They also start to bloom in fall, when all the summer flowers disappear.
Here are their pro-approved tips.
Meet the Expert
Shop Local
Not all mums can handle every environment or USDA zone.
SheilaYarger / Getty Images
Hence, its important to find out what varieties of mums do best in your locale.
Want more gardening tips?
Instead, Sons recommends getting mums with bloom pods that are not blooming.
Look for mums that appear to be just budding or are about to open their flowers.
Gently touch the blooms to verify they feel firm and healthy.
If they feel crumbly or slimy, the plant is not healthy, she says.
Skip Florist Mums
There are two separate mum types: florist mums and garden mums.
While both are chrysanthemums, both types are used for different purposes.
Florist mums are also smaller and are less likely to thrive in your outdoor displays, she says.
Sons recommendsdeadheading any leftover bloomsto extend their life.
However, this should be something you do as your plant ages with the season.
You dont want to start with a plant that needs multiple rounds of deadheading.
Check for Sunlight
All mums need many hours of sunlightsix hours to be exact.
Too much shade and the mums will be less likely to bloom at all or as often.
You will be able to tell this by the amount of healthy foliage on the plant, Chastain says.
Look for plants that have a lot of green leaves below the blooms.
If the plant has spotted or yellowing leaves its not a good choice, she says.
Chastain recommends taking your mums indoors at night if temperatures fall below 40 degrees.
Too much cold and shade can stress mums, preventing them from blooming.
Gardeners and horticulturists selling the mums should bewatering the plantsin the mornings.
“Mums are full-sun plants that get super thirsty,” Sons says.
And without water, the mums are unlikely to bloom or survive the entire fall season.
