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Planting Mum Seeds Due to the long growing season required for mum seeds, it is best to start them indoors six to eight weeks before the date of the last frost or sow the seed in spring in a well prepared bed. Cover them lightly with mulch and keep the bed evenly moist.
How long does it take mums to grow from seed?
Place seed trays near bright south or west windows, or provide supplemental light using fluorescent grow lights. Suspend lights 12 to 15 inches above seed trays. Keep soil evenly moist until mum seeds sprout, which should occur in 10 to 15 days. Thin seedlings shortly after they have their first set of true leaves.
When should you start fall mums?
Starting Mum Seeds Start the seeds roughly eight weeks before the last spring frost, which is mid-February within Mediterranean climates. The seeds can also be started outdoors anytime from after the last spring frost until two months before the first autumn frost.
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.
Can mums survive the winter in pots?
Mums can survive light frosts and cold fairly easy, but a hard freeze can kill roots in pots permanently. Once potted mums have endured a hard freeze, their chances for surviving winter are slim. Cut mums back to within a few inches of the soil line before bringing indoors.
Can you plant fall mums in the ground?
Technically, however, they can be planted in your garden any time before the first frost of fall. This means you can try removing the mums from your pot and planting them in the ground in the fall. Plant them at the same depth as they were in the pot and water them thoroughly after planting.
How long will potted mums last?
Garden mums may be grown in containers, or planted in beds with existing shrubs and flowers. Flowers generally last about two or three weeks, depending on the outdoor temperatures and how far along the blooming process was when the plants were purchased.
Do mums like 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.
Where is the best place to plant mums?
Mums grow best in full sun. Give them too little sunlight, and you’ll get a weak plant that produces few flowers.
How do you save mums for next year?
Cut back the stems of the mums to 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm.) above the ground. Leaving a little bit of the stems will ensure that next year you have a full plant, as the new stems will grow from these trimmed stems. If you cut the mums back to the ground, fewer stems will grow next year.
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.
Do mums self seed?
Mums produce tiny seeds that drop to the ground and germinate. They do not begin growth until spring warms the ground to typically 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Germination commonly takes up to three weeks in a warm and sunny location with damp soil conditions.
Can chrysanthemum grow indoors?
The chrysanthemum is widely known as a cut flower, but it is also an amazing houseplant, with a bushy structure, beautiful green leaves and fabulous flowers in all sorts of colours and shapes. The fresh, bright cheerful colours make it a summery feature that does well both indoors and on the garden table.
Do mums need lots of water?
Both florist and garden mums make excellent container plants. 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 soil seems dry. Try to avoid allowing your plants to wilt.
How do you keep mums in pots over winter?
If temperatures could fall below freezing, wrap the pots with several layers of newspaper to protect the roots. Water your mums so that the soil is slightly moist. Repeat throughout the winter once a week or so when the soil feels dry about two inches down.
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.
How do you overwinter chrysanthemums UK?
It is easy to overwinter chrysanthemums, simply dig up the plants and cut back all the stems to about 6in. Place the chrysanthemums in a box or tray and cover with soil or compost and store in a cool, frost-free place for the winter.
Do mums do better in pots or in the ground?
—your best bet is to overwinter them in their containers in a protected space (above freezing, never letting the soil dry out). Then, you can plant them in spring, providing lots of time to establish strong roots before their first winter in the ground.
How long do mums last outdoors?
Mums that are on special with fully open flowers are OK to buy, but be aware that they will not last as long in your garden. Depending on weather conditions and mum varieties, you can expect to get a good display of color for four to six weeks. Extended periods of hot weather will age the flowers more quickly.
How far apart should I plant mums?
How to Plant Mums Plant mums in the ground at the same depth they were at in the pot. If planted too low, water can gather around the base and rot the stems. Place plants 18 to 36 inches apart, depending on the mature size of the plant.
