Mums Turning Brown: 5 Common Causes And How To Revive Them

Why Are My Mums Turning Brown?

Chrysanthemums—commonly known as mums—are a beloved fall flower, prized for their vibrant colors and long-lasting blooms. However, gardeners often notice their mums turning brown, losing their beauty just as they should be at their peak. Browning mums are a common issue, but understanding the causes and correct care techniques can revive your plants and help prevent further decline. This comprehensive guide explores the main reasons for browning, actionable solutions, and expert prevention tips for thriving chrysanthemums.

Understanding Normal Mum Lifecycle and Browning

Before diving into troubleshooting, it’s important to recognize that some browning is a natural part of the mum’s lifecycle. Flowers age and fade—after weeks of showy color, blossoms naturally turn brown as they finish their blooming cycle. However, premature browning or widespread decline usually signals a cultural, environmental, or disease issue requiring intervention.

• Natural Aging: Blooms gradually turn brown, then dry as they die off after flowering. This is normal and can be managed with regular deadheading.
• Premature Browning: Flowers or foliage turning brown early often indicate problems with watering, disease, pests, or care routines.

Main Causes of Mums Turning Brown

Understanding the root cause of browning is key to reviving your mums. The major causes include improper watering, disease, fungal infections, pests, and environmental stress.

1. Improper Watering

• Overwatering: Soggy soil promotes root rot, which can kill roots and turn both leaves and blooms brown. Overwatering is especially problematic in pots lacking drainage.
• Underwatering: Dry soil leads to wilted, crispy brown leaves and flower heads. Mums have shallow root systems and need consistent moisture, particularly in hot, dry weather.

2. Disease and Fungal Infections

Mums are susceptible to a variety of diseases that can cause brown spots, wilting, and plant collapse.

• Fungal Root Rot: Caused by pathogens like Phytophthora and Phymatotrichopsis, root rot prevents the uptake of water and nutrients. Stems may yellow, then brown, with roots becoming soft and mushy instead of firm and white. Leaves and flowers follow with a brown, wilted appearance.
• Botrytis Blight (Gray Mold): Cool, damp weather encourages fuzzy gray mold on flowers and stems, leading to browning and decay.
• Other Leaf Spots & Blights: Pathogens may cause brown, black, or yellow spots, often starting on lower leaves and spreading upwards.

3. Pest Infestation

• Sap-Sucking Insects: Aphids, leafhoppers, and spider mites feed on plant juices, causing discoloration and transmitting viral diseases that can turn foliage brown.
• Other Pests: Thrips, caterpillars, and beetles may chew leaves and flowers, leaving brown damage behind.

4. Environmental Stress

• Temperature Extremes: Sudden heat or cold snaps can scorch or freeze foliage and blossoms, leading to brown patches or widespread browning.
• Sunburn: Intense afternoon sun can dry out and burn leaves, producing a crispy brown appearance.
• Low Humidity: Very dry air can stress mums, especially indoors or during fall winds.

5. Nutrient Deficiency and Soil Issues

• Lack of Nutrients: Poor, depleted soils cause yellowing, browning, and overall weak growth. Mums are heavy feeders and require balanced nutrition.
• Poor Drainage: Compacted or clay soils that remain soggy promote disease and root problems.

How to Diagnose Why Your Mums Are Turning Brown

To effectively treat the issue, follow a systematic approach to diagnosis:

• Check soil moisture—are roots sitting in water, or is soil dry to the touch?
• Inspect roots—healthy roots are white and firm; brown, mushy roots signal rot.
• Look for pests—check leaves (especially undersides) for insects or webbing.
• Examine for spots, mold, or fungal growth, particularly after rain or damp weather.
• Review recent weather—was there a heatwave, cold snap, or heavy rains?

How to Revive Brown Mums: Step-by-Step Solutions

Once you’ve identified the probable cause, use these strategies to restore your plants to vigor.

1. Adjust Watering Habits

• For Overwatered Mums: Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Ensure pots have drainage holes. If root rot is advanced, gently unpot, cut away rotten roots, and replant in fresh, well-draining soil.
• For Underwatered Mums: Give a deep watering, soaking the soil thoroughly. Maintain even moisture (never let soils dry out completely for extended periods).

2. Manage Fungal Diseases and Mold

• Remove and dispose of all affected brown or moldy plant parts to reduce spread.
• Increase air circulation by spacing mums apart and avoiding overhead watering.
• Apply a fungicide labeled for mums if infection is severe. Always follow label instructions.

3. Control Pests

• Wash away aphids or mites with a strong spray of water.
• Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to suppress most common pests. Repeat applications as needed.
• Remove infected leaves and monitor new growth for signs of recurrence.

4. Address Environmental Stress

• Move potted mums to a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade, especially during hot spells.
• Protect plants during unexpected cold spells with frost cloth or by bringing them indoors.

5. Improve Nutrition and Soil

• Fertilize mums in spring and mid-summer with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10). Avoid overfertilizing, especially with high-nitrogen products, as this can promote weak, disease-prone growth.
• Top-dress with compost or well-rotted manure annually to improve soil structure and fertility.

Preventing Mum Browning: Best Practices

Prevention is the best cure. Follow these routines for vibrant, long-lived mums:

• Site Selection: Plant in well-drained soil in a location with at least 6 hours of sun.
• Water Wisely: Water at the base, keeping foliage dry to prevent fungal issues. Water deeply but less frequently, allowing soil to partially dry between sessions.
• Improve Airflow: Avoid overcrowding. Good spacing ensures leaves dry quickly after rain.
• Mulch: Add mulch to regulate soil moisture and reduce splashing of disease spores onto leaves.
• Pruning and Deadheading: Regularly remove faded flowers to promote more blooms and prevent disease buildup. Pinch back stems before mid-July to encourage bushier plants and prevent leggy, weak growth.
• Monitor for Pests: Check often for early signs and treat promptly.
• Sanitize Tools: Clean pruners and shears to avoid spreading diseases between plants.

Common Mum Diseases and Pests

How to Deadhead and Prune Mums for Healthy Blooms

Proper pruning and deadheading are crucial for both appearance and plant health:

• Deadheading: Regularly snip off spent brown blooms just above a set of healthy leaves. This redirects the plant’s energy to new buds and keeps the plant tidy.
• Pinching Back: In spring and early summer (before buds form), pinch or cut back growth to encourage bushiness and more blooms. Stop pinching by mid-July to ensure flower heads develop before fall.

Tips for Potted Mums

• Ensure pots have good drainage to avoid soggy roots.
• Monitor soil moisture more frequently, as containers dry out faster or hold water longer depending on weather.
• Fertilize lightly every few weeks during active growth.
• Repot every couple of years or if you observe crowded roots, weak growth, or persistent browning.

Overwintering Mums for Future Seasons

Mums can survive winter in many zones with some care:

• After blooming, cut stems back to a few inches above ground level.
• Apply a thick mulch after frost to insulate roots.
• In cold areas, overwinter potted mums in a cool basement or garage, watering occasionally to prevent the soil from completely drying out.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why are my mum’s leaves turning brown at the edges?

A: Brown leaf edges often signal inconsistent watering—either too much or too little. Check soil moisture and adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

Q: Can brown mums be revived?

A: If browning is due to minor underwatering, deadheading, thorough watering, and proper care can often revive the plant. Severely affected mums (especially from advanced root rot or viral diseases) may not recover and should be removed to protect healthy plants.

Q: How do I prevent fungal diseases in my mums?

A: Water at the base, avoid wetting leaves, plant in well-drained soils, and regularly remove dead or diseased material.

Q: Should I fertilize mums after planting?

A: Yes, mums are heavy feeders and benefit from a balanced fertilizer in spring and early summer. Avoid fertilizing late in the growing season, which can promote weak growth susceptible to frost and disease.

Q: What’s the best way to deadhead mums?

A: Use sharp scissors or pruners to snip off faded blooms just above the next healthy set of leaves, stimulating new flower bud development.

Conclusion

Browning mums can be distressing, but with a little detective work and the right care, most issues can be fixed or prevented. Focus on well-drained soil, balanced feeding, wise watering, and prompt removal of spent flowers and diseased plant parts. These habits will help ensure a brilliant, healthy mum display season after season.

Author

Anjali Sayee

 

Anjali is an Associate Editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience specializing in hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She has authored over 300 articles and offers expert advice on hair styling techniques, effective skin care routines, and tips for maintaining healthy hair and skin.

Read full bio of Anjali Sayee