A Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Mums Gorgeous All Season

Every year, as the air gets that crisp edge and the leaves begin to blush, I feel the pull. It’s an undeniable urge to fill my porch with the quintessential flower of fall: chrysanthemums. Mums, in all their glorious shades of orange, yellow, red, and purple, are the perfect welcome mat for the season.

But I’ve been there. You find the most beautiful, perfectly round mum at the garden center, bring it home, and two weeks later it’s a sad, crispy, brown shadow of its former self. For years, I thought they were just short-lived decorations. I’ve since learned that with a little know-how, you can keep them looking vibrant and full of life all the way to the first frost. Today, I’m sharing my simple, beginner-friendly guide to making your mums last.

Start Strong: How to Pick the Perfect Plant

Your success begins before you even leave the store. A common mistake is grabbing the plant that’s already in full, glorious bloom. While it looks amazing right now, it’s already halfway through its life cycle. To get the most out of your mum, you need to choose a plant with potential.

When I’m shopping for mums, I look for a plant that is loaded with buds, not open flowers. More buds mean more flowers that are yet to bloom, which will dramatically extend the show you get at home. I also give the plant a quick health check. The leaves should be a healthy, deep green all the way down to the base. Avoid any plants with yellowing or wilted leaves, as this can be a sign of stress or disease. Finally, gently pull the plant up an inch from its plastic pot. If you see a dense, tangled web of roots, the plant is “root-bound” and will struggle. Look for one with healthy roots that still have some soil around them.

My Top Tips for Making Mums Last

Once you’ve brought your carefully chosen mum home, a few key actions will make all the difference between a plant that thrives and one that just survives. This is my tried-and-true care routine.

1. Give It a New Home. Those flimsy plastic pots from the nursery are too small for the plant to thrive long-term. Repotting your mum as soon as you get it home is the single best thing you can do for it. I choose a container that is at least a few inches wider than the original pot to give the roots room to breathe. Use a good quality potting mix and gently loosen the root ball before placing it in its new home.
2. Master the Art of Watering. Mums are thirsty plants, but they hate having “wet feet.” Inconsistent watering is their number one enemy. I make it a habit to check the soil every single day by sticking my finger about an inch deep. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. Water the plant at the base, directly on the soil, until you see it run out of the drainage holes. Soaking the flowers and leaves from above can encourage mildew.
3. Find the Sunny Spot. Mums are sun-lovers! To produce all those beautiful blooms, they need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. My front porch gets wonderful morning and early afternoon sun, which is the perfect location. If your mums look leggy or aren’t blooming well, a lack of sun is often the culprit.
4. Deadhead Diligently. This sounds technical, but it’s simple. As individual flowers begin to fade and turn brown, just pinch or snip them off. This process, called deadheading, does more than just keep the plant looking tidy. It signals to the mum to stop putting energy into a dying flower and instead produce new buds. I find it’s a relaxing task to do with my morning coffee.

By following these simple steps, you can transform your relationship with this classic fall flower. No more watching them sadly fade after a week! Instead, you’ll have a stunning, vibrant display that brings you joy throughout the entire cozy season.