Ah, fall. The leaves are changing colors, the air is getting crisp and cool, and the grocery stores are packed with Fall Mums. These days, it’s hard to resist buying one plant, or seven plants, or an entire trailer full of them. After all, they’re cheap, they’re easy to care for…and they’re so darn pretty. But as anyone who’s ever tried to keep a mum alive past fall can tell you: mums can be surprisingly difficult to maintain—especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. So before you grab a handful of these bright beauties (or maybe after), let’s explore some of the most common mistakes folks make when buying and caring for mums in particular—and houseplants in general:
Buy only what you need
Remember that your mum is not an everlasting flower, so it should be treated as such. If you are buying mums for a specific event, make sure that you have the right number and size of mums. For example, if your event is in two weeks’ time and you want to buy one dozen mums to decorate the entrance of your house, but the florist asks whether you would like two dozen instead because they’re on sale at half off? Do not succumb to this temptation! You will regret it when all of your guests arrive at the house only to discover that there are twenty-four fall flowers in place of twenty-two.
If you must buy more than what is needed for an upcoming event or occasion (for example: if you think it might rain during this year’s Thanksgiving Day parade), then don’t go overboard. Keep in mind how long these fresh-cut flowers last after being placed into the water—and don’t waste money by purchasing extra items just so they won’t go bad before they’re displayed!
Watch out for weak stems
There are a few things to look for when you’re selecting your mum. First, check that the stem is strong and firm—not brittle or flaccid. The stem should be green and vibrant, not dull or discolored. It should be about the same thickness all the way up, with no browning at the bottom. And finally, it should be turgid (pulsating slightly), rather than limp like a wet noodle
Inspect the leaves
When you’re inspecting the mums, look for signs of damage on the leaves. If there are holes or discolored spots on them, it’s a sign that there may be a disease in the plant. If you see mold growing on your mums, don’t buy them! Check for wilting or insect infestations as well; if these are present, then it’s likely that your fall mum will die soon after planting it in your garden.
For example:
- Check for pests and damage (such as holes) in leaves
- Look for wilting or discoloration
- Keep an eye out for mold
Check the soil moisture
- Check the soil moisture level
When you get your mum in the mail, check to see if it is too dry or too wet. If the soil is too dry, add some water to it. Do not over-water your mums as this can cause them to rot and die. On the other hand, if the soil is already saturated with water then drain some of it out so that air can get in there and keep your flower healthy for a long period of time.
- Check for signs of disease
If you see any yellowing leaves on your mums it could mean that they are being attacked by a fungus or virus which may render them useless before long; however, if only one or two leaves have turned yellow there is still hope for saving those flowers! Just remove those bad leaves and keep watering regularly until they start looking better again (about once every week). One way to prevent this problem from happening again would be using fungicide spray when watering daily – however, make sure not to use more than needed because overdoing fungicides can cause bigger problems down further down line (like killing beneficial insects such as bees). Also note: Some people recommend adding bleach into their watering system but this isn’t always necessary either since most diseases will die off naturally over time without exposure as long as there aren’t constant threats around like high temperatures/humidity levels etcetera.”
Ask questions
- As you search for the perfect mum, remember that a good grower will always be more than happy to spend time with you.
- If they don’t, it’s time to move on and find someone who does.
Take a closer look
When you’re shopping for mums, it’s important to take a closer look. Here are some of the main things to keep in mind:
- Check the color. Are there any hints of yellow or brown? If so, you may have bought a plant that was already dying and won’t be around until next year.
- Look at the leaves (and buds). Is there any sign of black rot or other diseases? Do they look healthy?
- Check out the flowers and buds. Avoid buying mums with moldy petals or dead blooms on them; if you do see some signs of moldy petals, check with your salesperson about whether it can be cleaned off safely before purchasing them (some stores will allow this).
Buy full, healthy fall mums from a reputable nursery.
If you’re planning to buy fall mums, do yourself a favor and go with a reputable nursery. These experts will help you choose the best plants for your climate and soil conditions. You’ll then be able to enjoy beautiful blooms year after year, without worrying about having to replace them every season (or worse yet, seeing your fall mums die within months).
When buying fall mums from a nursery, look for ones that are full and healthy—these will be more resistant to disease and pests than those with pale leaves or droopy stems. The blooming season has already started; if they aren’t already in full bloom by now, it’s too late!
Conclusion
Now you know a lot about the world of mums, and hopefully, that knowledge comes in handy for the next time you’re at the garden center. The biggest takeaway we’d like to leave you with today is this: be sure to do your research and ask questions before buying anything. Doing so can help ensure that your mums will have as long a lifespan as possible. And if you happen to run into some trouble along the way, there are always lots of ways to troubleshoot those problems—you just have to know where to look!
