Choose Carefully

I purchased some beautiful potted mums a few weeks ago, thinking that they would last well into the season. Unfortunately, they are already turning brown and don’t look very nice anymore. The stems and leaves still look good and I was wondering if they will bloom again or should I just toss them out and start again?

It is frustrating when you purchase flowers and they do not have a very long shelf life. Generally, it is best to purchase mums that have not yet bloomed, if you need them to last for a while. Try pinching off the dead or dying blooms. Sometimes this will spur another bloom. If they are already through their second bloom cycle, then it is not as likely that they will produce more flowers. Sometimes they are in their second bloom cycle when purchased. If you decide to purchase more mums, choose carefully. Purchasing at a nursery rather than a big box retailer could help with a late in the season plant.