How to grow mums to sell

Table of Contents

– When should you start fall mums?
– Are mums profitable?
– How do you start growing mums?
– How long will potted mums last?
– Should you deadhead mums?
– How do I get my mums back every year?
– Will mums come back every year?
– Do mums like sun or shade?
– Will mums regrow?
– Can you regrow potted mums?
– How can we save mums?
– Are mums deceased?
– Why are my mums dying?
– How do I save my potted mums for next year?
– Why are my mums turning brown?
– What do you do when mums turn brown?
– How often do I water my mums?
– Can mums be left in the rain?
– Will mums freeze at 32 degrees?
– Should I bring my mums inside?

When should you start fall mums?

Growing from mum seeds is easy and can prove quite an adventure due to the uncertainty of the type of bloom. Because of the long growing season required for mum seeds, it is best to start them indoors six to eight weeks before the date of the last frost or sow the seed in spring in a well prepared bed.

Are mums profitable?

Based on a price of $2.25 per pot, delivered plants had a profit margin of 36.8% and non-delivered plants had 44.2% profit margin. Garden mums offer the potential of a profitable summer crop. Market outlets should be secured prior to the decision to produce the crop.

How do you start growing mums?

Place seed trays near bright south or west windows, or provide supplemental light using fluorescent grow lights. Suspend lights 12 to 15 inches above seed trays. Keep soil evenly moist until mum seeds sprout, which should occur in 10 to 15 days. Thin seedlings shortly after they have their first set of true leaves.

How long will potted mums last?

Garden mums may be grown in containers, or planted in beds with existing shrubs and flowers. Flowers generally last about two or three weeks, depending on the outdoor temperatures and how far along the blooming process was when the plants were purchased.

Should you deadhead mums?

Deadhead often for lasting blooms. Take off wilted blooms and dead stems/leaves not only makes your mums look more beautiful, it helps your plant to bloom longer. Once your mums stop blooming, you can place them in the ground outdoors once the weather starts to warm.

How do I get my mums back every year?

Cut back the stems of the mums to 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm.) above the ground. Leaving a little bit of the stems will ensure that next year you have a full plant, as the new stems will grow from these trimmed stems. If you cut the mums back to the ground, fewer stems will grow next year.

Will mums come back every year?

Many people buy mums in the fall thinking the plants are annuals. These people toss the mums in the trash once the blooms have faded. But if you buy hardy mums, you can get them to bloom year after year.

Do mums like sun or shade?

Chrysanthemums are sun-loving plants. Although they technically require only 6 hours of sunlight each day, the more light they receive, the better their growth, bloom and hardiness. Slight shade in hot, summer afternoons is appropriate in warmer gardening zones to prevent scorching.

Will mums regrow?

Considered half-hardy annuals below U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 6, the autumn bloomers are considered true perennials in USDA zones 7 through 9. With a little extra care, mums regrow — and rebloom — for more than a single season of color.

Can you regrow potted mums?

Newly purchased potted mums need to be kept consistently moist but not wet and in bright, indirect light indoors. They need at least five hours of full sun outdoors to stay healthy enough to successfully come back the next season.

How can we save mums?

Even if you like your mums potted in fall, it’s better to plant them late when the show’s over than not at all. Just water them well, mulch them with about 2 inches of bark mulch or chopped leaves, and tamp them back down ASAP if you find them heaving during winter freezes and thaws.

Are mums deceased?

If all of the leaves are dry, crispy and brown, chances are good that the plants are dead. If, however, you notice even one or two green leaves or new leaf buds, the mums are probably still alive. If you notice new flower buds in addition to green leaves, then the plants are probably alive. Look at the mums‘ roots.

Why are my mums dying?

The flowers may wilt and die quite suddenly. Mealybugs and aphids are two that do this, while chrysanthemum thrips attack the buds and flowers. Finally, poor environmental conditions such as overly wet or dry soil weaken the mums, which can lead to the plants becoming more susceptible to fungi, diseases and insects.

How do I save my potted mums for next year?

In the fall of the second year and beyond, leave the mums foliage in tact through the winter. Mulch the base of the plant with a thick two to three-inch covering of straw or leaves. This will help insulate the roots from extreme cold. In the spring, cut back the foliage, and repeat with summer cut back care.

Why are my mums turning brown?

Heavy rain damage, frost, insufficient water, and the natural flowering cycle can all turn mum blooms brown. Deadheading brown blossoms and cutting back damaged plants will help keep mums looking their best and blooming profusely.

What do you do when mums turn brown?

Be aware that when a mums bloom reaches the end of its flowering period it will turn brown naturally before falling off. Again, when you see this happening simply pinch off the flower to encourage new growth and so it does not spoil the look of the bloom.

How often do I water my mums?

Early in the season mums should be watered like your lawn, about one inch a week. As the plants increase in size and summer brings warmer temperatures, your watering should increase proportionately. By flowering time in September and October, watering three times a week would not be too much.

Can mums be left in the rain?

If you love your pot mums and can‘t live without them, the best plan is to keep them in pots and keep them out of the rain. The perfect place for pot mums is on the covered porch, under an overhang or anywhere else you can keep them away from rain and soil.

Will mums freeze at 32 degrees?

Mums do not respond well to frosts and freezes, which may not occur until December or January in warmer areas. If you don’t want your mums to suffer damage, you can protect them by moving them to a sheltered area such a garage or porch if they are potted.

Should I bring my mums inside?

You can leave your garden mums in the ground during winter, especially with a layer of mulch in the cooler zones. However, because potted plants are more susceptible to cold damage, bring your mums indoors for winter safekeeping. Keep mums outdoors until the foliage and flowers die back after the first frost.