How to Plant Mums in a Container
- 1). Select a container 10 to 12 inches in diameter with drainage holes on the bottom. Mums have shallow root systems so the depth of the container can be 8 to 10 inches.
- 2). Mix equal parts of fine sand, peat moss and loam. Spread the mixture on a cookie sheet. Place the sheet in a preheated oven at 160 degrees Fahrenheit to sterilize the mixture. Bake for 30 minutes and remove from the oven and let cool.
- 3). Scoop enough soil into the container to fill it halfway. Tamp the soil down so it is firmly packed. Water the soil so it is wet.
- 4). Remove the garden mum from the nursery pot. Grab the pot with one hand and turn it sideways while you use the other hand to gently shake the plant from the pot. Place the mum in the center of the container on top of the wet soil. The base of the mum must be no more than 1 inch from the top of the container. Add or remove soil as needed and place the plant back in the container.
- 5). Hold the mum plant upright and scoop the remaining soil into the container, tamping the soil with your hand to pack it around the roots.
- 6). Set the mum in full sun and water thoroughly. New plantings can go a few days without watering, but established plants need watering once daily, twice if it's hot and dry.
