TIPS How To Make Mums Last Longer

Planning on decorating the fall front porch with mums? Here are my best tips on how to make those mums last longer.

You can make mums last all the way through the fall season with these step-by-step tips and advice.

Hello fall front porch.

It’s so nice to meet you.

My porch this year is a random assortment of faux plants and faux pumpkins mixed in with real mums and real pumpkins. Last year I bought all real pumpkins and real mums and they only lasted a hot Texas minute (literally) and I was left with an empty porch until Christmas showed up.

But this year?

This year is different.

I researched mums and planned it out so it would last from now until my tummy is full of turkey and green bean casserole.

And I have the BEST tip to share with you today if you are planning on mums for your front porch. It’s kept my mums blooming and blooming this season.

Here’s how to make your mums last longer.

faux fuchsia mums//faux eucalyptus garland//white pumpkins

First, let’s discuss mums.

Truth?

They are a little fussy. They can go south quickly. You bring them home and they are all happy and blooming and you turn your back for ONE MINUTE and they are on their last mum legs.

I live in Texas, so keep in mind the weather here is hot and dry, so feel free to adjust this mum advice for your own climate and location.

In my humble mum advice, it comes down to TWO main pieces of advice (and a few other pieces of advice I picked up along the way.

Water and sun.

And I have a hack for both of them.

How To Make Mums Last Longer

How to water mums

Let’s start with water.

The challenge with mums is that so many times the water with mums doesn’t get down to the roots. When you water the plant, the water can run off the side and stick to the stems and the leaves of the plant. It doesn’t actually get down to the roots, so the soil around the roots can get dry very quickly—especially in a place like Texas

The solution?

Root soak the mum.

I know, right?

It’s such a simple tip, but it makes SUCH A DIFFERENCE.

When we brought these mums home from the garden center, they were already dry. It’s hard to tell how dry the plant actually is when you stick your finger into the dirt. I wanted to get all that water where it matters to the mum the most—the roots.

These tubs were filled with a couple of inches of water and I let the mums soak for 1-2 hours until the roots were watered.

Make SURE that you don’t overwater and leave the mums in the water too long.

Remember—mums are fussy. They need just the right amount of water to live a good long mum life.

Throughout the season, constantly check to make sure they have enough CONSISTENT water. I can always tell it’s time to water when I lift them up and they feel light. It’s time to water again. I always water deep into the roots to make sure there’s a good water foundation.

faux fuchsia mums//faux eucalyptus garland//white pumpkins

The right amount of sunlight

Every time I buy mums, the tags always say the mums want full sun.

Except I decided that those tag writers didn’t live in Texas. When I put the mums in full sun, they actually shrivel up. It’s like the full Texas sun is too much for them.

So instead, I’ve found that dappled sunlight is best.

A little bit of sun and a little bit of shade. I actually moved several of the plants so they were more in the shade when the temperature got up into the high 90s recently.

faux fuchsia mums//faux eucalyptus garland//white pumpkins

Repot the mums

When you bring your mums home, check the roots. So many times, mums can be root bound with big clusters of roots at the base of the plant, making it so hard for the poor plant to grow and to distribute water throughout the plant.

Lift the plant out of the pot and gently break up the roots. You will almost see the plant smiling.

Add soil to the base of the new pot and place the mum inside. Fill the pot with soil and then WATER like you’ve never watered before. Check to see if the plant needs more soil after you water.