3 Things Your Chrysanthemums Need to Keep Blooming Through October for Longer-Lasting Fall Color
Chrysanthemum season is here
It's fall, which means just one thing: chrysanthemums galore. It's the staple seasonal bloom that is not only easy to grow, but versatile – it works in pots, borders, and even indoors. However, keeping them looking their best for longer than just a couple of weeks calls for some light maintenance this month.
Growing chrysanthemums is pretty straightforward; keeping chrysanthemums blooming for longer, however, requires a bit more effort. In October, it's important to keep deadheading mums (these Fiskars gardening snips from Amazon are a good choice for this), keep them watered without overdoing it, and look out for frost to protect them from icy conditions.
Doing these few things in fall can double the length of your mums display, and even allow you to move them indoors for some extra weeks of enjoyment. Here, alongside insights from a plant expert, I talk through three things to do with chrysanthemums in October.
1. Keep Deadheading
If you're wondering whether you should deadhead chrysanthemums in fall, the answer is yes. Regularly pinching off spent blooms will redirect the plant's energy into putting out more flowers.
'Focus on pruning stems with withered, unappealing flowers, as well as any growth that can rot and become a habitat for pests and diseases. Cut off spent flower tops, leaves, and any diseased growth,' says Plantum plant expert Marina Prokaten.
'Deadhead throughout October until the first severe frosts, pruning as soon as flowers start to pale or wilt in dry weather to prevent fungal infections. Use sharp scissors or pruning shears to do this,' she advises.
There are lots of essential pruning tools you can use for deadheading, but because mums have smaller, soft stems, micro-tip pruning snips (like these from Walmart) may be the easiest to work with.
Marina Prokaten is a resident plant expert for the Plantum app, which helps users identify plant species, diagnose their conditions, and get specific care advice. She has three years of experience consulting on botany-related topics for Plantum.
2. Water Mums at the Base
Although temps are cooler in October than in summer, it's important to still keep on top of watering where there are dry spells. Ideally, you should water your mums when your soil moisture meter (which you can pick up from Amazon) indicates the top inch or so has dried out.
'Mums like consistent moisture but not soggy soil. Water them regularly while they are still blooming, and keep watering during dry spells until the ground freezes, pouring water at the base of the plant in the early morning so it doesn't linger on the leaves. Once the ground freezes, suspend watering until spring,' Marina advises.
I find a watering can with a long narrow spout (like this from Amazon) is easier for chrysanthemums, as you can get to the base of the plant without wetting the foliage. This will help prevent fungal diseases, like powdery mildew.
You can also use your finger to feel the chrysanthemum soil, so you don't oversaturate the roots. Watering too often is a classic chrysanthemum mistake which can rot the roots and cause your plants to decline quickly.
3. Relocate Before Frost
Chrysanthemums tend to last until frost, as they're hardy across USDA zones 5-9. However, you can extend their display with some winter protection – the most effective being relocating them as fall flowers to grow indoors.
'Move cold-sensitive varieties of chrysanthemums indoors before the first frosts arrive. Check the plants for pests before bringing them inside,' Marina advises.
You can follow the same steps as preventing pests when moving houseplants back indoors, checking underneath foliage where pests like to hide. It's also best to keep them isolated from houseplants to prevent the spread of any pests or diseases.
Relocating your chrysanthemums indoors may give you a few more weeks of blooms, before they finish flowering. At this point, keep them in a dark, cool, frost-free place to overwinter, such as a garage. You can cut chrysanthemums back to 3-6 inches above the soil when doing this. In spring, after the risk of frost, acclimate them outdoors for another year of blooms.
'For hardy garden mums remaining outdoors, wait until the ground has cooled or begun to freeze, then apply a loose, airy mulch such as straw or pine needles around the base. This protects the shallow roots from freeze-thaw heaving,' Marina adds.
You can find fall mulching materials in the yard for free, or pick up Lowe's brown mulch, to winterize your chrysanthemums.
What to Shop
You can do so many things with chrysanthemums in fall to elevate your display, including pairing them with other fall flowers for pots. Our guide to secret design tricks to make mums look more expensive has more inspiration to explore.
If you love inspiring garden ideas, outdoor advice, and the latest news, why not sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox?
