Chrysanthemums is a common plant and a gift. This is because they have been blooming hormones or manipulating the exposure. Chrysanthemum’s vitality is relatively strong, only weak power can grow. They can be quite difficult to get to re-bloom in an interior setting but in warmer climes should be planted outside where they can get the appropriate lighting and resume their normal bloom schedule. Potted mums are not the same as the hardy varieties that go into garden beds. They are more sensitive to cold and light changes, but you can find them any time of the year and bloom for several weeks in the home interior. Growing chrysanthemums indoors is easy and requires little special care beyond watering, good soil and drainage. Once the blooms are spent, you can keep the plant around for its deeply etched foliage.
Mums are generally ready for interior growth at purchase. If the plant is pot bound, you can transplant it to a slightly bigger container, with good drainage holes and fresh houseplant soil. An important tip on how to grow mums indoors is to position your plant inside where it receives bright light during the day but isn’t under a street or security light at night. Excess lighting can throw the plant’s bloom production off and cause it to stop flowering.
Regular watering is a crucial part of indoor mum care. Water the plant from under the leaves to help prevent fungal issues when caring for container mums. Deadhead if you wish, to keep the plant looking its best. Keep chrysanthemum houseplants where they can receive good air circulation and avoid excess humidity. In most cases, caring for container mums is a short lived project. This is because they flower for 3 to 4 weeks and then stop. Indoor conditions are not correct to force them to re-bloom and creating the correct conditions is a pain in the neck. For this reason, most indoor gardeners simply compost the plants after they are done flowering. This may seem heartless, but mums are relatively inexpensive and very easy to find. The plant doesn’t have much to offer after the flowers are done except some deeply notched foliage and a nice little bush shape. During the time you have it in your home, it shouldn’t need feeding. If you want to keep the plants around, fertilize once every month during the growing season with soluble plant foods and stop feeding in the winter season.
Can You Keep Mums Inside Over Winter?
Because the viability of chrysanthemum more tenacious, so chrysanthemum planting in the room is entirely possible, but the real question is will it flourish and bloom and, if not, what do we do with the plant? Each mum cultivar is slightly different but on average it takes 9 ½ hours to force buds and 10 ½ hours for flowers to form. Add to this a requirement of 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 C.) for bud formation and 55 F. (12 C.) for flower development. Most households do not have the cooler temperature available nor do they want to live in the dark that long.
You can successfully keep a mum around the home all year long if you wish with very little attention beyond watering. A better option for anyone in temperate to warm zones (USDA zones 8 and above) is to plant the mum in the ground. The indoor plants are not terribly hardy but if you mulch the root zone the plant will probably live, re-sprout in spring and bloom in fall as an outdoor specimen.
FAQ on Chrysanthemums
1. What are chrysanthemums?
Chrysanthemums are flowering plants that belong to the genus Chrysanthemum in the family Asteraceae. They are native to Asia and northeastern Europe, and their flowers come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors.
2. When do chrysanthemums bloom?
Mums typically bloom in the fall. The blooming season can last from late summer through the fall months, depending on the variety and the growing conditions.
3. Are chrysanthemums annual or perennial plants?
Chrysanthemums can be both annual and perennial, depending on the species and the climate in which they are grown. In warmer climates, many chrysanthemum varieties can be grown as perennials.
4. How should I care for my chrysanthemums?
Chrysanthemums require well-draining soil and plenty of sunlight to thrive. Water them regularly, but avoid overwatering. Fertilize them with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season, and prune them to encourage bushy growth and more blooms.
5. Can chrysanthemums be grown indoors?
Yes, chrysanthemums can be grown indoors with adequate care. They need bright, indirect sunlight and should be kept in a cool place with good air circulation. Regular watering and fertilization are also necessary for indoor mums.
6. What are the common pests and diseases that affect chrysanthemums?
Common pests include aphids, spider mites, and thrips. Diseases that can affect mums are powdery mildew, rust, and leaf spot. Regular inspection and prompt treatment are key to managing these issues.
7. How can I propagate chrysanthemums?
Chrysanthemums can be propagated through seeds, cuttings, or division. Taking cuttings or dividing the plants are the most common methods for propagating mums, as they maintain the characteristics of the parent plant.
8. Are chrysanthemums toxic to pets?
Yes, chrysanthemums contain compounds that can be toxic to pets if ingested. It’s important to keep mums out of reach of pets to prevent accidental ingestion.
9. How many varieties of chrysanthemums are there?
There are thousands of chrysanthemum varieties, ranging from single-petaled to densely double-petaled forms, in colors including white, yellow, pink, orange, red, and purple.
10. Can chrysanthemums be used for anything besides decoration?
Yes, certain varieties of chrysanthemums are used to make chrysanthemum tea, which is popular in East Asia. The flowers are also used in traditional medicine and culinary applications in some cultures.
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