Learn about these secret tips on how to make your mums last forever for a vivid display of colorful blooms.
Mums are perfect for beautiful floral arrangements because of their colors and longevity. Any gardener would want to ensure that they last even longer. To achieve that, we have some out-of-the-box techniques that can help you keep them thriving forever.
How to Make Your Mums Last Longer On the Plant
1. Deadheading and Pinching
This is a reliable method of removing spent blooms that encourages prolonging the blooming period. Pinching will promote a bushier form by encouraging the plant to grow multiple stems from each pinch point. More stems mean more buds, and therefore, you will have more flowers.
Deadheading, on the other hand, will help you remove unsightly blooms that are draining energy from the plant. The plant will use the same energy to produce more blooms.
Tip: The best time to deadhead or prune mums is during the late spring up to mid-summer.
2. Chamomile Tea Spray
Protect your mums from diseases like powdery mildew with a simple chamomile tea spray. Chamomile has natural antifungal and antibacterial properties, which helps.
Simply steep one tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers in a quart of water for 20-30 minutes, then strain and pour the cooled liquid into a spray bottle. Mist your mums once a week to help keep them healthy.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide Boost
Add a teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water every 4-6 weeks and water your plants with it as usual. This solution oxygenates the roots and promotes better aeration and nutrient absorption. It also prevents harmful bacteria and root rot.
It is especially effective during stress, such as after transplanting or when yellowing leaves appear or you see the symptoms of overwatering. Hydrogen peroxide also deters soil pests and supports longer-lasting blooms. Use it as part of your regular care routine. Ensure even application around the base of the plants for optimal results.
4. Add More Phosphorus
Mums benefit from fertilizers with more phosphorus (for flowering) and less nitrogen (which promotes more foliage growth). So feed them with a 5-10-10 liquid fertilizer in half of the recommended strength every 2-4 weeks until the temperature starts to drop below 50 F (10 C) regularly.
You can also mix a tablespoon of Epsom salt every month in your fertilizer solution to provide a regular boost of Magnesium. This will help ensure your mums get the nutrients they need for healthy blooms.
5. Morning Watering
Established mums require about an inch of water per week, and the right timing can positively affect the blooms. Water your mums early in the day to give the foliage time to dry out by evening.
This reduces the risk of fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Watering in the morning also helps reduce plant stress, contributing to healthier mums and longer-lasting blooms.
6. Pruning and Deadheading is Must
Prune the tips of your mums in late spring or summer to encourage more branching and bushier growth. This will also help in providing good air circulation around them!
Removing spent flowers throughout the blooming season will help your mums produce new buds.
Once the blooming season ends, prune back the stems to about 6-8 inches to prepare them for winter and the next growing season.
7. Apply Coconut Water
Coconut water contains essential nutrients like potassium, calcium, and magnesium. This can supplement the nutrient intake of your mums, make them healthier, and extend bloom longevity.
Coconut water is a natural (PGR) plant growth booster that can help plants grow roots faster, prevent cell aging, and regulate cell growth. It contains growth hormones like cytokinin, auxin, and gibberellin, which promote root development.
If you live in a tropical part of the world, use it. Dilute one part coconut water with three parts distilled water and apply that around the base of the mum plants.
Tip: Choose pure and unflavored coconut water. Brands that add sugar or preservatives can be harmful to plants.
8. Rubbing Alcohol
Spider Mites (Tetranychus urticae) and other mites are common pests of chrysanthemums. They are most problematic during hot, dry weather.
For less severe cases, mix 1 cup of rubbing alcohol with 8 cups of water in a bottle and spray it on your plants. Be sure to cover the stems, leaves, and flowers completely. Rubbing alcohol works by drying out and killing the mites.
NOTE: Test the mixture on one leaf a couple of days before spraying the whole plant to see if your solution is not too strong.
How to Make Your Mums Last Longer In Vases and Jars
8. Cut Stems Diagonally
If you cut the stems of mums diagonally at a 45-degree angle, it will increase the surface area, which will allow better water absorption. More water means more nutrients reaching the flower, which can lead to an extended vase life.
A diagonal cut can also help in reducing the entry of air bubbles into the stem, which can otherwise block water uptake.
9. Vodka Mist
Vodka contains ethanol, a type of alcohol with antibacterial properties. Spraying vodka on cut flowers can address bacterial growth, which is one reason for wilt.
Just combine water and vodka in a spray bottle with about 5% vodka concentration in the solution. Mist the flowers lightly once a week while focusing on the petals and leaves.
10. Aspirin Crush
Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, which slightly lowers the pH level of the water when dissolved. An acidic environment can help in nutrient absorption and inhibit bacterial growth, and hence, it can extend the life of cut flowers.
Additionally, aspirin contains compounds that mimic salicylic acid found in plants, which helps them resist stress and fight off bacterial infections.
Crush a standard 325 mg aspirin tablet and dissolve it in one liter of warm water. Fill the vase with this water and change it every three days for good results.
11. LED Light Exposure
You can use LED lights to simulate the natural light spectrum, which will aid in photosynthesis. Even after cutting, some flowers can continue limited photosynthesis, which helps them maintain their freshness.
Use LEDs that emit blue and red light, as these wavelengths are most effective for photosynthesis. Place the LED lights close but not touching the flowers to ensure even light distribution without overheating the blooms.
12. Potato Slices
Potatoes contain natural sugars, which can serve as a source of nutrition for cut flowers and keep the flowers hydrated. You just have to cut a potato into thin slices and place them at the bottom of the vase before adding water.
This will help the slices release their nutrients and moisture directly into the vase water and help your flowers last longer.
