Find out how often to water mums to keep them at their peak all season long.
Kritsada Panichgul
Nothing says autumn likebrightly colored mumsadorning front porches and filling patio planters.
Knowing how often to water mums is key to getting the longest life out of your plants.
Credit:Kritsada Panichgul
The easiest way to tell the difference is to look at the label.
If it doesnt specify, a quick online search of the variety name usually provides the answer.
While garden mums can beplanted as perennialsand florist mums areusually grown as annuals, watering is similar for both.
The difference in how often to water mums lies in where these types are planted.
Mums planted in the ground wont dry out as quickly and may only need watering once a week.
Plants in containers may need watering every other day or daily.
In either case, work your finger into the soil under the mum.
If the soil feels dry below the surface, its time to water.
Chrysanthemums do best in evenly moist soil, and underwatering potted mums canlead to their decline.
Becausepotted mumstend to dry out more quickly than garden-planted mums, they often need watering daily to avoid wilting.
A large mum in a small pot is especially vulnerable to dehydration.
Mums purchased in late summer or early fall are oftenrootbound in their pots, worsening the watering problem.
A rootbound plant may dry out even faster.
Mums are susceptible tofoliar fungal diseases, and wet leaves worsen the problem.
Dont assume that the plant has been adequately watered because the soil surface looks wet.
you might use the same method to determine how long to run a drip irrigation system.
Container-Planted Mums
Watering mums in pots is a little different from watering those planted in garden soil.
Thirty minutes is often sufficient.
It should be noticeably heavier after the plant has been thoroughly watered.
If it isn’t, it means you should add more water until the pot feels heavier.
