Fall chrysanthemums, commonly known as mums, add bright seasonal color to porches, patios and landscapes. Their blooms come in shades of yellow, white, orange, red, pink and lavender.

Mums have become a popular part of fall decorating. However, choosing the right plants and providing proper care can help their colorful blooms last longer.

Andrew King, Ph.D., is an ornamental specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and an assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences. He offers several tips for selecting healthy fall mums and caring for them throughout the season.

King works at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton and has years of experience growing and selling chrysanthemums.

Choosing compact plants with plenty of unopened buds can provide a longer-lasting display. In addition, removing faded flowers may encourage the plant to produce more blooms. 

Choosing fall mums that will last

Careful shopping can make a noticeable difference in how long fall mums remain colorful.

  • Shop early for the best selection. Nurseries and garden centers usually offer the widest variety of colors and sizes early in the season.
  • Choose buds instead of blooms. A plant covered in flowers may look impressive at the store. However, one with plenty of tight, green buds will continue blooming for several weeks.
  • Look for healthy, compact plants. Avoid mums with yellow leaves, thin stems or very few buds. Instead, select full plants with sturdy stems and healthy foliage.
  • Know what type of mum you are buying. Some mums are grown mainly for seasonal displays. Hardy perennial varieties may return each year when planted under suitable conditions. Nursery staff can help shoppers select the right type.

Caring for mums at home

After bringing fall mums home, proper watering, sunlight and drainage can help keep them healthy.

  • Check the soil before watering. Mums do not perform well in soil that is constantly wet or completely dry. Water the plant when the top of the soil feels dry.
  • Provide good drainage. Mum roots need well-drained soil in nursery pots, decorative containers and garden beds. Decorative pots should have drainage holes. If they do not, remove the nursery pot before watering.
  • Give plants enough sunlight. Mums grow and bloom best in full sun. However, plants purchased from a shaded area should be moved into brighter light gradually.
  • Protect mums from extreme temperatures. These plants prefer temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees. Shade can help protect their blooms during hot Texas afternoons. Container plants should also be moved indoors before a freeze.
  • Repot crowded plants. A rootbound mum may benefit from a larger container filled with rich, peat-based potting soil.
  • Remove faded flowers. Pinching off spent blooms keeps the plant neat and may encourage another round of flowers.

Fall flower alternatives for warmer weather

Mums can last for an extended period as cut flowers. However, outdoor plants may bloom for only about two weeks during warm weather.

Gardeners who want longer-lasting fall color can consider several plants that are better suited to warmer climates:

  • Zinnias
  • Marigolds
  • Cosmos
  • Mexican sunflowers

These flowers can provide seasonal color for a longer period while helping gardeners make the most of their landscaping budget.

Gardeners starting flowers from seed should plant in late August or after the most intense summer heat has passed. Those purchasing transplants should wait until early fall. Smaller plants that are just beginning to form buds are often the best choice.

With careful selection and regular maintenance, fall mums and other seasonal flowers can keep porches, patios and landscapes colorful throughout the season.