Tidbit Tuesday: Mums the word
As the seasons change so do our flowers. Perhaps I jumped the gun, but a few weeks ago I bought two mum plants for my front porch, well really a stoop. I diligently watered them everyday and they maintained their blooms quite nicely until one day...I forgot to water them.
There they were dried up but not quite in dire straights.
I brought them inside and doused them with water in my kitchen sink hoping to restore them to their former glory. I have a history of buying mums, enjoying them for a period of time, only to watch them wither and die if left unattended for a very short time.
Mums like sun and need frequent watering. Whether you’re in the north or the south, mums will keep on blooming even if you leave them in the planter you purchased them in, as long as you give them the attention they require.
My tidbit for my mums was another simple solution, one that has likely been done before, but not by me to date, so I’m sharing with you my “new” solution. I placed a bowl (not a plate) under the pot and filled it with water. This way I don’t have to panic if I forget to water them. I still try to water them every day but now I have a back up plan.
I found 2 lovely depression glass bowls that came from my mom which fit nicely under the pot. Not only am I solving my watering problem I’m being responsible and repurposing something in my home. Granted I do use these bowls but now I can use something else when I need a bowl for mashed potatoes and vegetables.
Hopefully I will have more success with mums this year. If this works I will likely purchase more plants as the season goes on. In the past I have wasted lots of money watching once thriving mums wilt and shrivel in just a very short time. It’s amazing how much water is absorbed into the soil. They are thirsty sun-loving plants.
Give it a try and let me know what you think. I’m rather confident you have been in the same predicament with your mums. Mums the word, no longer. Happy planting.
