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    Home»Houseplants»Garden Mum Care: An All-inclusive Guide

    Garden Mum Care: An All-inclusive Guide

    How to Grow the Most Beautiful Chrysanthemums - A Complete Guide
    By Milo MasonJuly 15, 2022
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    Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium), also known as the “Daisy Mum” and “Florist’s Mum,” is a popular perennial plant. It is one of the most widespread plants in the family Asteraceae. Native to East Asia, it’s introduction to the western world didn’t happen until the 19th century. Since then, Garden Mum has grown incredibly popular for its striking appearance and fast growth.

    IN THIS ARTICLE
    • Garden Mum Main Characteristics
    • Garden Mum Care
      • Light and Location
      • Watering
      • Temperature
      • Humidity
      • Fertilizer
      • Flowers
    • Propagating Garden Mum
    • Potting and Repotting Garden Mum
    • Toxicity
    • Common Pests
    • Common Problems
      • Are the leaves wilting?
      • Buds not opening?
      • Fuzzy grey mould on the leaves?
      • Flowers blooming for a brief period?
    • How To Grow a Garden Mum – Helpful Tips (Video)
    • FAQ

    Garden Mum Main Characteristics

    Common NameGarden Mum, Daisy Mum, Florist’s Mum, Pot Mum
    Botanical NameChrysanthemum morifolium
    SynonymsChrysanthemum × indicum, Dendranthema × grandiflorum, Dendranthema × morifolium
    FamilyAsteraceae (Compositae)
    GenusChrysanthemum
    TypeHerbaceous perennial
    Common CultivarsMario, Niche’s October Glow, Saxapahaw, Hillside Sheffield Pink, Virginia’s Sunshine, Fireworks Igloo
    USDA Hardiness Zones5 to 9a
    Mature SizeHeight: 2-3 feet; Spread: 2-3 feet
    Flowering TimeFall
    Flower ColorBrown/Copper, Gold/Yellow, Orange, Purple/Lavender, White
    Propagation methodsDivision
    SunFull sun
    SoilGood Drainage, Moist
    ToxicityToxic to Humans, Dogs, Cats, Horses

    Garden Mum Care

    In the United States, Garden Mum is used mainly as an ornamental plant. But this herb has been traditionally valued for centuries in Asia to treat ailments such as inflammation. A recent study done by NASA confirmed their findings that some common airborne toxins could be purified using Chrysanthemum morifolium (among other plants). Although these plants are typically grown outdoors rather than indoors, they’re still worth considering if you want cleaner air around your home.

    Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum Morifolium) Care
    Garden mum (chrysanthemum morifolium) care

    Light and Location

    Lighting conditions for the Garden Mum should be bright but with some shading. The plants should receive at least six hours of sunlight a day and more if possible. The best time for lighting is morning or afternoon sun except in southern climates where it likes some protection from the mid-afternoon sun. 

    Watering

    You will need to water your potted plant often; three times a week is considered standard practice. Keep its soil consistently moist without allowing it to become soggy. These plants tend to wilt and die if the soil is too dry. So check the top layer of soil often for moisture levels with a finger. Then, water the soil directly and avoid getting the flowers and leaves wet.

    Temperature

    The ideal temperature range for Chrysanthemum morifolium is between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (10-27°C). Some cultivars require even more temperature management, but the flowering time for these plants remains largely unaffected by temperature fluctuations. Temperatures outside this range can cause the flower to lose its color, shape, and size. At much lower temperatures, the flowers will start to close, while they will start to wilt the higher it goes.

    Humidity

    These plants can tolerate most conditions and are not fussy about humidity. But if you want to be on the safe side, keep them away from arid areas as they may wilt or die (although this is rare).

    Fertilizer

    Pot mums are greedy for fertilizers, especially when freshly planted. So feed this plant once every month with any standard fertilizer, and you’ll be on your way to success!

    Flowers

    The flowers are the most distinguishing characteristic of this plant. They can come in various colors: white, yellow, orange, pink, and red. When bunched together, they look nothing short of amazing. Some varieties have a pompom-like appearance with tightly bunched petals. But most have ray-like extended petals, with flowers between 2 and 4 inches wide. Anyone looking to get one of these beauties in their garden is after one thing and one thing only—the gorgeous flower arrangements. And the best way to get them is by carefully pruning the stems before blooming season. 

    Propagating Garden Mum

    Florist’s Mums are fabulous for planting in your garden because they come back year after year. To divide a Florist’s Mum, remove a moderately-sized stem from the parent plant.

    Try to take a stem with at least five nodes, though more is always better. Cut off the bottom of the stem, below the last node. Break off the leaves off the last few nodes (from the cut-off), and plant the stem cutting in a fresh container. 

    You can opt to plant first in a pot of perlite and allow the roots to take shape before committing to a fresh pot, ensuring that the cutting will take root. 

    Potting and Repotting Garden Mum

    This plant is best suited for soil with plenty of humus, fertile soil, and consistently moist conditions. When repotting a Daisy Mum, using a pot a bit larger than the current pot is essential. However, you can go for even bigger containers if the need arises.

    The pot should also have holes at the bottom to allow proper water drainage. The soil should be well-drained, and you should add a balanced fertilizer beforehand to facilitate the potting process. Don’t disturb the roots when repotting. And be sure to water thoroughly after potting or repotting.

    Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum Morifolium) Potting
    Garden mum (chrysanthemum morifolium) potting

    Toxicity

    They are toxic for humans, dogs, cats, and horses. Both the flowers and the leaves can cause Dermatitis by touch. Don’t let your pets sniff or eat the flowers; they are mildly toxic to animals. They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, and incoordination. In case this happens, take them to the vet. 

    Common Pests

    The most common pests for the Chrysanthemum morifolium are aphids, spider mites, and thrips. Though capsid bugs, earwigs, leaf miners, nematodes, and whiteflies can sometimes be a problem. You can control these pests by using pesticides or insecticidal soaps. Adjust the dose depending on the severity of the infestation.

    Common Problems

    Are the leaves wilting?

    Wilting is caused by underwatering. Try to increase the watering frequency. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. See the Watering section for more details.

    Buds not opening?

    Buds not blooming happens quite often, so no need to worry. Your plant is healthy; it just needs more light. Keep in mind that even more light sometimes won’t help buds that are closed like this. But future buds will most likely bloom.

    Fuzzy grey mould on the leaves?

    Most likely an outbreak of botrytis. Botrytis occurs in cold locations or if you previously wrapped the plant in cellophane. Cut off the infected areas and spray with fungicide.

    Flowers blooming for a brief period?

    Sometimes the blooming and wilting lifecycle is sped up in higher temperatures. Try to keep the temperature below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. 

    How To Grow a Garden Mum – Helpful Tips (Video)

    FAQ

    How to pronounce chrysanthemum?

    The phonetic spelling for chrysanthemum are kris-AN-theh-mum—Kris, as in Chris. 

    What does a chrysanthemum look like?

    Chrysanthemum is a widespread plant genus with countless cultivars and varieties. But they can be primarily identified by the unique group appearance of their flowers that usually all bloom at once. To identify individual types of this plant, we separate them by the shapes of the flowers.

    What does chrysanthemum mean?

    “Chrysanthemum” is from the Greek word for gold, chrusos. And anthemon, meaning flower. So, combined, this means Flower of Gold, referring to the gorgeous yellow blooms found in some varieties.

    How often to water chrysanthemums?

    To keep your potted plant healthy and alive, you need to water it often. Make sure you keep its soil consistently moist without allowing it to become soggy. Use fresh cool water; do not let any come directly into contact with flowers/leaves.

    How to propagate chrysanthemum?

    You can propagate using stem cuttings quite easily. Cut off a stem with at least five nodes from the bottom, clean off the leaves, then plant it into fresh potting soil with water to help speed up growth. Make sure at least two nodes are underground.

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    Milo Mason

    Milo Mason is a self-proclaimed plant whisperer. With a passion for gardening, houseplants, and all things outdoors, Milo has been cultivating indoor plants for the past five years with an interest in perennials and succulents. He enjoys sharing his insights and research on plant species when it comes to care tips.

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