and yellow. The Mammoth series plants are perennial up to Zone 3.
How to keep mums blooming?
Mums make excellent container plants, and the potted fall blooms look gorgeous on a front porch or balcony. When buying potted mums, pick plants that look healthy and aren’t in full bloom. At home, here’s what to do to keep potted mums happy: 1 Repot your store-bought mums into a bigger container. Make sure to loosen the roots a bit and plant them in high-quality potting soil. 2 Mums are thirsty plants, so make sure to water them deeply. Be sure the container has drainage to prevent root rot. 3 Choose a sunny spot for the potted mums—whether that’s a sunny windowsill or front stoop is up to you. 4 Fertilize monthly with a 5-10-5 fertilizer. 5 Periodically check the undersides of leaves for pest activity. Mums are unlikely to become infested with pests, but insects like aphids or mites can be a problem in unhealthy plants. Spray affected plants with neem oil.
How tall do Grenadine mums grow?
Because of their mound-like growth habit, the plants stay relatively compact and don’t grow taller than 24 inches. Grenadine mums are good for cutting and hardy to Zone 5.
How big do dwarf mums get?
This dwarf variety has pink-purple blooms that make excellent cut flowers. The plants don’t get much bigger than 20 inches tall or wide. These mums are well suited for borders, containers, and mass plantings. They are hardy to Zone 4.
How to repot store bought mums?
Repot your store-bought mums into a bigger container. Make sure to loosen the roots a bit and plant them in high-quality potting soil.
How to keep mums from getting infested?
Periodically check the undersides of leaves for pest activity. Mums are unlikely to become infested with pests, but insects like aphids or mites can be a problem in unhealthy plants. Spray affected plants with neem oil.
How to keep a fall mum bushy?
After planting, make sure to keep the plants well watered and pinch back new shoots to encourage bushy growth. This is important because bushy fall mums produce more blossoms than leggy ones.
What are mums in fall?
Mums are synonymous with fall decorating. Whether grouped with cornstalks and pumpkins, or simply left on their own, they bring autumn to life. Mums are a great way to brighten up the autumn season with a whole slew of colors. Even better, most can be save to grow again next year! But can they ever be expensive!
What are the two types of mums that are for sale in the fall?
There are two types of mums that are for sale in the fall – garden mums (hardy mums), and floral mums.
How to store mums in the ground?
They simply don’t have time to establish in the soil for protection. Cut mums back to within a few inches of the soil line before bringing indoors. Before bringing indoors, cut the mum back a few inches above the potted soil line. Next, for best success, store in a cool corner of the basement or a semi-heated garage.
What does it mean when a mum is small?
Shallow planted mums with smaller blooms are usually a sign that the plants may be floral mums.
What is the best way to repot mums?
Using a high quality soil mix is a big part of success when repotting mums.
When to move mums to safety?
Always move your mums to safety on nights with a freeze, or extremely low temperatures in the forecast.
Can mums survive a freeze?
With potted mums, the first key is to never let them endure a freeze in their pot or container. Mums can survive light frosts and cold fairly easy, but a hard freeze can kill roots in pots permanently.
What kind of mums should you plant?
There are garden mums, also called hardy mums, and florist mums. Garden mums thrive in zones 4 to 9, while florist mums—like the ones you find at grocery store in gift pots—are only hardy to USDA Hardiness zones 7 to 9 (find your zone here ). Read the label so you know what you’re buying in the first place.
What zone do florist mums grow in?
Garden mums thrive in zones 4 to 9, while florist mums—like you can buy at the grocery store in gift pots—are only hardy to USDA Hardiness zones 7 to 9 (find your zone here ). Read the label so you know what you’re buying to ensure that a specific variety will survive winters in your area.
What is the name of the flower that blooms in the fall?
End of dialog window. Chrysanthemums, also called mums, are the quintessential fall flower. They're inexpensive, come in tons of different colors and bloom in response to shorter days when the rest of your garden is fading.
Can you plant mums in the ground?
And no! It depends on when you get them in the ground. Mums need to get their root systems established in time to survive winter. If you plant them in the fall, that's often too late because they’re putting energy into blooming, not building roots.
Do mums need full sun?
Yes! Give them at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Like most flowering plants, they won't bloom well (0r at all!) if they aren't getting enough sun.
Can florist mums be transplanted?
Florist mums, the kind sold in the houseplant section of your local grocery store, aren't meant to transplant at all, she explains. "Unlike garden mums, these are meant to grow inside as indoor potted plants and are not cold hardy."
Can mums grow in soggy soil?
Mums won't thrive in soil that drains poorly and stays too soggy. That's especially true in cold-winter areas, says Enfield. If you have heavy clay or compacted soil, mix in some good-quality garden soil or compost to loosen it and improve the drainage in your planting site.
Do mums need sun?
Cynthia Drumgool, a potted plants and mums manager with Ball Horticultural, says garden mums need full sun or at least partial sun. One exception: in very hot climates, mums benefit from a little shade during the hottest part of the day. Otherwise, give them plenty of sun for plenty of blooms.
Breeding
Cultivation
- Since mums bloom so late in the season, they are non-descript, though not unattractive, in the border until blooming time. They are best planted next to early bloomers. As these spring blooming flowers fade, the mums will fill in and hide their unattractive fading foliage. Plant mums in fertile, moist, well-drained soil, as the soil warms in the spring. Mums generally prefer full sun, …
Impact
- Mums make a wonderful impact in containers, but when planted in mixed borders, they will end your garden season with a bang when paired with other late season bloomers such as sedum, goldenrod, Russian sage, asters, gaillardia and the changing foliage of ornamental grasses.
Management
- After the blooms fade, cut the plants down to about 6 inches and cover them with straw or another dry mulch to protect the roots over winter. Established plants should be lifted and divided every two to three years.
Climate
- Mums do best in moderate climate conditions. Extreme heat may cause the plants to struggle, and regions with hard winter freezing may see plants succumb to cold unless they are covered with deep mulch.
Use
- These are heavy feeders. Give them a time-release fertilizer in the spring, then feed monthly with a water-soluble balanced fertilizer until late summer. As flower buds begin to develop, increase the feeding to twice a month.
Toxicity
- Mums can suffer damage from aphids, thrips, and spider mites. Common diseases include botrytis, leaf spots, rust, powdery mildew, stem and root rots, verticillium wilt, aster yellows, and viruses. Leaf spots and powdery mildew are rarely fatal, but plants with other diseases should be removed and destroyed.