BY Viveka Neveln – Better Homes & Gardens
Photo: Zina Jundi
For the perfect late-season bloomer, you can’t go wrong with chrysanthemums! Use these tips to help you plant, grow, and enjoy this favorite autumn flower.
Are Chrysanthemums Annuals or Perennials?
One of the first questions people have about mums is whether they’re annuals or perennials, and the answer is both! Mums generally come in two types: Florist mums (also known as cutting mums) and hardy mums (also known as garden mums). Both types come from the same original parent, a golden-yellow daisy-like mum from China. Today’s hybrids in both categories result from endless crosses between several species from China and Japan. The result of such hybridization performed over hundreds of years is different types of mums that perform for two distinct purposes.
Florist mums have many possible bloom forms, including quilled, pompon, spider, and more. Grown in greenhouses and used only as indoor plants, florist mums produce few underground runners, which mums need to survive cold weather. Florist mums planted outside are most likely used as short-term bedding plants that will be removed when the blooms are spent, or frost kills them. You can plant a potted florist mum out you receive as a gift but don’t expect it to survive the winter outside, no matter how much protection you give it.
Garden mums, on the other hand, can survive cold better. Most garden mums are perennials in Zones 5-9 and much more sturdy than florist types. However, some cultivars are less hardy than others and can be killed by an early spring frost.
How Do You Care for a Potted Mum Plant?
Both florist and garden mums make excellent container plants. Pop them into a clay pot or a fall window box by themselves or with other fall plants like flowering kale. Making sure your potted mums thrive starts with picking the right plant. Look for a plant with more buds than open flowers; it will last longer, and the repotting process will be less traumatic for a plant not yet in full bloom.
Speaking of repotting, it’s one of the best things you can do for your mums. After sitting in nursery containers, most mums in containers will have very compacted root balls. Gently breaking up the root ball and giving the mum a new home in some fresh potting soil will set your plant up for success.
And don’t forget the water. Chrysanthemums love full sun, and all that heat means they also need plenty of water. Give them a good soak after repotting, then water every other day or whenever the soil seems dry. Try to avoid allowing your plants to wilt. They’ll revive well after watering again, but the flower buds may not last as long or look as bright.
When Should Mums Be Planted?
Mums aren’t as expensive as many perennials. So you can plant them as annuals without worrying that you’ve spent too much on something that might live only one season. On the other hand, if you’re an impulse buyer, you’ll probably see pots of colorful mums in the fall and not be able to resist.