Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the morning. High 82F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..
Mostly clear. Low 72F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
With the thoughts of Thanksgiving in our near future, fall Mums come to mind. Garden Mums come in many colors and styles. Garden Mums are a staple to the holiday season and represent the end of summer and the beginning of fall. Mums are actually fairly easy to grow and can withstand both low and high humidity situations. Mums can actually mimic the look of other flowers such as the smaller flower of a daisy (Daisy Mums) or the larger and fancier varieties that can almost look like Roses. You can get Chrysanthemum plants in almost every color but blue.
Mums have been around for a long time and I am sure that many of you have helped your parents or grandparents display these colorful gems during the holidays. Most of the varieties that we use here in North America are simply known as Garden Mums with the botanical classification of Dendranthea grandiflorum. About 80 percent of all garden Mums are sold during the fall and early winter. The reason that these colorful plants burst into bloom in fall is because the shorter days, cooler temperatures and longer nights all contribute to the triggering mechanism that causes these plants to burst into color. Since this winter is going be an El Nino winter, the forecast is for a wet and cool winter season in Florida. This should be great weather for Mums and other winter flowers that love cooler temperatures!
Many people simply buy their Mums in the fall already in bloom from retailers while still others like to plant their own plants and watch them mature and bloom in their own gardens. If you decide to try planting your own, do so in the spring so the root systems can have a chance to get well established to ensure a happy healthy plant. Mums should be planted in a location that will get only a half-day of sun or slightly less. This is especially true in the areas south of Vero Beach. The areas north of Vero Beach will probably have better results with growing Mums in your garden as the harsh effects of the sun are slightly lessened. You can ensure you will get more flowers in the fall if you pinch back the top inch or so of growth about every three weeks until about mid July. This process will help to promote heavy flowing in the fall. Please note you only do the above process if you plan on growing and maintaining your garden Mums on a year round basis.
Mums will grow in a variety of soils as long as it is well drained. Mums do not require a lot of fertilizer but will appreciate a light feeding about once a month with a water-soluble fertilizer such as Miracle Gro. It will also help if you stake your plants, as this will help them to support themselves and keep the heavy Florida rains from knocking them over.
If you plan on only using your Mums as a potted decoration for the holidays, many of the same rules will apply. Keep the plant in a bright, well-lit area of the house and do not let the plant get too dry between watering cycles. Remember that potted plants will dry out much faster then plants that are placed in the ground. A/C will also have an impact on your plants moisture level.
As you can see, having and taking care of Mums does not have to be difficult. Growing and viewing these plants can have so many rewards that any work involved in keeping them looking nice will be well worth it.
Joe Zelenak has more than 30 years experience in gardening and landscape. Send e-mails to hometowngarden@gmail.com or visit his Web site www.hometowngarden.com.
Your comment has been submitted.
There was a problem reporting this.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
Want to receive our paper at home? Subscribe to our Print Edition!
To advertise your business, call (321) 242-1013. Agencies | National | Regional: Call Amanda Tucker at (772) 467-4352. Retail Advertising - Rick Keelan, Multimedia Sales Director Inside Sales - Heather Donaldson, Inside Sales Manager
Sign up for our free e-newsletter: Text BREVARD to 22828 on your smart phone to get started.
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.