All about MUMS!
Nothing says fall like mums! Ever wonder how long will it take a mum to bloom out? Is it better to get ones with no blooms open or showing some color? Want to brush up on your knowledge about these seasonal blooms? Keep reading!
Bloom Timing
If you would rather read all about it; here are some tips on bloom timing. When you get a mum early in the season, showing no color and the bud isn’t yet ‘cracking’, it could take a few weeks for it to show color, especially if the buds are still small. It does depend on temperatures and sun, so the timing can vary but this is a good rule of thumb. A few weeks beyond this, they will be fully open. If the buds are ‘cracking’ this means there is a maybe a thin film over the leaf petal and you can start to see some hints of flower color; these are a few days to a week or more ahead of the tightly budded mums. These will show more and more color each day, and should be fully open within a few weeks. If we have a warmer than normal fall, the blooms open up faster than during a cool fall season.
Tips on Watering Mums
There are all different kinds of mums, and the bloom season can be early, mid or late, depending on variety. We get all of our Monster Mums from Arkansas growers, and they are growing them outside all summer, on drip irrigation. We get questions about whether it’s too early to buy mums yet and the answer to this is, it’s never too early! However, the warmer the temperatures are, the more they will need water, so plan accordingly. Because every situation and gardener is a bit different, we don’t like to give set watering advice. However, while temperatures are still warm, we check daily, and usually need to water at least once. Ideally, mums are kept moist but not overly wet. Moisture meters really come in handy with plants like this, where the soil is too full of roots to check well.
Sun Needs for Mums
For best blooming they need to be in the sun for about six hours a day, minimum. If they are kept in too much shade and the buds are still tight when you get them, you could end up without open flowers. Mums used to be bred for cold hardiness but now, the focus is more on bloom color. Often times, we see mums placed in fall decor arrangements, along with crotons, ornamental grasses and pumpkins on porches and entry ways, or in pots. However, you can plant them in the ground and see if they come back next year! After the first few frosts this fall, the leaf tips will start to brown; this is the time to plant. Mulch well to protect the roots.
How to Create a Fall Display with Mums
The sky is the limit on this! We have a whole Pinterest board on fall decor, it’s called Finally Fall. Here is a link for ideas, or come visit The Good Earth and we will help you create a plan!
A quick note; some older varieties of mums are winter hardy but more and more, mums are developed for bloom color and less for cold hardiness. That being said, you can always plant them after they fade this season, and cross your fingers… you never know!