How Do I Care For Potted Mums During Winter
How Do I Care For Potted Mums?
To care for potted mums, start by repotting them in fresh potting soil and giving them plenty of water.
Choose a plant with more buds than open flowers for extended bloom time.
Mums love full sun, so make sure they get at least six hours of sunlight each day.
Water them whenever the soil feels dry, but avoid splashing the foliage to prevent plant diseases.
In colder weather, move potted mums indoors or into an unheated garage and give them liquid fertilizer high in phosphorus before the first hard frost.
Pinch off dead blooms and leave branches intact until spring to promote survival.
Cover the pots with straw or mulch and burlap or an old sheet during winter, then remove the mulch in spring and move the pots back outside into the sunshine.
Key Points:
- Repot potted mums in fresh soil and water regularly
- Choose plants with more buds for longer blooming time
- Provide at least six hours of sunlight daily
- Water when soil is dry, avoiding foliage splashing
- Bring indoors in colder weather and feed with phosphorus-rich fertilizer
- Pinch off dead blooms, leave branches intact until spring, and cover pots during winter
Did You Know?
1. The potted mum, scientifically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, is a perennial plant that is native to China.
2. The word “chrysanthemum” is derived from the Greek words “chrysos” meaning gold and “anthemon” meaning flower, referring to the original golden-colored wild species.
3. Potted mums are famous for their ability to purify the air indoors. They remove harmful toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, and ammonia, making them excellent natural air filters.
4. Mums are day-length sensitive plants, meaning their growth is significantly affected by the amount of daylight they receive. This is why they are often associated with fall, as cooler temperatures and shorter days trigger their blooming cycle.
5. Potted mums have various symbolic meanings in different cultures. In Japan, they are considered a symbol of autumn and the imperial family. In some European countries, they are associated with death and are often used as funeral decorations.
Types Of Mums: Florist Mums Vs. Garden Mums
Chrysanthemums, commonly known as mums, are beloved late-season flowers that add a burst of color to porches and flower beds. There are two primary types of mums: florist mums and garden mums.
Florist mums, also known as cutting mums, are typically grown in greenhouses and sold as indoor plants. They are often used for short-term decorative purposes and don’t fare well in cold weather conditions. These varieties are not as hardy as garden mums and are not usually suitable for long-term cultivation in outdoor settings.
On the other hand, garden mums, also known as hardy mums, are more robust and can withstand colder temperatures. They are perennials in Zones 5-9, making them ideal for many regions. Garden mums have a tight, mounded habit and produce an abundance of blooms. These varieties are perfect for mass plantings and can create visually stunning displays in flower beds or garden landscapes.
Caring For Potted Mums: Repotting And Watering Tips
Caring for potted mums is relatively straightforward, but it requires attention to a few key aspects. When you bring home potted mums, it’s essential to repot them in fresh potting soil. This will provide the plants with a nutrient-rich environment for healthy growth. Gently remove the mums from their original containers and replant them in larger pots to allow their roots to spread out comfortably.
Mums are avid drinkers, and watering is crucial to their well-being. Ensure that the soil is consistently moist, but not soggy. Be careful not to overwater or underwater your mums. Ideally, provide them with about an inch of water each week, adjusting the frequency based on visual cues. If the bottom leaves start to wilt or turn brown, it’s a sign that they need more water.
Maximizing Visual Impact: Colors And Complementary Plants
One of the most attractive features of mums is their vibrant range of colors. When choosing mums for your porch pots or flower beds, consider the effect you want to create. For fall-themed decorations with pumpkins and gourds, orange, bronze, yellow, and creamy white mums are recommended. If you’re pairing mums with evergreen plants, bright pinks, lavenders, pure whites, or reds can create a striking contrast.
To maximize the visual impact of your mums, consider arranging them in a way that creates a gradual transition of related colors. This creates an ombre effect that adds depth and visual interest to your display. Additionally, using backdrop plants like ornamental grasses, berry shrubs, sedum, or conifers can help mums stand out and create a more cohesive and eye-catching arrangement.
Choosing The Right Mums: Bloom Times And Sunlight Requirements
When selecting mums for your garden or pots, consider their bloom times and coordinate them with the length of the autumn season in your area. Mums come in various varieties, and some bloom earlier in the season while others bloom later. By choosing mums with different bloom times, you can ensure a colorful display throughout the autumn.
Mums thrive in full sun conditions, so it’s crucial to provide them with ample sunlight. They require at least six hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive and produce abundant blooms. However, if you live in warmer gardening zones, it’s advisable to plant them in a shaded area to prevent sun damage.
Overwintering Potted Mums: Fertilizer, Pruning, And Protection
To ensure the survival of your potted mums during winter, take the following steps:
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Fertilize: Before the first hard frost, give your mums a liquid fertilizer high in phosphorus. This strengthens their roots and improves winter hardiness.
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Indoor or Garage: After fertilization, you can either move the potted mums indoors or into an unheated garage. Both options provide protection from the cold.
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Care Indoors: When indoors, continue caring for your mums. Pinch off dead blooms to encourage new growth and prune any old stems to maintain plant tidiness.
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Extra Protection: Add a layer of straw or mulch up to 4 inches on top of the soil for added protection. Also, cover the pot with burlap or an old sheet to shield the mums from extreme cold.
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Spring Transition: In the spring, when the weather warms up, remove the mulch to allow new shoots to grow. Gradually move the pots outside into the sunshine.
Following these steps increases the likelihood of successfully overwintering your potted mums and ensuring their reblooming in the following season.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you keep mums alive in pots?
To keep mums alive in pots, it is crucial to maintain a consistent watering schedule. Regularly check the soil moisture and water the plants whenever it feels dry. It is important to ensure that the mums do not wilt, as it can lead to damage. Additionally, be mindful of not splashing water on the foliage while watering to prevent the onset of plant diseases. By diligently attending to their watering needs, you can help mums flourish in pots and prevent the bottom leaves from becoming limp or turning brown.
What do potted mums need?
Potted mums thrive when their soil is kept moist. It is important to monitor the soil moisture daily and water adequately if the soil is dry. Care should be taken while watering to ensure the roots receive sufficient water, without breaking or saturating the blooms as wet blooms tend to fade faster. A useful technique is to place the hose or watering can under the blooms and water the soil directly, providing the necessary hydration.
Why are my potted mums dying?
The reason your potted mums may be dying is likely due to the dry soil. Mums are sun-loving plants that need moist, well-watered soil to thrive. Since mums grown in pots and containers tend to dry out quickly, it is important to ensure that the soil is consistently hydrated. By providing sufficient watering and regular monitoring of moisture levels, you can help rejuvenate your mums and prevent them from wilting or dying.
How long will potted mums last?
Potted mums typically last for a relatively short period of time. In hot weather, their blooms will begin to fade within a few weeks, requiring more frequent replacements to maintain a lively display of colors throughout the season. However, if you wait until the temperature cools down before placing the mums outdoors, you can enjoy their vibrant blooms for up to 8 weeks, extending the duration of their beauty.