How to Prevent Mum Blossoms From Drying Up

Plant mums in areas that receive at least six to eight hours of sunlight.

Mums or chrysanthemums are popular ornamental flowers planted in April through May, according to the National Chrysanthemum Society. It is important for gardeners to keep their mum blossom from drying up while planting and during the growing season. In fact, you should treat mums with special care for the first couple of days if they appear wilted after purchasing. Gardeners must monitor their mum, especially during hot summer weather in order to provide water to the plants when they first notice blossoms drying up.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Tuna cans
• Mulch
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Place mums in their nursery containers in a bucket of warm water for three to four hours. Do not submerge the entire plant, but keep their soil in the water from the soil line down to the bottom of the container right before planting.

2. Water the mums in your yard after planting with one inch of water per week prior to blooming season. Place a tuna can in your mum bed to judge how much water your are giving to your plant. When the tuna can is halfway full of water, your mums have received one inch of water.

3. Spread a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch around your mums to help lock in moisture. Mulch can prevent up to 20 percent of water loss from soil evaporation.

4. Press your fingers into the first two to three inches of garden soil to see if the soil is dry. Jab the soil with a pencil to loosen up the ground to prevent soil compaction.

5. Give your mums one inch of water. Water more frequently according to how often the soil dries out during the summer or when the mums are blooming. Gardeners may give their mums water up to three times of week during hot weather conditions.

6. Pinch off wilted, dried up blossoms with your thumb and index finger to promote a second round of mum blooming.

Tips & Warnings

• Place newly potted mums that have experienced blossom wilting in a shady location away from direct sunlight for four to six days before placing them in a sunny location.

• Avoid overwatering your mums or you can encourage a fungal disease.

References

• National Chrysanthemum Society; What to Do and When
• Southern Living; Watering Mums
• Mums Organization; Frequently Asked Questions