Why Are My Mums Turning Brown? (Here's What You Can Do)

Chrysanthemums, a.k.a. mums are a wonderful, vibrant choice for a fall garden. Many gardeners love them because they are strong, hardy plants who thrive even when slightly neglected.

But although they are resilient, easy-going plants, they are not immune to an untimely death.

If your mums are turning brown, it is likely due to improper water, disease, or insect infestations. Begin by looking to see if they have been oversoaked by rain or if they are excessively dry. Excessive water can lead to fungi growth, which can be identified by leaf spots or brown rust.

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When their soil is heavily saturated, or the plant stays wet too much, mums are susceptible to fungi diseases. Two of the most common types of fungi that affect mums are leaf spot and brown rust.

Leaf Spot: This is caused by several types of fungi that cause the plants to turn brown and die. You can recognize it by its characteristic dark brown or black irregular spots. They eventually dry, turn a lighter color and begin to crack.

Brown Rust: This is caused by a kind of fungus where leaves start to develop swollen brown areas on their undersides. You may also notice pale areas on the upper leaf surfaces. Plants that are severely infected are very weak and will not bloom properly.

Wilt disease: This disease attacks the vascular tissue of the plant. The early symptoms include yellowing and browning leaves. The leaves start to die from the base of the plant and up. causing brown streaks to appear.

Flowers with this disease may wilt and die suddenly. Wilt disease lives in the soil and enters the plant via the roots. It later attacks the vessels of the stem and cuts off its water supply.

Pick off the infected leaves as soon as you can. Be sure to set any new plants farther apart and ensure that they have proper ventilation.

This can prevent or sometimes reduce the effects of fungi diseases. The best time to use fungicide for prevention is when new plant growth happens in the spring. At that time, choose a fungicide best suited for flowering plants.

Unfortunately, this cannot be treated. If you believe your plant is afflicted with wilt disease, it’s best to toss it and start over with fresh, sterilized soil.

To deal with insects, simply rinse insects off with a strong stream of water to remove them from the plants. You can also use an insecticide to kill them.

Mums are big fans of the full, early sun. While they will do well with 5-6 hours of sunlight daily, they’ll fare even better with as much sunlight as possible. Give them a little shade to protect them from scorching on hot summer days.

Mums are susceptible to mildew, so it’s important that their leaves and stems stay dry. The morning sun, ample air circulation, and effective water drainage will keep them dry.

Mums bloom when they sense shortening days and longer nights. Try not to plant them near any streetlights or other sources of light at night.

Related Questions

How can I tell if my mums are dead?

Start by examining the mums’ roots. If they look brown and dry, the plant is most likely dead. If the roots look white and healthy, the plant is alive. It will need some extra attention to survive.

Can I revive my mums?

If your mums suffered a rough winter it may be possible to revive them. Start by picking off all the dead parts all the way down to the roots. Then add some fresh fertilizer to the soil. Make sure the pot is in the sun, and water it well. Keep an eye on it, and prune it as described above once it starts budding.