How cold can mums tolerate?
In general, mums are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, although this can vary slightly by species. According to the USDA map, the lowest minimum temperatures mums can survive are right around 20 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.
Do mums die in the winter?
Some mums can survive well into the winter and perhaps make it to spring if planted at the right time and given the right care, but even if the flowers die, well established roots will regrow in the spring. Mums are not happy in extremely hot summer temperatures and may need to be shaded. Mums are cold hardy to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can mums grow in tropical climates?
Since they are originally from Eurasia, mums will have no problems growing in tropical climates. If your region has very hot summers, make sure you give them plenty of water and provide them with a little shade. Unfortunately, any plant would find it hard to establish a healthy root system in areas with soil that is too dry.
What is the best climate for ASA mums?
As heat sensitivity varies by cultivar, if you live in hotter climates you should look for those with heat tolerance. Aside from their temperature preferences, mums prefer full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
How hot can a mum survive?
Mums are cold hardy to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive hot temperatures from 90 to 100 F, but they'll need plenty of water and a little shade.
How do mums survive heat?
Most mums can survive hot weather if they are given plenty of water, but heat tolerance varies widely by species and cultivar. If you have temperatures that average in the 90s and 100s during the summer, it's best to plant mums where they will receive some afternoon shade. It's also a good idea to look for heat-tolerant cultivars. Blooms are triggered by fading summer days and cool nights, however, so if nighttime temperatures are too warm — above average for your area for several nights in a row — blooming might be delayed.
What is a mum flower?
Mums are a favorite flower. Cheerful, hardy and long-lasting, colorful chrysanthemums ( Dendranthema spp.) are a favorite with home gardeners and florists alike. Equally happy in the ground or in a container, mums tolerate a wide range of temperatures and are the perfect pick-me-up for a fading summer garden.
Is a mum hardy in Zone 9?
Florist and Fancy Mums. Potted mums sold as gifts — like those often seen at a florist — are exotic and not hardy enough to survive winter temperatures, even in USDA zone 9. These mums, which feature unusually shaped or very large flowers, are usually treated as annuals by home gardeners.
What is the minimum temperature for potted mums?
This would make potted garden mums hardy only down to USDA zone 9, where the minimum average temperature is from 20 to 30 F.
How to keep mums from fading in the fall?
As fall flowers fade, trim back the top growth to within an inch of the soil. Removing the flowers prevents the plant from wasting energy on producing seed and gives the mums a better shot at making it through the winter indoors or out.
How to protect chrysanthemums from frost?
A layer of spun fleece row cover fabric or even a sheet adds a few degrees of protection against frost to prevent damage to your chrysanthemums . Mulch around the pots to keep roots protected when the cold lasts more than a few days.
When do mums bloom?
Mums bloom happily in pots from late summer through fall when placed in full sun, with protection from late afternoon heat, according to the Jim Jenkins Lawn and Garden Center. Potted chrysanthemums are moisture hogs -- chrysanthemum flower is mostly made up of water -- and should be watered every day so they don't dry out. As fall flowers fade, trim back the top growth to within an inch of the soil. Removing the flowers prevents the plant from wasting energy on producing seed and gives the mums a better shot at making it through the winter indoors or out.
Do chrysanthemums need a dormant period?
As tender perennials, garden mums need a dormant period to bloom the following year. If you move them indoors, they won't have a dormant period , and ordinary indoor lighting is not usually sufficient to keep the plants growing. Potted chrysanthemums can be brought indoors when frost threatens, if you place them where they receive full sun or supplemental light. Keep the temperature between 70 and 75 F during the day and 60 F at night, according to the University of Missouri.
Do garden mums turn leaves in the fall?
The bright colors of garden mums (Dendranthema x grandiflora or Chrysanthemum x grandiflorum) are as much a part of fall as turning leaves and pumpkins on the front step, according to Ohio State University. While the tender perennials are often treated as annuals, in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9, the plants can make it through the winter, although return performances tend to be hit-or-miss. The level of cold-weather protection they need varies, as does the best chrysanthemum climate overall.
Can you keep chrysanthemums in the winter?
Frost-Free, Not Worry-Free. When you live in a climate where the temperature doesn't drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, you can keep potted chrysanthemums where they are and they should resume growing in the spring. However, in warm-winter climates, the mums can suffer from being too wet during winter.
What zone do mums grow in?
As mentioned, mums are hardy plants, so much so that they can survive in areas with growing hardiness zones 5 through 9.
What Is the Best Time to Plant Mums?
The key to a bountiful chrysanthemum garden is knowing when exactly is the right time to plant them.
What is the key to a bountiful chrysanthemum garden?
The key to a bountiful chrysanthemum garden is knowing when exactly is the right time to plant them.
How to encourage mums to bloom?
To encourage more blooms, pinch half an inch of mum plant’s top-end while it’s still growing.
Why remove dead blooms?
It would be best to remove these dead blooms immediately to encourage branching and more flowers to grow.
Can you plant mums from cuttings?
You can choose to plant mums from seeds, or you can grow from cuttings or already-established plants bought from the garden center. If you do decide to start them from seeds, you have to expect the unexpected. Not all seeds will stay true to their parent plant, so you may end up with mums in different sizes and colors.
Where should I place mini pots?
Place each mini pot in a sheltered area outdoors, but be sure they remain protected from the sun and wind.
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 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.
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.
Why do mums heave in the winter?
Mums also have a fairly shallow root system which makes them prone to heaving during the winter. This heaving (caused by repeated freezing and thawing of the soil) can severely damage or kill the plants. To help prevent this, apply 4 inches of mulch to your plants when the ground begins to freeze. This will help prevent wide swings in soil temperature and therefore heaving.
What are the colors of mums?
Flowers can range from green to yellow, orange to bronze, burgundy, red, pink, purple, and white. They can also be found in various flower shapes:
Why do mums bloom earlier?
This means that plants will not start producing flowers until a certain number of hours of darkness is reached (critical night length). You may have noticed some mums labeled as ‘early’ or ‘late-season.’ The reason some bloom earlier than others is because they have a shorter critical night length compared to ‘late-season' types.
Why aren't my mums blooming?
One reason your mums may not be blooming is that you have a type/cultivar that requires a longer period of darkness, and we get a killing frost before they can produce flowers (for example, florists’ mums).
Do mums need to be watered?
Drought-stressed plants are less likely to survive the winter than well-watered plants. Therefore, they may need to be watered if conditions become dry. Mulching your plants will also help retain soil moisture.
Can you cut back mums in the fall?
Once your mums have gone dormant in the fall, avoid the temptation to cut them back. Leaving the old growth will help provide an additional layer of protection to help get your plants through the winter.
Can mums survive in Illinois?
While we commonly treat them as annuals, mums are hardy from zones 5-9, meaning they can survive outdoors in Illinois (Illinois spans zones 5-7a). However, many people struggle to get mums to survive through the winter. So, what can be done to help mums survive in our landscapes?
How to help mums survive winter?
Helping Your Mums Survive Winter. For outdoor winter survival, only prune hardy bedding plants in early summer . Do not remove dead mum blooms or prune in fall or winter. Heavily mulch planted mums in the fall before freezing temperatures occur.
How to protect mums from the elements?
Protect your outdoor potted mums from the elements by planting them in outdoor containers such as terracotta, concrete, or resin, with additional potting soil. You can also dig a hole in the ground and set the plant — nursery pot and all — into the soil to help it survive cool nights.
How to choose potted mums?
When choosing potted mums for an event that will occur within a few days, purchase plants brimming with colorful flowers. For long-term enjoyment, select a plant that is loaded with unopened, tight flower buds, instead of one in full bloom.
What is a mum in fall?
Chrysanthemums, or “mums,” are a favorite variety of fall flowers. They come in a beautiful range of colors synonymous with the season. Proper care of your potted mums ensures an abundant and vibrant floral display. Here are some helpful tips to keep yours gorgeous and long lasting:
How to keep a plant healthy?
To keep the plant attractive and healthy, snip off any dead blossoms as soon as they wilt. However, if you are in a cold climate, leaving the dead foliage on the plants has been found to help the plant survive colder temperatures better than pruned plants.
When do mums bloom?
To keep your outdoor space filled with flowering mums all season, select an assortment of varieties that bloom at different times from late summer through mid-fall.
Do mums like wet feet?
One last thing to remember is that mums don’t like wet feet. They are best planted in containers or in raised beds where drainage is good. Plant mums in clusters of three to five of the same cultivars for the most color impact.
How long do mums bloom?
If you wait until things cool off before setting out your mums, you'll be treated to blooms for up to 8 weeks once you have the plants in place. And if you get a few warm days here and there after cooler weather arrives, you can stash your mums in your house or garage until temps drop again.
How long does it take for mums to fade?
In the heat, the flowers will fade in only a couple of weeks so you’ll have to replace them faster if you want to keep up the colorful show.
Can you use chrysanthemums as annuals?
Two other factors to consider: the type of chrysanthemum you're buying and where you want to use it. If you're simply hoping to use mums as an annual in a potted display or garden bed, you can opt for florist (or cutting) mums. Enjoy them until the blooms die off and then compost them.
Can mums survive winter?
If you plant hardy mums in the fall, they likely won't survive the winter. Instead, you can try letting the plants go dormant in their pots and keeping them in a cold but frost-free indoor spot like a garage until the following spring. Then you can plant the mums outside in your garden once the soil has warmed up again. You should soon see new growth appearing from the roots if your plant is still alive.
Can you use mums as annuals?
Two other factors to consider: what type of mums you're buying and where you want to use them. If you're simply hoping to use mums as an annual in a potted display or garden bed, you can opt for florist (or cutting) mums. Enjoy them until the blooms die off and then compost them.
Where can I buy hardy mums?
Many garden centers are selling hardy mums for fall, as they are such a great way to add some vibrant color to the autumn garden. I’ve also seen them in grocery stores, as well as home improvement stores.
Why Grow Hardy Mums?
Hardy mums are drought-resistant, don’t generally get a lot of diseases or attract pests, and are very low maintenance. Additionally, this late-season bloomer comes in a wide variety of colors and sizes so it will look at home in any style of garden.
How to get mums to bloom again in the fall?
This means that once the plant has grown to about five inches in height, you should cut one to two inches of new growth from each shoot. After the plant grows another four to five inches, repeat the process.
When do bushy mums bloom?
Keep doing this until mid-July for bushy mums that bloom like crazy in the fall. If you do not pinch back your mums, they will bloom in mid-summer and will not bloom again in the fall.
How to choose the longest lasting mum?
Instead, choose a plant that has a lot of buds and lush green foliage that does not look at all wilted.
How to get more mums?
To get even more mums, take a cutting of new growth and remove the bottom leaves. Plant the cutting into a small pot filled with good quality, well-draining soil. To speed up the rooting process, dip the end of the cutting in rooting hormone before planting it in the soil.
Do mums bloom longer?
Mums that are already covered in open flowers may be at or past their peak blooming time and will not last much longer, while plants that are just at the budding stage will give you a much longer display. It’s worth the wait!