As summer flowers fade, chrysanthemums, commonly known as mums, add a rich bloom to the garden.
Mum is a low-maintenance flowering plant that starts blooming as early as August, but its peak blooms are in autumn. This ornamental plant is drought and disease resistant, but requires proper care to keep chrysanthemums blooming throughout the fall.
Flowering requires sufficient sunlight, the required amount of water, and essential nutrients. The mother prefers well-drained soil as she does not like to be submerged in excess water.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting to grow chrysanthemums, this guide will help you maintain your beautiful blooms for as long as possible.
How can I make chrysanthemums bloom again?
Chrysanthemums are perennials, so with proper care they can bloom every year.
With proper care, it is possible to encourage a second flowering cycle after the first.
But what exactly does a chrysanthemum need to keep producing its characteristic flowers?
Also Read: 27 Best Autumn Flowering Plants for Your Garden
Sunlight: 6 hours of sunlight, but avoid strong afternoon sun.
Sunlight is very important for flowering. Chrysanthemums are sun loving plants that grow best in full sun and require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. The more sunlight it receives, the healthier the flower will be.
Place the chrysanthemum in a location where it receives sunlight all day long.
If you’re a mother growing indoors, place it near a sunny window or use a grow light to supplement natural light. Lack of sufficient sunlight can result in weak, leggy, and fewer flowers. Adequate sunlight will help the mother recover after the first flowering and encourage the production of new buds for a second wave of flowering.
Water: Avoid overwatering the mother as this will cause root rot.
Proper watering is also an important factor in keeping chrysanthemums blooming. These plants like constant moisture, but are susceptible to root rot if overwatered.
To maintain proper balance, water your chrysanthemums deeply every time the top inch of soil feels dry. Be careful not to let the soil become too wet. Roots can rot and have a negative impact on the overall health of the plant.
For outdoor mothers, mulching around the base of the plant helps retain soil moisture while preventing weeds from competing for nutrients.
If you’re growing chrysanthemums in a container, make sure the pot has good drainage and don’t leave the plant in water for too long.
Keep in mind that potted seedlings tend to dry out faster than those grown in the ground, so they may need to be watered more frequently.
Fertilization
Chrysanthemums require regular feeding to continue blooming. Feeding the mother a balanced fertilizer will replenish the nutrients the plant uses to produce flowers.
Start feeding your chrysanthemums in early spring and continue to feed them every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season.
A 10-10-10 fertilizer containing equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is ideal for promoting both foliage growth and flowering.
As fall approaches and buds begin to form, switch to a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content, such as a 5-10-5 blend. Phosphorus promotes healthy flower development and promotes second flowering. Be careful not to overfertilize, as too much nitrogen can cause excessive foliage growth and damage flowers.
Pruning and pinching promotes new growth and flowering
Pruning is essential for making chrysanthemums bloom beautifully. Removing dead leaves, or spent flowers, forces the plant to focus its energy on producing new flowers instead of producing seeds.
Cut off faded flowers just above the leaves each time they bloom. This simple step will stimulate new growth and encourage your plant to produce more flowers later in the season.
In addition to deadheading, picking back the stems in early summer will encourage bushier growth and more flowers.
Pinch off the top of each stem by about 1 inch when the plant reaches about 6 to 8 inches tall. Repeat this process every few weeks until midsummer.
This technique prevents the plant from stretching too long and encourages the formation of more buds, resulting in a more abundant bloom later in the season.
Potting soil must be well-drained
Chrysanthemums require well-drained soil to continue to grow and bloom. Prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0.
If planting in the ground, amend the garden soil with organic matter such as compost to improve drainage and nutrients.
For container-grown chrysanthemums, use a high-quality potting mix that drains well and retains enough moisture to keep the plants hydrated.
Avoid compacted or heavy soils as this can keep the roots moist and ultimately affect the plant’s ability to flower.
Check the soil in the container regularly, as nutrients can become depleted over time, and move the mother to new soil every few years to maintain health.
What are the best mother varieties to flower?
Choosing the right type of chrysanthemum will make a big difference in the duration and frequency of blooms.
Some varieties are better at naturally reblooming than others. If you want continuous blooms, look for hardy garden mums, which are perennials bred to withstand cooler climates.
Popular varieties such as ‘Sheffield Pink’ and ‘Clara Curtis’ are known for their ability to bloom into late fall.
Another great choice is the ‘Mammoth’ series, which has large, colorful flowers and has been bred for colder climates, so the flowers last longer.
Decorative mums are often grown as annuals and bloom profusely, but usually not as quickly as hardy garden mums.
By choosing a perennial variety and giving it proper care, you can enjoy moms that return year after year with vibrant blooms that last from late summer to early winter.
conclusion
Chrysanthemums are prized for their abundant, colorful flowers that brighten up gardens and homes in the fall.
Ensuring that it receives adequate sunlight, water, fertilizer, and pruning can also extend its flowering period and encourage multiple flowering cycles.
These care tips, combined with the right soil and variety, will help you raise a healthy mother that will produce beautiful flowers year after year.
With just a little extra effort, you can enjoy the cheerful beauty of chrysanthemums long after other summer flowers have faded.
Khaja Moinuddin, a computer science graduate, enjoys gardening and homesteading. Join us on this blog where he shares his experiences with home growing, gardening, and composting.
