Louisiana gardeners love their fall mums, but it’s easy to get caught up in color and forget the details that matter. I’ve made a few of these mistakes myself—like picking ones that looked full in the store but barely lasted a week at home.
The trick is knowing what signs to look for before you buy. With a little care, your mums will stay gorgeous long after the first cold breeze hits.
1. Buying Too Early in the Season
Many Louisiana gardeners rush to buy mums in late August when stores first stock them. Our heat and humidity can stress these plants before fall truly arrives.
Waiting until mid-September gives you healthier plants that adapt better to cooling temperatures. Your mums will last longer and bloom more vibrantly when planted at the right time.
Patience pays off with stronger roots and fuller flowers throughout the season.
2. Choosing Plants Already in Full Bloom
Grabbing the most colorful mum with every flower open seems smart, but it actually shortens your enjoyment. Plants in full bloom have already used much of their energy.
Look for mums with mostly tight buds and just a few open flowers instead. Louisiana gardens benefit from plants that will continue blooming for weeks rather than days.
Buds promise future beauty while fully bloomed plants are nearing their end.
3. Ignoring Root Health Before Purchase
Never buy a mum without checking its roots first. Gently tip the pot and peek at the bottom to see if roots are visible.
Healthy white or light-colored roots mean the plant is strong and ready to grow in your Louisiana soil. Brown, mushy, or circling roots signal trouble ahead.
Root-bound plants struggle to establish themselves no matter how pretty the flowers look above the soil line.
4. Overlooking Leaf Condition and Color
Flowers grab attention, but foliage tells the real story of plant health. Yellow, brown, or spotted leaves indicate disease or poor care.
Examine the entire plant, especially lower leaves that garden centers sometimes hide. Louisiana humidity encourages fungal problems, so starting with clean, green foliage matters tremendously.
Healthy leaves mean your mum has the strength to produce beautiful blooms all season long in your garden.
5. Picking the Wrong Size for Your Space
Bigger isn’t always better when selecting mums for Louisiana gardens. Oversized plants in tiny pots are often root-bound and stressed.
Match plant size to your planting location, considering how mums spread as they grow. Smaller, well-proportioned plants in appropriate containers establish faster and perform better.
Right-sized mums fill your space beautifully without overwhelming other plants or requiring constant maintenance throughout fall.
6. Forgetting to Check for Pests
Aphids, spider mites, and other bugs love hiding in mum foliage. Bringing home infested plants invites trouble into your entire Louisiana garden.
Inspect under leaves and around stems carefully before purchasing. Look for sticky residue, tiny webs, or actual insects crawling around.
A quick examination saves you from weeks of frustration fighting pests that spread to your other plants and ruin your autumn display.
7. Selecting Based Only on Color
That gorgeous burgundy or bright coral might catch your eye, but color alone shouldn’t drive your decision. Plant structure, bushiness, and overall health matter more.
Louisiana gardens thrive when you choose compact, well-branched mums regardless of flower shade. A scraggly plant in your favorite color will disappoint compared to a full, healthy one.
Pretty hues fade fast on weak plants while strong specimens keep blooming beautifully week after week.
8. Not Considering Soil Moisture Levels
Squeeze the soil gently before buying any mum. Bone-dry or waterlogged soil both spell trouble for Louisiana gardeners.
Properly moist soil crumbles slightly when touched but isn’t soggy or dusty. Plants from neglectful garden centers suffer stress that affects their performance later.
Starting with well-watered mums gives you the best foundation for success when you transplant them into your fall garden beds or containers.