How To Care For Mums: Some Handy Tips
It doesn't take a genius to figure out how to grow chrysanthemum – it is actually easy as pie. But this doesn't necessarily mean that it will be as effortless as just spreading seeds on the soil bed, or worse, just sticking some cut out stems in. These are definitely not good ways of how to care for mums. Mums need sun, well-drained soil and a little trimming or “pinching” once in a while. Of course, it doesn't hurt if you give them a little extra, like fertilizer and some effective bug-busters.
When you decide to try out your green thumb by growing chrysanthemums, here are some tips that can help you start:
1. Most people buy their first chrysanthemums either as seeds or as potted plants. You can choose from a wide range of plants in a nursery or order from a chrysanthemum catalog. But remember when buying chrysanthemums, choose the ones with tight buds so that they will bloom for you for a long time. But when an instant burst of color is what you want, you can buy those plants that are in full bloom – just pinch them back when the blossoms begin to fade.
Also, try to buy plants that have their own roots so that you can re-plant them in the garden to enjoy another year of vibrant blooms. There are a lot of flower shapes, sizes and colors to choose from.
2. When you buy your chrysanthemums as buds, they need lots of sunlight to help them open up. As soon as they bloom, lessen the sun time a bit, although do not go too low. Usually, yellow leaves and black centers on the flowers mean that there isn't enough light getting to your plants.
3. Chrysanthemums are typically planted as annuals although they can grow as perennials and bloom again for another year. To get the most out of your mums, choose cultivars according to bloom times and coordinate them to the length of the fall season. When using these mums for decor or landscaping, try to stick to one or two colors, preferably ones that will complement your yard or porch.
4. When watering your mums, pour water directly on the soil – not the foliage – and keep the soil soaked. This is better than frequent but light watering, which can only cause the plant to develop shallow roots and catch diseases that could spread among the other blooms.
5. Bushy, well-shaped chrysanthemums always look better than tall, lanky plants. Pinching your mums, especially when they grow to about 6 inches tall, can give you this effect. By cutting back about half to a full inch of the stem towards the leaves, your plant can grow new branches and more flowers.
6. Remove the oldest looking and sickly flowers from the bunch – leave only the healthiest. This helps rejuvenate the soil, giving more nutrients to the healthier plants. Besides, diseases and pest infections can easily spread if you do not get rid of them.
7. If mums really got your fancy and you want more information about how to care for mums, you will be happy to know that there are societies, catalogs, websites, info magazines and a whole bunch of books on the subject.
Mums really have a way of bringing diversity to a dull porch or garden. And with all these tips on how to care for mums, you are well on your way to making your first mums bloom, that will last you a long time.