Fall mums brighten New York landscapes with their vibrant colors when the weather turns crisp. Selecting the perfect chrysanthemums can be tricky, especially with New York’s unique growing conditions.
Many shoppers make simple mistakes that lead to disappointed expectations and wilted plants instead of the gorgeous autumn display they hoped for.
1. Shopping Too Late In The Season
The early bird catches the best mums in New York! Garden centers receive their freshest shipments in early September, while waiting until October means you’ll likely find picked-over plants that have been sitting too long.
Stressed plants from late-season inventory often have shorter blooming periods once you get them home. For the longest-lasting fall display, mark your calendar for Labor Day weekend shopping when selection is prime and plants are at their healthiest.
2. Grabbing Plants In Full Bloom
Those fully-bloomed mums might look gorgeous at the store, but they’ve already spent their energy. Smart shoppers select plants showing mostly tight buds with just a few open flowers.
Plants with 70-80% closed buds will continue opening gradually at home, giving you weeks of color instead of days. Examine the buds closely – they should be plump and firm, indicating they’ll open properly when their time comes.
3. Neglecting To Check Root Health
Healthy roots mean healthy mums! Gently slip the plant from its pot to inspect before purchasing. Root-bound plants with tightly circling roots will struggle to absorb water and nutrients properly in your garden. Look for white or light-colored roots distributed evenly throughout the soil.
Dark, mushy, or foul-smelling roots indicate root rot. Plants with healthy root systems establish quickly after planting and withstand New York’s unpredictable fall weather much better.
4. Choosing The Wrong Variety For Your Climate Zone
New York spans several hardiness zones from 3b to 7b, making mum selection tricky! Many garden centers sell both hardy perennial mums and non-hardy florist mums without clear labeling. For plants that will survive winter, look specifically for “garden mums” or “hardy mums” on tags.
Varieties like ‘Sheffield Pink’ and ‘Clara Curtis’ handle New York winters well. Florist mums might have larger, showier blooms but rarely survive winter temperatures in most New York regions.
5. Forgetting To Water Properly Before Purchasing
Retail mums often sit under hot lights or in sunny spots, becoming severely dehydrated. Press your finger into the soil before buying – if it’s bone dry, the plant may already be stressed beyond recovery. Healthy mums should feel somewhat heavy from proper hydration.
When leaves look wilted but soil feels damp, it often indicates root damage from previous drought stress. Choose plants that appear turgid with soil that feels like a wrung-out sponge.
6. Ignoring Pest Problems
Bringing home mums with hitchhiking pests can spell disaster for your garden! Carefully examine stems, leaf undersides, and the center crown for signs of aphids, spider mites, or thrips. Yellow stippling on leaves often indicates spider mite damage, while curled or sticky leaves suggest aphids.
New York’s fall weather creates perfect conditions for certain pests to thrive on mums. A quick inspection saves headaches later – turn down any plant showing pest evidence.
7. Skipping The Acclimation Process
Mums grown in greenhouse conditions need gradual adjustment to your outdoor space. Rushing them directly into full sun or cold nights can shock plants and cause wilting or bud drop. Place newly purchased mums in a sheltered spot with filtered light for 3-4 days.
Gradually increase sun exposure over a week, especially important in New York where fall temperature swings can be dramatic. This simple step helps plants adjust to their new environment without stress.
8. Misunderstanding Bloom Duration
Different mum varieties have vastly different blooming periods, yet many shoppers assume all types bloom throughout fall. Early-flowering varieties might finish blooming by early October, while late-season types peak in November. For extended color, select plants from different bloom categories.
Garden centers should provide this information, but if not, look for plants with varying bud development stages. New York’s first frost date also affects bloom time – know your local average for best planning.
9. Overlooking Container Size Requirements
Those cute little mums in 4-inch pots quickly become root-bound and stressed. For container growing, select pots at least twice the diameter of the root ball to allow proper growth and water retention. New York’s dry fall winds can quickly dehydrate small containers.
Choose pots at least 10-12 inches in diameter for standard-sized mums. Larger containers also provide better insulation for the root system when temperatures fluctuate between warm days and cool nights typical of New York autumns.
10. Falling For Artificially Colored Mums
Some retailers sell spray-painted or dyed mums in unnatural colors like blue or neon pink. While eye-catching, these treated plants often suffer from compromised health and shortened lifespans. The coloring chemicals can block leaf pores, reducing the plant’s ability to photosynthesize.
Stick with naturally colored varieties – traditional mums come in plenty of beautiful authentic shades from deep burgundy to copper and gold. New York nurseries specializing in locally grown plants rarely sell these artificially enhanced varieties.