How to Keep Fall Mums Alive

Fall mums are one of my favorite ways to decorate for autumn. Their beautiful colors make it easy to give your porch, patio, or front steps a seasonal refresh without spending a lot of money.

Unfortunately, it’s also easy to bring home a gorgeous pot of mums only to have them start turning brown a week or two later. The good news is that learning how to keep fall mums alive isn’t complicated, and a few simple changes can help your flowers last much longer.

Let’s walk through how to care for fall mums so you can enjoy their beautiful blooms throughout the season.

Choose Healthy Mums from the Start

One of the best ways to keep your mums looking beautiful is to choose the right plants when you buy them.

It’s tempting to grab the biggest, most colorful mums at the garden center, but plants that are already covered in fully opened flowers may not last as long.

Instead, look for mums with plenty of unopened buds and just a few flowers beginning to bloom. These plants will continue opening over the next several weeks, giving you a longer display.

Check the leaves, too. Look for healthy green foliage without yellowing, wilting, or signs of insects.

Give Your Mums Plenty of Sunlight

Mums love sunshine, so choosing the right location makes a big difference.

For the best results, place your mums somewhere they receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. A sunny porch, patio, or garden bed is usually a great choice.

If your porch is covered and doesn’t get much direct sunlight, consider moving your mums to a sunnier spot during the day.

Mums can tolerate some shade, but too little sunlight can lead to weaker plants and fewer flowers.

Keep the Soil Consistently Moist

One of the biggest mistakes people make with fall mums is letting them dry out.

Those big, beautiful pots of flowers need quite a bit of water, especially when the weather is still warm. Container-grown mums can dry out surprisingly quickly.

Check the soil every day by sticking your finger about an inch into the pot. If it feels dry, it’s time to water.

Water thoroughly at the base of the plant until excess water begins draining from the bottom. Avoid watering directly over the flowers, which can cause the blooms to deteriorate more quickly.

Don’t let your mums sit in standing water, either. Good drainage is just as important as regular watering.

Repot Your Mums if Needed

Many mums sold at garden centers are already root-bound by the time you bring them home.

If you notice that water runs straight through the pot or the soil seems to dry out almost immediately, your plant may need more room.

Gently remove the mum from its container and check the roots. If they’re tightly packed, move the plant into a slightly larger pot with fresh, well-draining potting mix.

Make sure your new container has drainage holes. Decorative baskets and planters are beautiful, but they shouldn’t trap water around the roots.

Remove Spent Flowers

As your mums bloom, you’ll probably notice some flowers beginning to fade or turn brown.

Removing these spent blooms, also called deadheading, helps keep the plant looking neat and allows the remaining buds to take center stage.

Simply pinch or snip off the faded flowers with your fingers or a pair of clean gardening scissors.

You don’t need to remove every flower the moment it starts fading, but checking your mums every few days can help keep them looking their best.

Protect Mums from Extreme Weather

Fall weather can be unpredictable, especially here in the South, where we can still have some pretty hot afternoons well into autumn.

If temperatures are unusually high, check your mums more frequently for dry soil and wilting. Moving containers out of the harshest afternoon sun during a heat wave can help reduce stress.

On the other hand, freezing temperatures can damage the flowers and shorten their blooming season. If a hard freeze is expected, move your potted mums into a garage or another sheltered location overnight. Bring them back outside once temperatures warm up.

Should You Plant Your Fall Mums in the Ground?

If you’d like to enjoy your mums again next year, you can try planting them in your garden.

Look for hardy garden mums rather than florist mums, which are generally grown for temporary displays.

Plant your mums in a sunny location with well-draining soil, ideally several weeks before your first expected frost. This gives their roots time to become established before winter.

Keep in mind that mums purchased in full bloom during fall may have a harder time surviving their first winter than mums planted in spring.

In warmer Southern climates, you may have better luck getting them established, but winter survival still depends on the variety, weather, and growing conditions.

How Long Do Fall Mums Last?

With proper care, potted fall mums can often provide beautiful color for four to six weeks, although their blooming period varies depending on the variety, weather, and how far along they were when purchased.

Buying mums with unopened buds, keeping them properly watered, and protecting them from extreme temperatures can help you get the most out of your plants.

If you’re decorating your porch for the entire fall season, consider buying a few mums at different stages of blooming. That way, you’ll have fresh flowers opening as your earlier plants begin to fade.