DESIDERATA

I have more chrysanthemums in my garden than any reasonable person should.

This was not entirely intentional.

Every autumn, I tell myself that I have enough mums. More than enough, actually. The ones already planted in the garden will surely be sufficient, and there’s absolutely no reason to bring home another.

And they’ll probably die over winter and it’s just not really necessary. Except they don’t die.

Every spring, there they are again, faithfully emerging from the soil as though they hadn’t spent the winter being completely written off. And every year, I’m pleasantly surprised.

You would think this would be enough to discourage further purchases.

Unfortunately, I have a soft spot for plants in need of rescuing and an even softer spot for a good deal. So when the garden centers begin clearing out their autumn stock, and I find a collection of slightly neglected chrysanthemums marked down to practically nothing, all my sensible resolutions go straight out the window.

I buy them. Every last one.

Again.

And so the collection grows.

This year, the mums along my front walk have been particularly spectacular. Great rounded cushions of burgundy, orange, pink, and white, absolutely covered in blooms. And after several seasons of tending to an increasingly unreasonable number of chrysanthemums, I think I’ve finally figured out the secret.

Water. An almost unreasonable amount of water.

That’s it. That’s the trick.

Those enormous, tightly packed mums sold at garden centers are often practically all roots by the time they make it home. Add hundreds of flowers, a little autumn sunshine, and a breezy afternoon, and they can dry out astonishingly quickly.

I’ve learned not to assume that because the weather has cooled, the watering can can be put away.

A Few Notes on Keeping Mums Happy

01 / Water more than you think.

Check the soil every day, especially while they’re blooming. A large, established mum in a nursery pot may need a thorough watering daily during warm, dry weather. Some need even more frequent attention.

The goal is consistently moist soil, not soggy roots. Water deeply until it runs through the drainage holes, then let the excess escape.

02 / Water the soil, not the flowers.

All those tightly packed petals hold moisture remarkably well, which isn’t necessarily a good thing. Direct water toward the base of the plant to help keep the blooms looking their best.

03 / Don’t trust the surface.

A pot can look damp on top while the root ball beneath is surprisingly dry. Lift the container to judge its weight, or check the soil an inch or so down.

And if the soil has dried so thoroughly that water runs straight down the sides, give the root ball time to rehydrate rather than assuming one quick splash has done the job.

04 / Give them sunshine.

Mums are happiest with plenty of sunlight. Six or more hours is ideal, although a little afternoon shade can be helpful during an unusually warm Carolina autumn.

05 / Keep the faded flowers tidy.

Pinch away spent blooms when you have a moment. It won’t work miracles, but it keeps the plant looking fresh and lets the remaining flowers take center stage.

06 / Remember that containers dry out quickly.

A mum planted in the ground has more room for its roots to find moisture. A mum in a crowded nursery pot is entirely dependent on you. Check those containers first.

On Keeping Them for Next Year

Despite their reputation as disposable autumn decorations, garden mums can be surprisingly persistent perennials. Mine have certainly proved the point.

They appreciate well-drained soil, a sunny spot, and a little protection through winter. Planting them early enough to establish good roots gives them the best chance of returning, although apparently some of my clearance-rack rescues never received that particular instruction.

For fuller, bushier plants, established mums can be pinched back during late spring and early summer, stopping around the Fourth of July so they have time to set their autumn buds.

And if you’re buying mums specifically for their flowers this season, choose plants with plenty of unopened buds. You’ll enjoy a longer show than you would with one already in full bloom.

A Note for Next Autumn

I suppose the sensible thing would be to enjoy the chrysanthemums I already have, divide the established plants when they become crowded, and resist the temptation to acquire any more.

That is certainly the plan.

But I know perfectly well what’s going to happen when I walk past the garden center clearance rack next October.

There will be a few sad-looking mums waiting for someone to take them home. They’ll be marked down to a dollar or two. I’ll convince myself that surely there’s room for just one more.

And, of course, there will be.

An entirely unnecessary collection, and no regrets.