To pinch them back, grab a stem between your thumb and index finger about 2 to 3 inches above the base of the plant, and just above a leaf, and simply pinch it off. It's better to buy plants with unopened buds. Old World Garden Farms At The Peak Of Autumn Color. But if you dug them up to pot them, you will once again need to overwinter indoors until next spring. Now is the time to plant Mums so they will be big beautiful and hardy by fall. Hardy mums are mums that can handle overwintering. When the plant is 4 to 6 in. The mums you purchase have been pinched early and often. If they have a good 4 to 6 weeks before the first frost, the roots have most likely set. The goal is to allow them to go dormant without freezing. With a hardiness from growing zones 5 to 9, it is these mums you want to purchase and save! You can prune the mums in the late fall or in the spring. If mum plants are not pinched back to remove their initial flower buds, the plants will produce their flowers in the summer instead of the fall. If you find you can’t get a clean break by using your fingers, you can also use a pair of sharp, clean pruners or even a scissors when pinching mums. When your decorating season is over, or when the temps simply become too cold, it’s time to move the plant to safety for good. If the roots have grown too big for the same size pot, and they likely are, move to a larger vessel, or split and divide to allow room for root growth. When those new branches are 6 inches long, pinch off an inch from their growing tips. You can also use a sharp pair of pruning shears to pinch the ends. If your mum plants appear next spring, pinch the tips (just trim off the last inch or so) of the buds a few times before July to encourage more bushiness. Cut mums back to within a few inches of the soil line before bringing indoors. From the first growth of buds until July, every 2-4 weeks you’ll want to pinch off half of the new growth that your mums have produced at the top of their stems. This doesn’t need to be done on mature fall plants, but it should be done on younger mums that you plant in the spring. The stems don’t all have to have flower buds on them. The easiest method is to simply plant your mums into the landscape. Pinching can be done with your fingers or a pair of hedge clippers. Each terminal stem portion that’s removed by pinching will develop into two new flowering branches, substantially increasing the plant’s “flower power.” If you pinch the plant twice (once in early June and again in early July), you’ll have even more flowering branches. Another reason mums are pinched is to improve their growth structure. Now on to saving those mums! Generally, the only way to successfully mechanically pinch a direct-stuck mum is to allow the plants to grow to a “large” size, which can result in excessively hard pinches on some plants when plants are pinched (Figure 1). There are several cultivars of mums that are truly hardy and will return to your garden every year without fail (USDA zones 3-7). Simply reach down in the plant and pinch off the new buds. If you purchased your mums in early fall and planted them in the ground for display, they can be left to overwinter. Or leave your mums alone for a … For a larger blossom, pinch off the side shoots so that all the plant’s energy goes into flowers opening only on the main stems. A few common cultivars of these truly hardy mums are Chrysanthemum Sheffield Pink, Venus and Cambodian Queen. Well, there are a few tell-tale hints that can help you know: Smaller mums in small, shallow containers and planters tend to be floral varieties that are not suitable for saving. Talk about a serious savings to the pocketbook! If it’s hot and dry or if the leaves are curling inward, give the plant water. Mums are very heavy feeders. Since mums are intended to bloom in the summer, you will start to see your mums flop over by the end of July. To pinch them you just need to remove the first 2 inches of any new growth by holding it in your fingers and then pinching it with your nail. This one … A far better bargain than just a week or two! Continue pinching until early July. This allows for plenty of nutrients for the season. ..or do a soft pinch. Pinching mums for more flowers. Unlike some perennial plants that, with an occasional deadheading, bloom off and on all season long, mums are one of many plants that flower only once each year. As the mums start to produce new growth every spring, use your fingers to pinch off the top inch of growth from the ends of each growing stem. Whether grouped with cornstalks and pumpkins, or simply left on their own, they bring autumn to life. For these mums, do not cut back the foliage until spring, as it will help provide protection for the first winter. They simply don’t have time to establish in the soil for protection. Even with heavy mulching. Pinching is the way to get the most flowers, but if you want a taller, more natural-looking mum, do it just once. After that, it’s too late, because you’ll pinch off flower buds. It’s not a perfect science for sure, but a great starting point to know if the mums you are buying or have can be saved. Pinch or cut off any flower buds that begin to develop or open in late summer or early fall before you want flowering to begin to encourage a stronger, more uniform blooming period later. One side note about fall mums. There are two types of mums that are for sale in the fall – garden mums (hardy mums), and floral mums. This process of growing and pinching should continue until August 1 when you will have a very fat, bushy plant and the flowering cycle will begin. The stem will produce new side branches at the pinched spot. Don't pinch any more after the 15th of July . Once mums bloom, deadheading can generate more blooms. Look For Mums To Keep! Mums grow best with full morning sun, at least 5-6 hours daily. If covering is not possible or is not effective, pinch off all brown blossoms and any damaged leaves to encourage new growth. It is best to plant rooted cuttings immediately. Copyright © 2020 EG Media Investments LLC. And allow the timing of the secrets to encouraging flowers on mums is necessary... Allow them to go dormant without freezing are Chrysanthemum Sheffield Pink, Venus and Cambodian Queen to their... Of buds, roll them off the terminal portion of each stem the plant periodically, off. Go dormant without freezing to improve their growth structure for survival establish them the... 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