Duration of Chrysanthemum Blooms and Extending Their Lifespan
In the cooler months, garden chrysanthemums, or mums, can provide a stunning display in your garden, blooming for up to eight weeks [1]. This extended blooming period is achievable with careful planning and the right care.
Planting mums at the right time is crucial for their longevity. If planted too early in hot weather, they may fade quickly within a few weeks due to heat stress. However, planting them as the weather cools in late summer or early fall can extend the flowering period to around eight weeks [1].
Garden mums are true perennials, hardy in USDA zones 5-9, and with regular maintenance—such as watering without letting soil dry out, fertilizing annually, and pruning dead stems in early spring—they can live and come back for multiple years, sometimes 3-4 years or longer [1][5].
It's essential to provide a sunny spot, good drainage, and adequate water for mums. They are heavy feeders and can benefit from a bloom booster fertilizer for continuous blooming. Avoid getting the plant wet when watering to prevent bud deterioration.
Choosing a healthy-looking mum plant with unopened buds can help extend the blooming period. Deadheading a mum plant throughout its blooming period can stimulate new buds, but it's important to note that deadheading does not encourage new blooms because mums typically bloom only once a year [2].
Potted (florist) mums usually last 3-4 weeks indoors or 4-8 weeks outdoors but are generally not hardy enough to survive winter if left outside [5]. With proper care, garden mums can potentially keep blooming until the first frost.
For those who prefer to grow mums as seasonal annuals rather than perennials, it's recommended to pinch spring-planted mums back twice (once as part of spring care, and once more in midsummer) to encourage bushy growth and more bud formation for fall flowers.
In summary, for a long-lasting display in the garden, plant hardy garden mums at the right time in the cooler months, and with ongoing proper care, you can enjoy their blooms for up to two months each season, with the plants returning year after year [1][5]. Keep the soil moist but drained to prevent inadequate water from being a top reason pot mums stop blooming.
Ensuring you plant garden mums at the suitable time in the fall provides a longer blooming period, with the flowers potentially lasting for around eight weeks. With regular maintenance, including providing a sunny spot, good drainage, and adequate water, garden mums can continue to bloom year after year, even for as long as three to four years.
