Chrysanthemums, also known as mums, are a popular fall flower that can also make a lovely addition to your home’s indoor décor. With their bursts of color and variety of shapes, caring for chrysanthemums indoors can extend their lifespan and allow you to enjoy their blooms long after fall has ended. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to take care of chrysanthemums indoors and help them thrive.
Getting Started with Indoor Mums
When selecting chrysanthemums for indoor display, look for plants that are just beginning to show color in their buds rather than those already in full bloom. This will maximize the lifespan of the blooms indoors. Purchase mums with densely packed buds that are showing a bit of color. Avoid plants with yellowing lower leaves or those that appear rootbound in their nursery containers.
For the best results, choose a pot that is 2-4 inches wider than the nursery pot the mums came in Chrysanthemums have shallow root systems and prefer wider, shallower pots over deep, narrow ones Use a commercial potting mix and plant mums at the same level they were growing in the nursery pot. Water thoroughly after repotting.
Place indoor mums near a bright window where they’ll receive abundant sunlight but be protected from hot afternoon sun East or west facing windows are ideal Rotate pots occasionally so all sides receive equal light exposure,
Watering and Humidity
Chrysanthemums prefer consistently moist (but not soggy) soil Check soil moisture daily by sticking your finger into the top 1-2 inches of soil and water whenever the top inch becomes dry Avoid wetting the foliage when watering, as this can promote fungal diseases.
Average room humidity is fine for indoor mums, but very dry air can cause premature bud drop. Increase humidity around plants by placing pots on pebble trays filled with water or grouping plants together to create a more humid microclimate.
Fertilizing
While blooming, chrysanthemums benefit from regular fertilization every 2-3 weeks. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength and apply it to moist soil to prevent root burn. Discontinue fertilizer after blooms fade.
Temperature
Daytime temperatures of 65-75°F and nights around 60°F are ideal for indoor mums. Keep plants away from drafty areas as well as heating vents, fireplaces, or other sources of hot, dry air. Move plants to a cool room at night if needed.
Blooming and Deadheading
With proper care, indoor chrysanthemums will bloom for 3-6 weeks before fading. To encourage longer bloom time and prevent seed production, deadhead spent flowers by pinching or snipping them off just above the topmost leaves. Continue deadheading until the plant naturally stops flowering.
Discontinue deadheading once blooms cease so the plant can focus its energy on root and leaf growth rather than producing more flowers.
Getting Indoor Mums to Rebloom
Getting chrysanthemums to rebloom indoors is challenging but possible if you can mimic the environment and cultural practices used by commercial growers. Here are a few tips:
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Move the plant to a cool room with temperatures between 60-65°F after initial blooms fade. Continue regular watering and fertilizing.
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Keep the plant under 9-10 hours of sunlight per day. This can be achieved by moving it to a dark room or covering it daily. Complete darkness is not necessary.
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In early spring, take the plant out of the dark treatment and move it back into bright, sunny conditions outdoors if possible. Prune back to 6-8 inches tall.
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Transplant into fresh soil and a slightly larger pot. Pinch or clip new growth monthly to encourage bushy, compact growth.
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In late summer, reduce watering and move back into darkened conditions to trigger buds. Cool temperatures are still needed.
While this process takes dedication, you just may be rewarded with a reblooming mum plant for fall and winter enjoyment!
Post-Bloom Mum Care
Once indoor chrysanthemums have ceased blooming, you have a couple options for post-bloom care:
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Discard the plant – Indoor mums rarely rebloom when kept indoors year-round. Once blooms fade, the plant can be composted.
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Plant outdoors – In mild climates, move spent blooming mums outdoors into a garden bed. Cut the plant back to 6 inches and protect the roots by mounding mulch around the base. It will regrow in spring and likely rebloom in fall.
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Keep as a houseplant – Continue caring for the mum indoors as a foliage plant through winter. Prune back and repot in spring, then move outdoors for the summer. This can prolong its life indoors as a houseplant.
No matter which post-bloom option you choose, indoor chrysanthemums provide a burst of autumn cheer. Follow these care tips and with some diligence, you may just be rewarded with reblooms year after year.
Garden Chrysanthemums vs. Florist Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are classified into two types: garden and florist chrysanthemums. Garden mums are robust perennials that will reappear annually if planted in a well-lit garden area. They are usually sold for outdoor use. Florist mums, on the other hand, lack hardiness. These attractive plants are ideally cultivated as yearly blooms for autumn adornment — afterwards, they can be composted. These are usually found in decorate pots inside stores. These types of plants are meant for indoors and cannot survive if planted outside in a garden during winter. In this blog we will focus on indoor potted “florist” mum care.
Indoor mums thrive in bright, indirect light. Place your potted mum near a south-facing window where it can receive several hours of sunlight each day. If direct sunlight is too intense, consider placing it further away from the window or move it somewhere that gets in-direct sunlight.
They prefer cooler temperatures ranging between 60°F to 70°F (15°C to 21°C). Avoid placing them near heaters or drafty areas, as sudden temperature changes can stress the plant.
Maintain a moist/boggy soil but avoid overwatering. Water the plant when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. When watering into a pot without drainage holes, be sure to discard any excess watering sitting at the bottom of your pot, Avoid getting water on the leaves, as this can encourage pests.
Feed indoor mums with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer). Reduce or stop fertilizing once the blooming period ends.
Chrysanthemums prefer well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. A high-quality potting mix formulated for flowering plants or a blend of equal parts peat moss, perlite, and compost is ideal. Ensure that the pot has drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. When repotting, choose a container that provides ample space for root growth, but avoid oversized pots, as they can hold too much moisture.
To encourage bushy growth and more blooms, pinch back the growing tips when the plant reaches about 6 inches in height. This can be done a few times until mid-summer.
How to care for potted Chrysanthemums
Mums, scientifically known as Chrysanthemums, are charming and versatile flowers that come in a variety of colors and sizes. Whether youre adorning your indoor spaces or sprucing up your outdoor garden, mums can add a burst of color and beauty to any setting. To help you achieve the best results with these lovely blooms we outline all the care needed to keep your mums thriving!
How to Overwinter Fall Mums Indoors : Planting & Caring for Mums
FAQ
How do you care for chrysanthemums indoors?
- Chrysanthemums thrive in bright, indirect light, so place them near a window where they can receive plenty of light without direct sunlight.
- Aim for at least 4-6 hours of indirect sunlight per day.
- If the plant is not getting enough light, it may become weak and spindly, and produce fewer flowers.
How long do potted chrysanthemums last?
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Select Plants with Tight Buds:Opt for plants with many unopened buds rather than those in full bloom, as the buds will gradually bloom over several weeks, providing a continuous display.
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Consider Bloom Time:If you want blooms for a specific event, choose plants that will bloom around that time.
Do chrysanthemums need direct sunlight?
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Sunlight Needs:Mums are sun-loving plants and need a good amount of sunlight to grow and bloom successfully.
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Ideal Conditions:They prefer a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, especially during the summer.
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Benefits of Full Sun:Full sun helps them develop strong, bushy plants with abundant blooms.
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What to Avoid:Avoid planting mums in areas with heavy shade, as they may become weak and produce fewer flowers.
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Morning sun is beneficialbecause it helps evaporate dew on the leaves.
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Partial Shade:While they prefer full sun, chrysanthemums can tolerate some partial shade, but they may produce fewer flowers and have less vigorous growth.
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Protect from Intense Heat:In regions with intense afternoon sun, providing some shade can protect the plants from scorching, but they still need at least 6 hours of sunlight.
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Artificial Lights:Avoid locations exposed to artificial lights, such as streetlights or porch lights, as this can interfere with their natural flowering response to shortened days.
Are chrysanthemums indoor outdoor plants?
Usually, chrysanthemums are planted in masses or in small groups. Almost every garden setting is suitable for them. Because of their long-lasting flowers, mums are popular in indoor arrangements as well as in gardens. The plants are easy to grow and can be grown throughout the United States.
How to care for chrysanthemums indoors?
In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to care for chrysanthemums indoors, so you can enjoy their beauty all season long. When choosing a chrysanthemum plant for your home, look for one that has healthy-looking leaves and stems. Avoid plants that have wilted or yellowed leaves, as these may be indicative of disease.
Can chrysanthemums grow indoors?
Growing chrysanthemums indoors is easy and requires little special care beyond watering, good soil and drainage. Once the blooms are spent, you can keep the plant around for its deeply etched foliage. Mums are generally ready for interior growth at purchase.
Do indoor chrysanthemums rebloom?
Discard after 1-2 years – Indoor mums struggle to rebloom after a couple seasons. Start fresh with new plants. Enjoy gorgeous blooms for a few weeks, then let nature take its course. Mums need a rest period over winter in order to rebloom again next year. Follow these tips to overcome potential issues with indoor chrysanthemum care:
Where should I plant a chrysanthemum?
Like indoor mums, outdoor mums should be planted in a place where they have plenty of space. They have shallow roots and don’t thrive well when in areas with other plants’ roots to compete with. How do you keep Chrysanthemum blooming in winter?
What temperature should chrysanthemums grow?
The optimal temperature for chrysanthemums is between 62 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. “Mums also like humidity, and ideally, it should be between 70% and 90%, which is easy to obtain in a greenhouse, but less so indoors,” Noyes adds. “So, if you grow and care for mums at home, aim for 40% to 50%; anything under this will cause them to suffer.
How long do chrysanthemums live indoors?
Optimal indoor mums will provide 3-4 weeks of enjoyment inside your home. One of the keys to healthy chrysanthemums is placing them in the right lighting conditions Here’s what mums need to thrive indoors 4-6 hours of direct sunlight – Near an unobstructed south or west facing window is ideal. East can work too.