Chrysanthemums—or “mums” as we love to call them—are the absolute stars of the fall garden. With so many varieties out there, from single to double blooms and every color combo you can imagine, they’re the perfect way to keep your balcony or flower bed looking vibrant as the season winds down. But if you want that massive explosion of flowers, you’ve got to get the location just right.
Light and Soil Requirements
Mums are “short-day” plants, meaning they start their big show when the days get shorter in the fall. To keep them happy, you’ll want to check off these boxes:
- Bright light, but avoid harsh, direct midday sun
- Partial shade is usually the sweet spot
- A sheltered spot (think near a house wall or a hedge) to block heavy winds
- Keep it cool—they aren’t fans of temperatures over 75°F
- Rich, humus-heavy soil that stays moist
- Loose, well-draining soil structure
Mums are “heavy feeders,” which is just a fancy way of saying they have a big appetite for nutrients, so rich soil is a must. However, they hate “wet feet.” While you don’t want the soil to bone dry, standing water is a death sentence. A pro tip: mix some coarse sand into your potting soil to help it drain, and always add a layer of clay pebbles or broken terra cotta shards at the bottom of the pot for drainage.
Choosing the Right Variety
When you’re at the garden center, keep in mind that the variety you pick dictates where it should live. Whether you’re looking for a hardy perennial mum for the garden, a decorative annual, or an indoor variety, it’s always a good idea to double-check the tag or ask a pro about its specific needs before you head to the checkout.
Growing Mums in Containers
Mums do great in pots as long as they have plenty of room and the right nutrients. Use a large container with high-quality potting soil and keep that soil consistently moist. Again, drainage is key here! You actually don’t need to fertilize them while they are actively blooming; the nutrients already in a good potting mix are usually enough to get them through the season.
If you bought a hardy variety and it’s finished blooming, you can actually transplant it into the ground. If you’re keeping it in the pot over winter, move it to a cool, bright spot. Wrap the pot in burlap or bubble wrap to protect the roots, and cover the top of the soil with some evergreen branches for extra insulation.
Indoor Chrysanthemums
The indoor mums /link] you find in the floral department usually aren’t winter-hardy. These guys love a bright room but keep them out of direct sunlight—a north-facing window is usually perfect. For soil, a standard potting mix blended with a little sand or clay granules (about a 2:1 ratio) will keep them happy and blooming indoors.
