When planting mums in containers, you must take good care of them.
Deadheading is essential, as is fertilizing and watering them regularly.
Fertilizing your mums will ensure a longer display. You should also consider trimming and fertilizing your plants as necessary.
So, how long do potted mums last? Potted mums produce beautiful flowers that last 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the temperature outdoors and key factors that affect the blooming process.
You can also use compost to extend their lifespan. Keep reading to learn how long potted Mums last, and strategic ways to prolong the lifespan of your plant.
Deadheading prolongs the life of potted mums
The plant needs about six hours of sunlight a day to stay healthy. Watering your mums is important when the leaves begin to droop and the second knuckle of the stem is dry.
Deadheading is a laborious process, but the effort is worth it as the mum benefits from the dead flowers.
If you’re unable to deadhead your mums, buy black plastic pots that are perfect for scraping dirt and scrunching the soil. You can use these pots as liners for those that don’t have drainage.
By deadheading, you can extend the life of potted mums. By removing the spent flowers, you will encourage more blooms.
This will allow your mums to repeat the blooming process. You can also buy mums that are set to flower or bud and force them to flower twice by pruning them back.
However, you should not do this too frequently. It is not advisable to leave the plant without dead flowers, as this will force the plant to mature and go to seed.
Mums require abundant sunlight and should be planted at least 18 inches apart. You can add some organic compost to the soil before planting. You can also add mulch for extra protection.
Mums grow well in frost-free climates, but they do not like to be overwatered. In late July, you can pinch mums to remove the dead flowers and reduce the bloom. Dead blooms should be pruned once they begin to wilt.
If you’re not sure how to water mums, you can read about this topic here.
Mums typically require three hours of direct sunlight a day. However, even when they’re well-watered, they can still lose their vibrant colors if they get too much sun. However, you can still salvage potted mums if they begin to turn brown.
This can happen due to fungal diseases.
If you’re wondering whether you should kill off the blooms on your mums, it depends on their variety. If the blooms are brown, you can pinch them to encourage new growth.
Otherwise, they’ll simply fade and fall off. If you’d rather pinch them, you can buy brown-leafed varieties.
That way, they’ll remain beautiful and colorful longer. But you should keep in mind that some varieties of mums will naturally turn brown, so if you want to save them, it’s better to make them look brown instead of black.
Fertilizing
During the first couple of months, you can fertilize potted mums with water soluble or controlled release fertilizers. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages.
To choose the right fertilizer for your mums, consider the size and growing medium.
You should also check the pH levels every week and adjust the feeding schedule accordingly. A consistent feeding schedule is critical for healthy, long-lived potted mums.
Feeding mums is an easy way to ensure their longevity and bloom. Water your mums regularly and keep them partially shaded to reduce the chances of the leaves drying up.
Fertilizing them once a week with water-soluble plant food is sufficient. Remove spent blooms when they begin to wilt. Providing water regularly and keeping mums moist is important for the plant’s health and beauty.
Fertilizing potted mums to lengthen their life involves adding potassium and nitrogen to the soil.
Feeding mums at regular intervals will help them grow vigorously and develop healthy roots. You can use a time-release fertilizer (12-6-6) that will feed the plant for up to three months. Feeding mums after the first hard frost is over is unnecessary for established potted mums.
Ideally, you should plant your potted mums in mid-late spring or early summer. Then water them regularly and watch them grow. In mid-July, prune them and remove flower buds. Mums do best when they are planted before the ground freezes, so you should wait until they are three to four inches above the ground. If possible, mulch after the ground freezes to protect them from winter.
A few tips to prolong the life of your mums: Divide them every three to four years. A mother plant will grow full and round when divided every three to four years. If a mum does not grow well, it is time to divide it. A three to five inch section from each stem will produce a showy clump. When you divide it, you must fertilize the new shoots with a slow-release granular flower fertilizer.
Watering
If you are wondering “How long do potted mums last by water” then you have come to the right place! Mums can be kept indoors or outdoors. Plants with unopened blooms will last longer. After the flowers have fallen off, you can use the pots as decoration! Read on for some watering tips. Here are some things you should do to prolong the life of potted mums!
First, make sure that you keep the soil around the pot moist. Mums cannot stand a dry soil. To help them retain water, fill a bucket or container with water and submerge the potted mum. Water the soil on top and at the base of the plant. Once the soil dries, make sure to repot the mum. Otherwise, it will die. To prolong the life of your potted mum, water it once or twice a week.
If you’re wondering how to prolong the life of potted mums, you can divide them into smaller sections. To divide them, choose those that are 6 inches tall. Break each section in half by pinching off the new growth. Repeat this procedure twice a year. Pinch off any stems that are more than 2.5 inches long. This will delay flowering until the fall. It’s also a good idea to fertilize in the spring when the ground temperatures start to cool.
To extend the life of potted mums, you can place them in a sunny location with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Make sure that the soil is well-drained and not clay-like. You should also consider planting them at the same depth as the nursery pot. Watering them daily is essential. Depending on the climate you live in, you may need to winterize your potted mums in a cold garage. Use a grow light to help them survive the winter. After the last frost, you can move them to the outdoor.
When it comes to repotting potted mums, it is crucial to use the right potting soil for each plant. Choosing the right type of pot is essential for a longer life and healthier plants. When choosing the right potting mix, make sure to pick the cultivars with lots of buds and flowers. This will help your mums endure repotting more easily and longer. Then, just follow the repotting tips above, and you will be on your way to a beautiful fall display.
Trimming
After the last hard frost, plant potted mums outdoors or inside. Once the ground has cooled, mulch the soil to retain moisture and protect the roots from hard winter freezes.
During high summer temperatures, mums may bloom later, with irregular flower buds.
The plant’s crown may deform and develop other developmental problems.
Trimming potted mums to prolong their life can help them flower earlier and remain greener longer.
Deadheading is a simple but important part of caring for your mums. Deadheading requires plucking off dead blooms to make room for new ones.
Not only will your mums look more beautiful and stay in bloom longer, but you’ll also get more flowers.
Considering that mums bloom late, they’re best planted next to early-blooming flowers, since they will cover up the first blooms of spring.
After blooming, potted mums need water. Watering too often can damage them.
Keep the soil moist, but don’t let the pot sit in water, as it can cause the plant to die. If your mum is already dead, move it inside before a frost threatens.
To protect your plant from freezing weather, cover it with an old sheet or towel. In extreme weather conditions, you can place the potted mum in a cool room with a heating pad.
If you are planting your mums in the fall, try to plant them early, so they can get established roots before the temperatures go below zero.
You can plant them late in the fall if you mulch them well, but you should leave the major pruning for spring.
If you have potted mums that bloom after the ground freezes, you can trim them back in mid-July and remove flower buds as needed.
After the ground freezes, mulch them again in late winter or early spring.
Conclusion
If you choose to buy potted mums from a florist, make sure to pick the right plant.
The plant will not survive long in the home if it is repeatedly dried out.
Especially at big box stores and supermarkets, mums may be purchased under water. Be sure to ask the store when new plants arrive.
Look for healthy leaves with plenty of buds and blooms, and avoid buying plants that are still in stage one or two.