Mum Flower Care

Chrysanthemums bloom in vivid colors like yellow.

Mums, short for chrysanthemums, add visual interest and bright color to your home gardening space. With full flower puffs with a multitude of petals, these blossoms grow in a variety of colors including bronze, pink, white, lavender, yellow and red. When caring for your mums, dedicate substantial time tending to their needs -- and keep a close eye on them, as mums are susceptible a wide array of problems.

Selecting Location

Grow the mums, Dendranthema morifolium, in locations that provide full sunlight for best color and development. Though mums will initially appear to thrive in shaded conditions, your next bloom will see a poor display of flowers, according to the Clemson University Extension. Mums need enough space for growth, as crowding inhibits optimal development and often encourages disease problems when plants receive inadequate air. Place the mums approximately 18 to 24 inches apart and up to 36 inches apart if you select extremely vigorous varieties, suggests the Ohio State University Extension.

Preparing Soil and Fertilization

Cultivate the mums in well-drained, fertile soil high in organic content. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch like wood chips or bark to the soil surrounding the mums without pressing it against stems. Mulch aids in retaining water, keeping weeds at bay and stabilizing soil temperatures. Fertilize the mums for best growth and color. Choose a complete dry fertilizer like 5-10-10 or soluble fertilizer like 15-30-15. Fertilize the mums until bud formation. Irrigate after applying dry fertilizer and, for general care, water the soil only as necessary. Water to a depth of up to 6 inches once soil feels dry to the touch.

Pinching

Pinch the mums as a method of keeping plants dense and flowering in abundance. When the mums reach a height of 6 inches, begin pinching them by removing the top 1/2 to 1 inch of new growth in intervals of four weeks. Using your thumb and index fingers, literally pinch the tips of new growth from the plant. Stop pinching by August 1 to avoid killing flowers before they bloom.

Troubleshooting

Mum flowers are susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases that can injure your plants. Diseases include fungal problems, bacterial problems and viruses. Watch for any abnormalities or changes on the mums like leaf spots or the development of a moldy substance that often occurs with powdery mildew disease and gray mold. When appropriate, apply a fungicide or bactericide to your plant for control. For example, control powdery mildew by applying a fungicide with the active ingredient myclobutanil. Pest problems commonly include sucking bugs and mining bugs that feed on plant tissue fluid like spider mites and leafminers. Spider mites, for example, result in tiny yellow dots on leaf surfaces, leaves with a malformed appearance and leaf drop. An application of insecticidal soap is often an effective treatment.

For damaged plants, whether due to disease or pest, prune away and destroy affected plant parts. Contact your local county extension agent for assistance in diagnosing the problem and setting up a control program.

References

• Clemson University Extension: Chrysanthemum; Karen Russ and Bob Polomski; March 1999
• Ohio State University Extension: Growing Chrysanthemums; Charles T. Behnke
• Clemson University Extension: Chrysanthemum Diseases and Insect Pests; Marjan Kluepfel and J. McLeod; July 1999