Aside from pumpkins, there’s no more popular fall décor than potted hardy chrysanthemums. Their gorgeous colors shout autumn is here with every jewel- or fire-colored bloom. And with retailers stocking them starting in August, it can be tempting to bring a few home. But smart shoppers will leave those mums where they are and wait for the best time to buy.
Fall Now Begins in Mid-August Apparently
It happens every summer. Right around the time when your garden is cranking out more veggies than you know what to do with, and kids begin anxiously counting down the final days of summer: chrysanthemums show up for sale. Every big box store and supermarket begins offering perfectly domed mums, with tightly furled buds. They’re right there, at the front of the store, ready to take home for colorful fall displays.
If you’re anything like me, you’re kind of over summer at this point, and ready to usher in cooler weather and all the fun that fall brings: pumpkins, colorful leaves, sweaters, hot apple cider, firepit weather, and yes, the ubiquitous pumpkin spice.
The problem is that it’s still August. Like, the middle of August.
I’m so ready for fall by this point. A part of me hopes that if I start decorating for it, my actions will usher it in sooner. Unfortunately, it never works out that way, so I know better than to buy my chrysanthemums this early in the season.
Okay, Trace, I’m listening. What’s so bad about buying my mums in August?
If you choose to buy the mums that show up in stores as early as August, by the time true fall arrives, the plant’s glorious display will be well past its peak, and it will be in full decline. That is, if it even makes it to fall.
It’s still summer, and these plants were made for cooler weather.
The plants can’t take the intense heat that often accompanies late summer, so they dry out and die much quicker. And even if the plant makes it, the blooms are spent much, much quicker.
The pigment in the colors fades faster under the intense sun of late summer, so that when the crisp, cool weather of fall arrives, instead of a display of deep, jewel-toned hues or shocking fire-colored oranges and yellows, you end up with pale, browning blooms. That is, if the mums are still even blooming.
Water has the same effect as the sun, breaking down the pigment in the flowers, so that the flowers end up less vibrant with each passing shower. The lighter color blossoms you choose, the faster they will fade, so those lovely mauves and pinks often end up bleached white.
Timing is Everything
Each year, commercial growers start potted mums, then pinch them hard, so that they arrive for sale completely covered with tightly closed buds. They will all bloom at the same time, in one spectacular flush of color. They’re sold in pots with very little soil to sustain them because these plants are meant to be disposed of. Retailers expect you to pitch them after the show is over, and the earlier in the season you buy them, the faster that show ends.
If you choose to purchase your mums in August, be prepared to purchase replacements once fall actually arrives.
When Is the Right Time to Buy Mums?
Okay, so when is the right time to buy chrysanthemums? Generally, mid to late September offers you the most bang for your buck. Most of us are still enjoying warm weather, but those blistering heatwaves have come to an end and, more importantly, nighttime temperatures lean toward the cooler side.
I like to buy my mums in the second or third week of September. They look great right through October and into early November.
What Can I Do to Make My Chrysanthemums Last?
Aside from purchasing them closer to true fall, there are a few easy things you can do that will extend the bloom time of your fall Chrysanthemums.
Tightly Closed Buds
When you do finally buy your mums, look for a plant with plenty of tightly furled buds. Naturally, it’s nice to have a few blooms open, so you have a good idea of the color, but the majority of buds should still be closed. This will ensure a much longer display of color.
Don’t Display in Direct Sun
The pigment in the petals will fade if you display your mums in direct sunlight for much of the day. Tuck your mums back where they will be sheltered and receive a little shade during the hottest part of the day.
Lighter colored flowers will fade much faster than darker colored petals. Choose darker, more vibrant colors will give you the brightest display for the longest time.
Keep Your Mums Out of the Rain
As I already mentioned, mums will fade after a good, heavy rain. Again, lighter colored flowers will fade much faster than darker colored blooms. If you can, put your mums under a covered patio or porch. If you don’t have overhead shelter, you can always bring your mums indoors when rainy weather is expected.
Water Frequently
Because these plants are grown to be pitched, they’re sold in pots that are much too small to sustain them. The plants dry out faster without the benefit of more soil volume to protect them from heat and water fluctuations.
Until true cool, rainy fall weather arrives, it’s a good idea to water mums every day or every other day. They will thank you by continuing to open new buds.
Deadhead Often
Normally, we deadhead perennials to encourage new growth and more flowers. In this case, by the time you would be getting a second flush of blooms, you’ll usually have a frost arrive that will take out your plant.
Wait, you said mums were frost-hardy, Tracey.
Yes, I did. Garden mums grown directly in the ground are frost-hardy. They have the benefit of soil volume to insulate them from the cold. But our dispose-a-mums, sold in pots for a quick fall display, will not handle frosts well.
Instead, we want to stay on top of deadheading to trigger the existing closed buds to blossom, keeping your mums full and colorful.
Or, Go Ahead and Buy Your Mums in August
Of course, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with buying your mums in August. Just know that it’s likely they will be looking pretty rough by the time fall weather arrives. If you enjoy these flowers as much as I do, buying them twice in one season isn’t the worst thing in the world.
Buying them in August means you can choose colors that complement many of the flowers in bloom around your home this time of year: coneflower, rudbeckia, bee balm and the like. As the first batch fades, you can purchase mums in deeper, more fall-toned colors.
You could even plant your first batch of mums in the ground, so that they come back and bloom again next year.
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