How to Keep Chrysanthemums Blooming?

As summer flowers are fading, Chrysanthemums, commonly known as mums, can add brimming blossoms to your garden.

Mums are a low-maintenance flowering plant that starts to bloom as early as August, but blossoms peak in fall. Though this ornamental plant is drought and disease-resistant, proper care should be taken to keep Chrysanthemums blooming all fall along.

Enough sunlight, the required amount of water, along with essential nutrients are responsible for blooming. Mums prefer well-drained soil, as they don’t like to sit in excess water.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started with chrysanthemums, this guide will help you maintain their stunning flowers for as long as possible.

How to Make Chrysanthemums Bloom Again?

Chrysanthemums are perennials, meaning they can bloom year after year with the proper care.

If given proper attention, it’s possible to encourage a second bloom cycle after their initial flowering.

But what exactly do chrysanthemums need to keep producing their signature blossoms?

Also Read: 27 Fall Flowering Plants for Your Garden

Sunlight: Provide 6 hours of Sunlight, but avoid intense afternoon sunlight

Sunlight is crucial for keeping mums blooming. Chrysanthemums are sun-loving plants that thrive best in full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. The more sunlight they receive, the healthier their blooms will be.

Place your chrysanthemums in a spot where they will get consistent sunlight throughout the day.

For those growing mums indoors, ensure they are near a sunny window or use grow lights to supplement natural light. Lack of sufficient sunlight can lead to weak, leggy plants with fewer flowers. Proper sun exposure also helps mums recover after their first bloom and encourages them to produce new buds for a second wave of blossoms.

Water: Avoid overwatering mums as it results in root rot

Proper watering is another crucial factor in keeping chrysanthemums blooming. These plants like consistent moisture but are also susceptible to root rot if overwatered.

To strike the right balance, water your chrysanthemums deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. Be careful not to let the soil become too soggy, as this can cause the roots to rot and harm the plant’s overall health.

For outdoor mums, mulching around the base of the plant helps retain soil moisture while preventing weeds from competing for nutrients.

If you’re growing chrysanthemums in containers, ensure the pot has good drainage and never let the plants sit in water for extended periods.

Keep in mind that mums in pots tend to dry out faster than those planted in the ground so that they might need more frequent watering.

Fertilizing

Chrysanthemums need regular feeding to keep blooming continuously. Fertilizing your mums with a balanced fertilizer helps replenish the nutrients the plant uses to produce blooms.

Start feeding your chrysanthemums in early spring and continue every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season.

A 10-10-10 fertilizer, which contains equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, is ideal for encouraging both foliage growth and flowering.

As fall approaches and buds start to form, switch to a fertilizer higher in phosphorus, like a 5-10-5 blend. Phosphorus promotes healthy flower development and can encourage a second round of blooms. Be cautious not to over-fertilize, as too much nitrogen can lead to excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowers.

Pruning or Pinching promotes new growth and blooming

Pruning is an essential step in keeping your chrysanthemums blooming. Deadheading, or removing spent blooms, encourages the plant to focus its energy on producing new flowers instead of seed production.

After each bloom cycle, snip off the faded flowers just above a set of leaves. This simple step stimulates new growth and can trigger the plant to produce more blooms later in the season.

In addition to deadheading, pinching back the stems in the early summer helps promote bushier growth and more blooms.

To pinch back your mums, trim about an inch off the top of each stem when the plant reaches about 6 to 8 inches in height. Repeat this process every few weeks until midsummer.

This technique prevents the plant from becoming leggy and encourages more buds to form, leading to a fuller display of flowers later in the season.

Potting Soil should be well-drained

Chrysanthemums need well-draining soil to thrive and keep blooming. They prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.0.

If you’re planting mums in the ground, amend your garden soil with organic matter like compost to improve drainage and nutrient content.

For container-grown chrysanthemums, use a high-quality potting mix that drains well but retains enough moisture to keep the plant hydrated.

Avoid compacted or heavy soils, as they can lead to soggy roots, which will ultimately affect the plant’s blooming ability.

Regularly check the soil in containers, as it can become depleted of nutrients over time, and report your mums into fresh soil every couple of years to keep them healthy.

What is the Best Variety of Mums to Bloom?

Choosing a suitable variety of chrysanthemums can make a big difference in how long and how often they bloom.

Some varieties are naturally better at re-blooming than others. For continuous blooms, look for hardy garden mums, which are perennials and bred to withstand cooler weather.

Popular varieties like the “Sheffield Pink” and “Clara Curtis” are known for their ability to bloom well into late fall.

Another excellent choice is the “Mammoth” series, which features large, colorful blooms and is bred for colder climates, ensuring longer-lasting flowers.

Decorative mums, which are often grown as annuals, may bloom heavily but typically do not re-bloom as readily as hardy garden mums.

By selecting perennial varieties and giving them proper care, you can enjoy mums that come back each year with vibrant flowers that last from late summer to early winter.

Conclusion

Chrysanthemums are cherished for their abundant and colorful blooms that brighten gardens and homes during the fall.

By ensuring they receive proper sunlight, water, fertilizer, and pruning, you can extend their blooming period and even encourage multiple bloom cycles.

Combine these care tips with suitable soil and variety, and you’ll have healthy mums that reward you with stunning flowers year after year.

With just a little extra effort, you can enjoy the cheerful beauty of chrysanthemums long after other summer blooms have faded.