The Clear Sign That Your Fall Mums Are Being Overwatered (& The Easy Fix For It)

Chrysanthemums are a fall favorite for porches and gardens, and it's easy to see why. These vividly colored plants can tolerate cooler temps and come in a wide range of warm and cool tones, making it easy to find the perfect hue to suit your decor. You may even be able to keep your mums alive year-round as long as you have a hardy variety. And since mums are relatively low-maintenance, they're an excellent pick for the busy or forgetful gardener. Still, they aren't completely indestructible, and overwatering may lead to mold growth on the soil or other signs of distress.

To get the most out of your fall mums, place them in full to partial sun. You can display them in pots to act as porch decor or fall centerpieces, or plant them in your garden for a splash of color. In addition to ensuring they get the proper amount of sunlight, it's crucial to establish a watering routine that keeps thirsty mums hydrated but doesn't drown them with waterlogged soil. Here's why mold growth is a clear sign that you're overwatering your mums, and the easy steps to remedy the problem.

Have you noticed a fuzzy white mold on the soil of your mum? Chances are, the plant is getting too much water or doesn't have proper drainage. When you water a plant, the roots absorb the moisture, and then it travels up through the plant, delivering water and nutrients where it needs it most — a good thing in the case of a healthily thirsty mum. However, when the plant repeatedly receives too much water or the soil doesn't have sufficient drainage, the overly moist conditions create the perfect environment for mold to grow. Fortunately, even though the bits of white fuzz you see on the soil indicate a moisture problem, they are harmless saprophytic fungi that don't affect the plant.

Moldy soil isn't the only sign of overwatering. Other distress signals to watch out for include yellowing leaves, stunted plant growth, or rotting of the roots, which can turn the mum brown. If you notice a combination of these signs, it's a good indicator that you need to cut back on watering.

Spotting mold on your mum's soil or other signs of overwatering doesn't mean your plant is doomed. This is an easily fixable problem. Before you get started, grab a face mask (to avoid inhaling mold spores), a pair of gardening gloves, and a garden trowel. Carefully scoop the mold off the top of the soil and discard it. (If the mold is severe in a potted mum, repot the plant with fresh potting soil.)

With the mold gone, it's time to reevaluate your watering regimen. For potted mums, stick your fingers in the soil at least 2 inches deep. If the soil feels dry, it's time to water. If the soil is moist, skip watering and check again the following day. Always ensure that your pot has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape. If it didn't come with any, you can use this easy method to add drainage holes to your plant pots.

For planted mums, up to 1 inch of water per week is ideal. That means watering every other day or as little as weekly, depending on the climate. Water whenever the soil feels dry to the touch. Whether in the ground or in pots, it's also vital to ensure that your mums are properly spaced — plant them 18 to 30 inches apart from each other. Crowded mums may not get adequate air circulation, which can contribute to moldy soil.