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Chrysanthemums are sun-loving plants. Although they technically require only 6 hours of sunlight each day, the more light they receive, the better their growth, bloom and hardiness. Slight shade in hot, summer afternoons is appropriate in warmer gardening zones to prevent scorching.
Do potted mums need full sun?
Whether in a pot or in your garden, mums like lots of light. Mums thrive in full sun conditions as long as you give them enough water. Choose a spot that gets at least six hours of sun a day. Plants that don’t get enough sunlight will be tall and leggy and produce fewer, smaller flowers.
Can mums live in the shade?
Site Selection. Although shortening days in late summer are critical for a mum to bloom, the plant also depends on good light throughout the season to grow well and develop into a strong plant. The best site for a mum is one that gets full sun for the entire day, although the plant can tolerate some light shade.
How often do you water mums?
Mums don’t like to get dry between waterings, so make sure you water them at least every other day and especially if they start looking wilted. Just like potted mums, water them at the soil level instead of on top of the blooms. Watering the foliage can cause disease.
Will mums come back every year?
They will grow back and your plant won’t look dead in the middle.” Many people buy mums in the fall thinking the plants are annuals. But if you buy hardy mums, you can get them to bloom year after year.
Do mums do better in sun or shade?
Chrysanthemums are sun-loving plants. Although they technically require only 6 hours of sunlight each day, the more light they receive, the better their growth, bloom and hardiness. Slight shade in hot, summer afternoons is appropriate in warmer gardening zones to prevent scorching.
Can I put potted mums outside?
Garden mums are tough perennials you plant outdoors where they can live year round. Florist mums are used as indoor potted plants and won’t survive a winter if you plunk them into your garden in the Midwest. Get a mum suited for the great outdoors from a nursery or garden center.
How long will mums last in the shade?
In fact, a mum that blooms in partial shade can keep its blooms for as many as two weeks longer than a full sun mum.
What temperature is too hot for mums?
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 you keep mums alive?
Protect Mums from Sun: Mums are normally full-sun plants, but sunlight will make them bloom more eagerly. To prolong the blooms, keep the plant in bright indirect light, rather than full sun. Water Mums from Bottom: Protect your mums from rain, and water them carefully without splashing the foliage or blooms.
How do you care for outdoor mums?
Caring for outdoor mums Give mums plenty of space. It’s wise to plant your mums about 18 inches from other plants so their roots have room to expand. Water, but not too much. Deadhead. In colder climates your mums may need to be mulched using leaves, wood chips, or straw. If frost gets your mums, don’t fret.
Do you need to deadhead mums?
Deadhead often for lasting blooms. Take off wilted blooms and dead stems/leaves not only makes your mums look more beautiful, it helps your plant to bloom longer. Once your mums stop blooming, you can place them in the ground outdoors once the weather starts to warm.
Can I keep mums in pots over the winter?
Overwinter your mums in pots. If you’re not ready to give up your beautiful fall blooms, you can overwinter mums in pots as long as they’re hardy mums. Fall-blooming mums (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 9, and they’re often grown in pots as annuals in other zones.
How do I save my potted mums for next year?
Keep mums indoors until one week before the last expected spring frost. At that time, take the pot outdoors to its summer location for two or three hours, then bring it back indoors to its winter location. Each day, bring the pot outdoors and leave it there for an hour or so longer each time.
Are potted mums annuals or perennials?
There are potted florist mums, which look just like garden (hardy) mums and even share the same botanical name (Chrysanthemum x morifolium)—and they’re perennials, but their survival depends on when you get them and where you live. Garden mums, also known as hardy mums, are perennial mums.
When should I buy fall mums?
{two} Mums are a cool season fall flowering perennial so the best time to purchase them is mid-September when the temperatures start to drop. Many growers force the plants to grow early so they look pretty displayed in the big box stores.
What do you do with potted mums after fall?
After they finish flowering, garden mums should be cut back far enough to remove all of the faded flowers (about one-quarter their height). If the winter stays very mild, some mums will produce a few more flowers. In late January or early February, garden mums should be cut back to about three inches from the ground.
Where Should mums be planted?
Mums should be planted in partial to full sun. If you’re trying to decide between the two light exposures, always choose full sun for mums. This helps the plant maintain its energy during the blooming cycle as well as produce new buds, which is important if you want to see color up until the first hard frost.
