As the cheerleaders of the flower world, mums add happiness and joy to any bouquet. Plus, they’re just plain adorable. And with blooms of all shapes and colors, it’s easy for everyone to find a mum they love.
While these flowers are easy to love, it can be hard to know just how to make them shine. We’re going to let you in on some expert arranging tips so these flowers can live their best life in the vase.
All About Mums
Did you know that mums is short for chrysanthemums? We know that’s a mouthful, so it’s fine to refer to these flowers as mums. All mums are members of the daisy family, and they’re closely related to sunflowers and zinnias.
Before humans cultivated these plants for the flowers we know and love, people grew them for food. Many types of mums originated in China, where people grew them for their edible greens. You can still find chrysanthemum greens, known as shungiku, in many Asian markets.
Today, you can find all sorts of mum flowers available. In the United States, these flowers bloom in the fall, so people often use them to brighten fall landscapes and porches. While many people associate mums with autumn, we think these blooms should be enjoyed year-round!
Chrysanthemum Symbolism
Not only are these flowers a treat to look at, but they also pack a sweet meaning. Humans associate chrysanthemums with love, joy, and happiness. So when you send someone these flowers, there’s no doubt you’re wishing them well.
Types of Mums
After years of plant breeding, there are now thousands of varieties of mums available. Talk about choices! These varieties cover almost every spectrum of the rainbow, and their flowers range from large dramatic blooms to small filler flowers.
Spray Mums
Also known as poms or pompons, these mums add an explosion of color and texture to any bouquet. Each stem contains multiple round blooms that look like cute globes. Poms come in all sizes and colors. One of our favorites is the lil’ button poms that are, well, as cute as a button.
Spider Mums
Before you run at the name of these mums, know that they’re frighteningly gorgeous! Spider mums have long exterior petals that grow out to resemble spider legs. Each of these petals is curled at the end to add drama and intrigue to any bouquet. People also call these Fuji mums.
Reflex Mums
While most mums have petals that curve upward, reflex mums shake things up with downward curving petals. Their blooms are typically larger in size, so they make excellent focal flowers in an arrangement.
Tips for Arranging Mums
Once you’ve brought your mums home, it’s time to get them ready for life in the vase. To create a beautiful mum bouquet, follow these tips.
Prep the Stems
Before you add your flowers to your vase, spend some time getting them ready for their new home. Give each stem a fresh cut with a sharp pair of scissors. Remove as much stem as you like, but make sure to cut at a 45º angle so your flower can drink up as much water as possible.
After you’ve cut the stems, it’s time to remove any excess foliage. Mum leaves are notorious for quickly contaminating the water with harmful bacteria and fungi, so you want to remove any leaves that fall below the waterline.
Inspect the Blooms
After you’ve prepped your stems, it’s time to take a closer look at the blooms. Remove any dead or bruised petals to keep your flowers looking fresh. This is also a good time to look for any little bugs that may be hiding in between the layers of petals.
Consider the Blooms
Since mums come in so many different sizes, there’s no one right way to arrange them. The first step to arranging your mums is to take a good look at the flowers you’re working with.
Large single blooms make great focal flowers in a mixed flower arrangement. Place these blooms at the top or sides of a bouquet to let them stand out. And don’t forget to vary stem length to add some differences in height!
If you are working with tiny pompons, you can use these flowers as accents. Consider putting them at the base of a bouquet to let larger focal flowers shine.
Keep Them Healthy
After you’ve finished your arrangement, make sure to check on it regularly. Mums should last anywhere from one to two weeks in a vase, as long as you provide the proper care. Remove any dead flowers or leaves, and replace the water every few days.
We’re Cheering for You
Now that you know a bit more about these cheerful flowers, it’s time to get to work creating a gorgeous mum bouquet! Remember that there’s no one correct way to arrange your flowers, so flex your creative muscles and have some fun.
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