Never let them dry out! How an expert keeps mums blooming all season

SALT LAKE CITY — It will stop you in your summer shopping tracks: mums are showing up on the scene! From Costco to the garden centers, everyone's favorite fall flower is ready to land on your front porch.

Brian Lloyd, with Olson's Greenhouse, shared new looks for 2026 and how to care for them.

How to Make Blooms Last Longer

Lloyd said the best way to care for mums is actually opposite from what most people think. They're often labeled for full sun, but he suggested putting them in the shade once you get them home

"What I like to do with my mums is put them under the front porch," he explained. "In the shade, full shade... That cools them down and makes the blooms last a lot longer."

Lloyd also emphasized not to let mums dry out. He said they bloom once, then they don't re-bloom again in the same season.

"You wanna get those blooms to last as long as you can," he said. "Water them all the time. Every day. That drying out is what kinda does the blooms in."

What to Do If Your Mums Start Wilting

If your mums do start to wilt, Lloyd has a trick that will bring them back.

"Stick them in a bucket of water and let them soak up that water from the bottom for about a half an hour," he explained.

A deep soak can revive stressed plants and give you a second chance to enjoy your fall mums.

Choosing Colors for Your Fall Porch

Mums come in so many different colors. Deep fall tones like oranges, yellows and reds are always great choices. But Lloyd also said there are some other pretty options to look for.

"I love the jewel tones," he said. "I love bright colors, so yellows, purples, pinks."

He also mentioned that white is the trending color nowadays. It's a great classic to add to your porch.

"You can find white mums, and they make a beautiful front porch," he said. "Especially when you go all white with a classic look."

Find more flowers at ogg.com.