VeronicaHB
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 107 Posts August 25, 20180 found this helpful
The container you plant your mums in should have good drainage. Mums need to be kept slightly moist. Generally, mums growing in a container should be watered 2 to 3 times a week. It's essential that you deadhead (remove dried blooms) in order to keep the plant blooming beautifully throughout the fall season. You can create an impressive container garden using mums, ornamental cabbage, flowering kale and ornamental grasses. You can also place gourds of varying shapes and sizes at the top of your container or on the ground around your container to create an attractive autumn display.
Judy
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts August 25, 20180 found this helpful
You need a large pot so the plant does not get rootbound. I stick my finger down into the plant to determine if it needs water. If would put one color in each pot and add nothing else.
August 25, 20180 found this helpful
You do not say what USDA zone you live in but Mums are really beautiful right now but may not last but 4 to 6 weeks. You may be able to plant your mums outside later so they could/will return next year.
- "The chrysanthemum, or fall "'mum'" for short, blooms in late summer and fall. Its flowers come in all colors except blue. Once in bloom, the mum will continue to flower for four to six weeks, depending on the cultivar, its location and its growing conditions. Deadheading regularly will produce the maximum period of flowering."
- Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 2 through 10, mums flower best in full sun or partial shade. Plant in spring and divide every two years.
- In case you do not know your USDA zone you can locate it here:
- planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/.../
- "Different cultivars come into bloom at different times. Some mums are early bloomers, while others are mid-season bloomers or late-blooming varieties. Early-blooming mums usually flower during the month of September. Mid-season mums bloom in late September through October. Late-blooming cultivars flower after mid-October."
- You mentioned a pot about 12" round - did you mean 12" diameter (12" across)? You should read up on how to repot your mums as this is a crucial part in keeping your plants growing nicely.
- www.thespruce.com/tips-for-choosing-a-plant-container...
- Someone mentioned watering and if your plants are in direct sun (as they should be - at least 4 hours a day) then watering correctly and deadheading are the most important things to keeping your plants alive.
- There are different ways to check if your plant needs water (before it completely dries out) but here are some suggestions.
- "Try picking up the pot. If it's light, water and water deeply. You usually water plants until the water pours out the bottom, but with a pot bound mum, it's possible that the water will go around the roots, down the sides of the pot and out the bottom without the plant getting much water. Also, if you've let the plant dry out, the soil contracts and the same thing can happen. To avoid this, and to re-hydrate dry soil, put the mum pot in a bucket of water with a few inches of water and leave it to soak for a few hours."
- www.thespruce.com/how-not-to-kill-your-mums-847862
- "Deadheading is one of those tedious garden chores that almost as soon as you finish it, you have to start all over again; but it has to be done or the plants will not continue blooming."
- It appears that you may be a little new to growing plants so here are a couple more links in case you are still confused about how to plant and maintain your mums the way you "envision" them.
- www.gardeningknowhow.com/.../growing-mums-in-containers.htm
- www.bhg.com/.../
I highly recommend using a moisture meter for checking your potted plants and you can also find one that has PH check also. These can be purchased at most garden centers - Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, Target, Ace and True Value Hardware stores as well as online. Check it out just in case you're interested.
www.amazon.com/.../ref=pd_lpo_vtph_86_lp_t_2?tag=thrif06... (Affiliate Link)
Pghgirl40
Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks August 25, 20180 found this helpful
Looks like you have lots of good advice for keeping these lovelies fresh and pretty!!
As for what else to do with them, my favorite looks like this link marketplace.secondlife.com/.../2808973?id=2808973&slug=Harvest-Scene...
I wish it was mine--I never remember to take photos....mums are perfect with hay bales, cornstalks, gourds, and pumpkins. The one year I had all but the hay bales out of my garden so it was a very inexpensive decorating year!
If you have farms nearby, maybe you could see if they would give or sell you for very little the stalks or bales! Gourds should be in the stores soon if not already.
Happy decorating!
