How long to grow mums this pretty… and does anyone have tips?

I’m looking to grow some gorgeous mums like these. How long does it usually take, and what’s the secret to getting them so full and healthy? I’d love to hear your tips! :heart:

@Wes
That’s absolutely beautiful!

I got some tiny, scraggly mums from the discount section at my local nursery—they were only $1 each and looked half-dead. I planted them in December 2023, and by summer 2024, they turned into the biggest, healthiest mums I’ve ever had! No fancy tricks, just gave them a chance to grow. Sometimes the ugly ducklings are the best finds.

I’m in zone 8b. After Thanksgiving, I plant my porch mums in the ground, and they come back every year. Last year, I dug some up to reuse in containers instead of buying new ones. I pinch them back every month until the 4th of July, and they’re good to go. Just don’t overfeed them, or you’ll get more leaves than flowers.

@Lyric
Actually, most mums are grown outside because they benefit from the day-night temperature difference. Modern varieties don’t even need to be pinched back manually anymore—they’re self-pinching.

Source: I grew 1.3 million mums last year.

@Adley
Whoa, that’s crazy! Do the ones we buy regrow every year? Mine look dead in the planter boxes, and I’m wondering if I should plant them in the yard or just start from seed.

@Lyric
Oh no, that sounds intense :weary:

So pretty!

It takes about 4 months, give or take. The trick is using drip fertigation and growth regulators.

Bliss said:
It takes about 4 months, give or take. The trick is using drip fertigation and growth regulators.

What’s drip fertigation?

They look amazing! Nice work :slightly_smiling_face:

At the nursery I used to work at, we started them in May to get them ready by September.

I think this might actually be a type of aster.

Micah said:
I think this might actually be a type of aster.

These are actually called ‘purple daisy’ chrysanthemums. :blush:

Micah said:
I think this might actually be a type of aster.

Yeah, it’s easy to confuse mums and asters since they bloom around the same time. The flowers can look really similar, depending on the color.

@Jules
Chrysanthemums come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. This one is called a ‘purple daisy’ garden mum because it’s bred to look like a daisy. Without seeing the leaves, it’s tough to tell them apart at first.

@Blaine
Oh, I didn’t know that. Thanks!

Micah said:
@Blaine
Oh, I didn’t know that. Thanks!

No problem! Fun fact: mums and asters are both in the Asteraceae family, which also includes sunflowers and coneflowers. But they come from different parts of the world—asters are native to North America, while mums come from Eurasia. Their leaves are a big giveaway: mums have lobed leaves, while asters have more narrow ones.