Seasonal Plant Care: What To Do With Mums In Fall & Poinsettias After The Holidays

Here’s how to care for seasonal potted plants like mums in the fall and poinsettias in December, so you can either extend their life or transition them post-season:

Mums (Fall):

Mums (Chrysanthemums) are popular for fall decoration, but you can help them last longer or even get them to rebloom the following year with these tips:

1. Extend their Bloom:
   • Keep mums in bright, indirect sunlight, and water them regularly to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
   • Deadhead (remove) faded flowers to encourage more blooms.
2. After the Season:
   • If you want to keep them as perennials: Mums can be planted in your garden. After their blooms are done, trim back the stems and plant them in well-drained soil in a sunny spot before the ground freezes. Mulch around them for winter protection. They may regrow next year if the winter isn’t too harsh.
   • If you don’t want to plant them: You can compost them or dispose of them after the season ends, as potted mums often don’t survive indoors long-term.

Poinsettias (December):

Poinsettias are known for their vibrant red (or pink and white) leaves, making them a popular holiday plant. After December, you can either discard or keep them for future rebloom:

1. Caring Through Winter:
   • Keep your poinsettia in a bright, sunny spot indoors and water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Avoid letting it sit in standing water.
   • Poinsettias prefer cooler temperatures (around 60-70°F) and don’t like drafts.
2. After the Holiday Season:
   • To keep it for next year:
     • Around late spring, cut the plant back to 4-6 inches and place it in a bright, warm spot.
     • Move the poinsettia outdoors when temperatures are consistently above 50°F. Repot into a slightly larger pot and fertilize monthly.
     • To encourage holiday reblooming: From late September to early December, place the plant in complete darkness for 14 hours each night (e.g., in a closet or cover it with a box) and expose it to bright light during the day. This mimics the natural light cycle needed to trigger the colorful bracts (the colored leaves) in time for the holiday season.
   • If you don’t want to keep it: Compost or discard the plant after the season ends.

Both mums and poinsettias can be enjoyed beyond their typical seasonal use if cared for properly, but they also make great compost material if you prefer to refresh with new plants each year!