8 Mistakes When Growing Chrysanthemums: Why Do Mine Turn Brown and Not Flower?
Chrysanthemums (mums) are the queens of autumn. Once the other annuals have long gone to sleep, they light up gardens and balconies with a flood of color. But it often happens that you bring home a beautiful plant, and within a few days its leaves droop or start turning brown.
Where did it go wrong? The chrysanthemum is hardy, but it has its quirks. If you're struggling to grow them, or simply want a beautiful autumn atmosphere at home right away and without the work, take inspiration from our cut-flower bouquets.
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Color of autumn
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1. Mistake: A "Shower" Instead of Watering (Critical!)
Many people water chrysanthemums by sprinkling water from above onto the leaves and flowers.
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Why it's wrong: Water trapped in the dense cluster of leaves doesn't dry out, creating an ideal environment for mold and rot. The flowers also turn brown after getting wet.
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The fix: Always water at the roots (into the saucer or directly onto the soil). The soil must be moist, but the chrysanthemum must never "stand in water."
2. Mistake: Too Little Sun = Too Few Flowers
The chrysanthemum is a child of the sun. If you tuck it into the shade (e.g., under an eave on the north side), it will flower sparsely and stretch upward.
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The fix: Give it at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
3. Mistake: Forgetting to Pinch (Why Isn't It a "Ball"?)
Did you buy a beautiful round mound, plant it in the garden, and the next year it grew into an unsightly tall "broom"?
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The fix: For a chrysanthemum to stay dense and round, you need to pinch it back.
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Start in spring, once the shoots are about 15 cm long.
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Repeat every 2–3 weeks until mid-summer (July). This encourages branching.
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4. Mistake: The "Supermarket Trap" and Overwintering
Did you buy a chrysanthemum on sale at the supermarket and then wonder why it didn't survive winter in the flowerbed?
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The reality: Most cheap chrysanthemums sold in stores are forced varieties intended only as seasonal decoration. They don't have a developed root system that can handle frost.
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The fix: If you want a perennial, buy frost-hardy varieties from a garden center. If you have a "supermarket variety," treat it as an annual, or store it over winter in a cold garage (5–10 °C).
5. Mistake: Planting Too Densely
Chrysanthemums need to breathe. If you pack them tightly together, air can't circulate between them.
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The result: The plants get humid and develop powdery mildew (a white coating on the leaves). Keep proper spacing!
6. Mistake: Fertilizing at the Wrong Time
Chrysanthemums are "big eaters" and need plenty of nutrients. But watch out — fertilizing with nitrogen in autumn is a mistake.
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The fix: Fertilize for growth in spring and summer. From the end of August, skip nitrogen and use a fertilizer with potassium and phosphorus instead, to support flowering and help the tissue mature before winter.
7. Mistake: Planting Too Late
Planting chrysanthemums in the ground as late as November (after All Souls' Day) is a gamble. They won't have time to root properly.
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The fix: If you want them as perennials, plant them ideally in spring, or by September at the latest.
8. Mistake: Growing It in an Overheated Flat
A chrysanthemum isn't a houseplant for a living room next to the heating. In warmth (above 20 °C), it will flower quickly and then dry out.
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The fix: If you want to keep it indoors, put it in a hallway, a winter garden, or on the coolest windowsill. Or better yet, get a cut Santini bouquet instead, which lasts longer in warmth than a potted plant.
Also read our other articles about chrysanthemums: Chrysanthemums, One of the Most Popular Flowers and Chrysanthemums Only for the Cemetery? Think Again!.
Team KvětinyExpres.cz
