Last updated on July 11th, 2026 at 11:35 am
How to Care for Chrysanthemums, commonly known as Mums, is essential to enjoying their vibrant colors and beautiful blooms, especially as they dominate the fall landscape. Many enthusiasts refer to these plants simply as Mums due to their friendly and approachable nature.
When do Chrysanthemums Bloom?
They truly come into their own during the fall, bursting into bloom and filling landscapes with vibrant shades of yellow, orange, red, purple, and bronze. The Desert Southwest provides ideal growing conditions, with warm, sunny days followed by cool autumn nights that encourage abundant flowers and long-lasting color. It’s no surprise that this is one of the busiest times of the year for garden centers. From large nurseries to small, family-owned businesses, you’ll find an impressive selection of chrysanthemums in full bloom, making it easy to add instant color and seasonal beauty to your landscape, patio, or front porch.
As perennials, garden Mums have the remarkable ability to return year after year, providing gardeners with ongoing beauty and color, provided that they receive adequate care. To ensure a healthy resurgence, it is crucial to give them enough water throughout the growing season and to perform proper maintenance by cutting them back to around 2-3 inches above ground level after the growing season ends. This simple act of pruning encourages new growth and helps the plant conserve energy during the winter months.
During late spring, Mums will awaken from their winter dormancy, and it is at this time that their growth truly begins to take off. However, individuals living in regions where winter freezes the ground need to be particularly cautious. In such areas, Mums may not survive the cold conditions unless they are planted early in spring. This timing allows the root system to establish itself properly before the heat of summer arrives, paving the way for a beautiful display in the fall. By understanding their specific needs and providing the right care, gardeners can enjoy their stunning blooms season after season.
The Flowering Color of Mums
Mums come in a wide assortment of colors, bright yellow, crimson red, white, orange, pink, and a few more in-between. Many are hybrids of original mum plants and are much brighter and showier types. The flowers are daisy-like and are used for decorative flowering pots in flower shops.
How often should you water mums?
In and around the Southwest, they often need water. In the ground during mid-summer, about every other day. The soil needs to be good; composted dirt will have a tough time growing and blooming in hard or sandy soil. Hanging mum plants should be watered daily during the summer, and you should fertilize them about once per month using a good 20-20-20 fertilizer.
Trimming of expired blooms
When the plant stops blooming, it is best to trim expired blooms; this will help produce new ones. Use a good pair of sharp scissors or pruners. You can make these flowers bloom for about 6, maybe 7 weeks, into the fall season. Once the plant stops blooming, it’s time to cut it back about 2-3 inches above the ground. In the lower regions of the Southwest, they will come back.
Can Mums be placed in containers?
Sure, they can. Please place them in a nice-looking decorative container indoors or outdoors. Make sure you have good potting soil and keep it moist but not soggy. The container needs to drain well. Mums indoors will do well if kept in a bright area of your room. Underneath a skylight or near a large window will work well.
How to Care for Chrysanthemums
Problems with Chrysanthemums
Mums are generally very hardy, low-maintenance plants and are not commonly bothered by serious insect or disease problems. However, no plant is completely immune, especially if it is stressed by improper watering, poor air circulation, or extended periods of humid weather.
The most common problems include powdery mildew, blight, spider mites, and thrips. Powdery mildew appears as a white, powdery coating on the leaves and is most likely to develop when plants are overcrowded or exposed to cool, damp conditions with poor airflow. Blight can cause leaves and stems to turn brown or black, while spider mites and thrips feed on the foliage and flower buds, causing discoloration, stippling, distorted growth, or reduced flowering.
The good news is that these problems are usually easy to control if caught early. Regularly inspect your mums, especially the undersides of the leaves, for signs of insects or disease. Spraying with an organic Neem oil product is an excellent choice because it helps control many common insects, including spider mites and thrips, while also helping suppress fungal diseases such as powdery mildew. Insecticidal soaps are another safe and effective option for controlling soft-bodied insects and can be used throughout the growing season as needed.
The best defense is keeping your mums healthy. Plant them where they receive good air circulation, avoid overcrowding, water at the base of the plant rather than wetting the foliage, and promptly remove any dead or diseased leaves. Healthy mums are much more resistant to insects and diseases and will reward you with an abundance of colorful blooms throughout the fall season.
. Read more about Insects and Diseases on Plants.
Read more about the History and the origin of Mums over at Wikipedia.com
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Paul Guzman is a lifelong Southwest gardener and gardening writer with decades of experience helping homeowners grow beautiful landscapes in the desert Southwest. He writes for Guzman’s Garden Centers in Las Cruces, New Mexico, with contributing expertise from Gary Guzman, owner of Guzman’s Garden Centers. If you have any questions or enjoyed this post, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
