Fall mums bring gorgeous color to Alabama gardens just when summer blooms start fading. But picking the right ones isn’t always as simple as grabbing the prettiest pot at the garden center.
Many gardeners make avoidable mistakes that lead to disappointment, wilted plants, or mums that don’t survive past October. Learning what to watch for can help you choose healthy mums that thrive in our Alabama climate and brighten your yard all season long.
1. Choosing Mums Already In Full Bloom
Grabbing the showiest plant with every flower wide open feels rewarding at first. However, those blooms won’t last nearly as long once you get them home.
Mums with tight buds just starting to show color will bloom for weeks in your Alabama garden. Plants already in full bloom might look perfect on the shelf, but they’ve used most of their energy.
Look for plants with lots of unopened buds and only a few flowers showing. This gives you maximum bloom time throughout fall.
2. Ignoring Root Health Before Purchase
Most folks never peek beneath the pot before buying. Roots tell the real story about plant health, though.
Turn the pot over and check the drainage holes for root condition. Healthy roots should be white or light-colored, not brown and mushy. If roots are circling tightly or poking out excessively, the plant is root-bound and stressed.
Alabama’s warm fall temperatures demand strong roots for water uptake. A plant with compromised roots will struggle no matter how pretty it looks on top.
3. Buying Plants That Feel Light When Lifted
Weight matters more than most gardeners realize. Pick up several pots and compare how heavy they feel in your hands.
A lightweight pot usually means dry soil and a stressed plant that hasn’t been watered properly. Mums need consistent moisture, especially during Alabama’s sometimes-dry September weather. Plants that have dried out repeatedly at the store will have damaged roots and struggle to recover.
Choose pots that feel substantial and have evenly moist soil throughout. This indicates good care and healthy growth.
4. Skipping The Foliage Inspection
Flowers steal all the attention, but leaves reveal important clues about plant health. Yellow, brown, or spotted foliage signals problems you’ll inherit.
Examine leaves carefully for discoloration, holes, or signs of disease. Healthy mum foliage should be deep green and full all the way down the stems. In Alabama’s humid climate, fungal issues spread quickly, so starting with clean plants matters tremendously.
Pass on any mum with questionable leaves, even if the flowers look amazing. Strong foliage supports better blooming anyway.
5. Falling For Grocery Store Bargains
Those cheap mums stacked outside grocery stores seem like great deals. Unfortunately, they’re often treated as temporary decorations rather than living plants.
These plants typically sit in harsh sun or wind without proper watering schedules. They’re bred for short-term color, not longevity in Alabama gardens. While garden centers focus on plant health, grocery stores prioritize quick turnover.
If you want mums that actually survive and possibly return next year, invest a bit more at a proper nursery. Quality makes the difference between weeks and days of beauty.
6. Not Checking For Pests Hiding In Foliage
Tiny invaders hide between leaves and under stems, waiting to spread throughout your entire garden. A quick glance won’t catch them.
Gently lift foliage and inspect undersides of leaves for aphids, spider mites, or whiteflies. These pests multiply rapidly in Alabama’s warm autumn weather and will jump to your other plants quickly. Look for sticky residue, tiny webs, or clusters of small insects.
One infested plant can create weeks of problems. Take thirty extra seconds to inspect before purchasing any mum.
7. Purchasing Plants In Damaged Or Flimsy Pots
Container quality reflects overall plant care and affects your success after planting. Cracked, thin, or deteriorating pots suggest neglect.
Flimsy containers don’t protect roots from temperature swings, which happen frequently during Alabama fall weather. They also dry out faster, stressing the plant repeatedly. Damaged pots might have compromised drainage, leading to root rot.
Sturdy pots with proper drainage holes indicate the grower invested in quality from the start. These plants typically receive better overall care and transition more successfully into your garden beds or containers.
8. Buying Without Knowing The Variety Type
Not all mums are created equal, and the variety determines whether your plant survives just one season or comes back for years.
Garden mums are bred for fall color but often die after frost. Hardy perennial mums can overwinter successfully in Alabama’s mild climate if planted early enough. The label should specify which type you’re buying, though many stores don’t make this clear.
Ask staff about variety and cold hardiness. Knowing what you’re purchasing helps you set realistic expectations and provide appropriate care for your investment.