Mums—also known as Chrysanthemums—are the unofficial flower of fall. Their bright, cheerful blooms in oranges, yellows, and purples instantly make your porch or garden feel festive.
But let’s be honest: how many times have you bought beautiful mums from the nursery, only to have them wilt, brown, or die before Halloween even hits? That used to happen to me every year. Until I finally learned what I was doing wrong.
So if you want your fall mums to last longer, bloom better, and even come back next year, here are the 7 most common mistakes to avoid—based on my experience and plenty of trial and error.
1. Treating Mums Like Annuals (When They’re Perennials)
The biggest myth? That mums are just seasonal “throwaway” plants. That’s only true if you treat them that way.
Most mums sold in the fall are hardy perennials, meaning they can come back year after year—if planted early enough and cared for properly.
I used to toss mine after fall, thinking they were done. Now, I plant them in the ground in late summer or early fall, give them time to establish roots, and they return every year—even after snowy Canadian winters.
🌱 Tip: If you live in Zones 5–9, plant mums in the ground before mid-October. In colder zones, mulch heavily or treat them as annuals.
2. Overwatering or Underwatering
Mums are fussy about water—but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy.
If you leave them in those tight plastic nursery pots and forget to water for a few days, they’ll wilt fast. But overwatering is just as dangerous—wet roots can lead to rot.
I always repot mine into larger containers or plant them directly into raised beds or garden borders. Then, I water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry. No soggy soil, no dry crust.
🚿 Avoid watering from above the blooms. Wet flowers = faster browning and rot.
3. Not Giving Enough Sun
Think fall = cloudy skies = shade plants? Nope. Mums love the sun and need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive and bloom.
I once kept a group of potted mums on my shaded front porch and wondered why they looked leggy and never really popped with color. The same batch moved to my sunnier back patio? Instant difference.
If your mums are looking sad or slow to bloom, try giving them more sun.
4. Forgetting to Deadhead
Deadheading mums—that is, removing faded or browning flowers—is one of the easiest ways to extend their bloom time.
When I skip this step, the plant slows down or stops blooming altogether. But when I snip off spent blooms every few days, the plant keeps pushing out new flowers. It’s like magic.
Use clean scissors or pinch with your fingers. It takes just 5 minutes and gives you weeks more color.
5. Leaving Mums in Store Pots Too Long
Most mums come in those dense, root-bound black pots. If you leave them in there, they’ll dry out fast, get stressed, and fade quickly.
I like to repot mine within a day or two of bringing them home—into larger containers or into garden beds with fresh soil. Loosen the roots a bit, water deeply, and let them stretch out.
The result? Fuller blooms, healthier leaves, and a plant that lasts way beyond Halloween.
6. Planting Too Late in the Season
Here’s a tough one: if you plant mums too late in the fall, they won’t have time to establish roots before frost, especially in colder zones like much of Canada and the northern U.S.
If you’re hoping to overwinter your mums, plant them no later than early October, and ideally in late summer. That gives the roots time to grow strong before winter hits.
🍂 Bought mums in late October? Just enjoy them in pots this year, then compost or try overwintering indoors.
7. Not Mulching Before Winter
If you’re in a cold zone and you want your mums to survive the winter, don’t skip the mulch!
After the first frost, I cut my mums back to about 4–6 inches, then cover them with 4–6 inches of mulch (straw, leaves, or bark). This protects the roots from freezing and helps them come back strong in spring.
🌼 Want bushier mums next year? Pinch them back in early summer to encourage fuller growth and more blooms.
Keep Your Mums Blooming Beautiful
Fall mums don’t have to be disposable. With the right care, they’ll reward you with stunning color for weeks—and maybe even for years.
Avoid these common mistakes, and you’ll go from buying new mums every fall to proudly watching the same ones return and bloom again, year after year.
Whether you’re dressing up a front porch or adding bursts of color to your garden beds, mums are one of the easiest ways to celebrate the season. Give them a little love, and they’ll give back tenfold.
🍂 Happy planting—and may your autumn be filled with blooms!
👉 Want more fall garden tips? [Click here for the best companion plants for fall containers.]
