Expert: C.L. Fornari - 6/25/2005

Question
I live in South Carolina, I recieved a petty purple mum when my mother past away, and for some reason it is acting like it is going to die, it is looseing all its leaves and the flowers are dieing,I have mums in my yard, all yellow around a base of a tree and they are doing great, they come back every year with more to fill in the bare spots that nothing else seems to grow. but for some reason this one is giving me a fit, I have not had time to put it in the yard yet, it has been in the house for a week now,and is looking real bad, this one has special meaning to it and I want to keep it alive, what can I do to make it last about another week, until I can get the time to put it in the yard?  Thanks for any help you can give me Cathy

Answer
Cathy,
Given the circumstances, I would do the following:  I am assuming that the mum is in a pot – if so, hold onto the stems and take it out of the pot – knock the soil off, as much as possible without being too rough on the plant.

If the roots are black and smell funny, the problem is that it was kept too wet.  If the roots look brown and dried, it was too dry.  In any case, pot the plant in a NEW POT with ALL NEW potting soil.  

Once potted, water the plant well and put it outside in a place that gets morning sun but afternoon shade.  Do not prune back the stems at all, even if they look dried or dead.

Water the plant when the soil looks and feels dry, but do not water before this point.  (Unless it is very hot where you are right now, this will be every three to six days if it is in morning sun only.)  

Once you are able to plant, put it in the ground with the soil you have potted it in.  Do not fertilize at this time, but keep watering when the soil is dry.  

Mums want good air circulation (outdoors) and they don't want to stay too wet.  

If this one does not come back, know that although it was given in memory of your mother, it is that MEMORY of your mother that is important, not the plant.  She, and these memories of her, are ALWAYS with you.

All the best,
C.L. Fornari
www.gardenlady.com