Planning on decorating the fall front porch with mums? Here are my best tips on how to make those mums last longer.

You can make mums last all the way through the fall season with these step-by-step tips and advice.

Pumpkins, including orange, white, and bumpy textured varieties, sit on steps with purple and pink mums, black lanterns, and candles, creating a festive autumn display.

Today is ALL ABOUT KEEPING IT REAL.

Mum real that is.

For years and years and years (and dare I say years) I have photographed this front porch with mums.

See that mum at the top?

That’s what that mum looked like a couple of weeks ago.

And every year those mums look cute.

FOR TWO MINUTES.

It’s like right after the camera leaves? All those blooms that are on the mum that look like they are about to bloom?

They never do. Never ever.

I talk to them. I encourage them. I cheer them on. I tell them they are the most beautiful mums on the entire planet. But here’s the thing. They don’t listen. Because the day after I photograph them in all their “about to bloom” glory? They start to wilt. They don’t bloom. They shrivel up in the Texas heat and sigh and say “Peace out.” I had given up and I thought mums were just for photographing.

Until.

Until this year, when I discovered the most amazing mum blooming secret on the planet.

And I came up with this solution.

A fall-themed porch display featuring orange, white, and bumpy pumpkins, purple flowers in a pot, and black lanterns with candles on gray steps.

But first?

I feel like I need proof to prove my point.

So let me share a little before and after mum photography with you. These pictures are taken two weeks apart.

Here’s this mum two weeks ago?

Front porch decorated for autumn with purple mums that last longer, orange and white pumpkins, black lanterns, and metal pumpkin sculptures on gray steps. A white house with glass doors and a “KIND” sign is in the background.

Here’s the exact same mum on the exact same porch two weeks later.

Pumpkins, including orange, white, and bumpy textured varieties, sit on steps with purple and pink mums, black lanterns, and candles, creating a festive autumn display.

Here’s the mum in the front on this side of the porch.

A large pot of blooming pink chrysanthemums sits on a porch, surrounded by white pumpkins and a textured, bumpy orange pumpkin on a concrete surface near gray steps—perfect for autumn displays where mums last longer.

Here’s the same mum two weeks later.

A front porch decorated for fall with orange, white, and purple pumpkins, potted purple and pink flowers, white lanterns, and a wreath and garland of autumn leaves around the black door.

Here’s the porch I showed you from two weeks ago.

A house entrance decorated for autumn with pumpkins, potted mums that last longer, lanterns, and fall wreaths. “Seven Hundred One” is written above the door, and the porch has festive orange, white, and purple accents.

And here’s the exact same porch with the exact same mums.

BUT THEY MADE IT.

They didn’t shrivel up and say “Peace Out” two minutes after that picture was taken.

But what was the difference? What worked this year?

Meet my miracle workers.

how to keep potted plants alive plant spikes

How To Make Mums Last Longer

These plant watering spikes.

They are the difference makers.

I think these plant watering spikes are the easiest, simplest most cost-effective way (with almost 4,000 reviews on Amazon) to consistently deliver water to my potted Dipladenias outside.

You can see the plant watering spikes here (and they are under $16 with the coupon right now).

I actually ordered two boxes because there are six in each box and I have about a dozen plants and mums on the two porches.

The spikes are 6″ long and they were perfect for the mums.

how to keep potted plants alive terracotta plant spikes

|| terracotta plant spikes ||

Why do the plant spikes work?

The reason why they work?

Science.

I didn’t really pay that much attention in physics, so I can’t explain the science of how they work, but they do. The spikes are made out of a thick terracotta.

I think the secret is in the thickness of the terracotta. If they were slimmer, the water would disperse much more quickly; however, because they are so thick, it takes about 3-4 days for an entire 20-oz water bottle to empty directly into the root of the plants.

(Also—we did a test with just inserting the water bottle directly into the soil and the water dissipates so quickly that it doesn’t water as well. The plant spikes are the KEY!)

How to install the plant spikes

Installing the plant spikes is so easy that if you blink, you’ll miss it.

You just take the plant spike and stick it into the side of the mum (aiming it at the roots).

Make sure the plant spike is inserted all the way into the plant so that the maximum amount of water can ooze out of the terracotta spike into the roots.

Several frosted plastic water bottles filled with frozen water are placed inside a woven wicker basket—an easy trick from How To Keep Potted Plants Alive on hot days.

Now the plant spikes are amazing.

But do you know what makes them even more amazing and doubles the watering time?

FROZEN WATER BOTTLES.

Yep.

We just use regular water bottles and fill them up about 3/4 of the way full (the water expands when they freeze, so you don’t want to fill them up all the way to the top) and then freeze them.

We have two sets, so we are freezing a set while we are using the other set.

You just take the frozen water bottle and flip it upside down in the terra cotta spike. It slowly melts and drips the water into the soil.

That’s it.

Also—one other tip?

Root soak the mum.

I know, right?

It’s such a simple tip, but it makes SUCH A DIFFERENCE.

So many times we bring mums home from the garden center, they are already dry. You want to get all that water where it matters to the mum the most—the roots.

I fill tubs with a couple of inches of water and I let the mums soak for 1-2 hours until the roots are watered.

A large white pot overflowing with dense clusters of small purple mums sits on a porch ledge, with pumpkins and a basket in the background. Sunlight filters through a grassy yard, highlighting how mums last longer in the cool autumn air.

Just look at this mum.

A front porch decorated for autumn with purple mums that last longer in pots, white and orange pumpkins, rustic wooden pumpkin sculptures, and black lanterns on gray steps.

And this one, too.

Although it needs a little trimming at the bottom.

From barely blooming to full-blown fall mums.

Root soaking and those plant spikes.

I’m telling you.

This tip is GOLD.

I’m so happy the porch is decorated and ready for cooler days ahead.

Here’s to making mums (and fall) last a WHOLE lot longer. 🙂

PS You can see the plant spikes here.

A large white pot overflowing with vibrant purple mums sits on a porch near some decorative pumpkins. The image highlights a pink banner that shares the best secret to help mums last longer, from thistlewoodfarms.com.

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Posted On: October 20, 2025

Written By: KariAnne Wood

Comments

  1. Image for Alice Hanson Alice Hanson

    KariAnne, That is amazing! Such great experimental tips! I didn’t have to do the experimenting 😉! Smiles, Alice

    Reply
    1. Image for Rizae Rizae

      Diana, If you can't say anything positive move on... this blog is to give us something to smile about. We do not care how many mums KA has. We like her, her stories and her decore. You are not welcome here if you are going to be mean! Just saying what others feel.

      Reply
    4. Image for Dory Messenger Dory Messenger

      WHY - OH WHY are you here? KariAnne works very hard at what she does and brings pleasure to so many. It's a shame you can't just enjoy a beautiful photo. And please note - except for the fresh items, she has had and used and re-used and purposed and re-purposed so much of her decor for years - she is great about searching out bargains and coupons and sharing her finds with all of of us. I am sorry if you are struggling, and I do hope your basic needs are being met, but please try to be positive about what you do have and not negative about what others have. You have no idea what anyone else's life is truly like, what hidden pains some may be living with. I wish you well.

      Reply
  3. Image for Mary Jane Flanagan Mary Jane Flanagan

    That makes great sense. I have looked at the Mums this year and so far have held off for that same reason, they just don't last well. So quick question, do you fill with the clay water holders with water AND put the frozen water bottle in the neck of the clay waterers? Im just not sure how far those bottles go into the clay waterer. Thanks so much!!

    Reply
    1. Image for KariAnne Wood KariAnne Wood

      Great question! You put the clay holder into the pot. Then you put the frozen water bottle into the holder. It slowly melts and waters the perfect amount into the mums! Does that make sense? Happy day! KariAnne

      Reply
  4. Image for Rizae Rizae

    I bought these spikes this summer and use them in my hanging baskets. They have been a plant and sanity saver! I fill mine up once a week and it has made a huge difference in my pocketbook... no more replacing plants that I forgot to water!!! 😊 Big Hugs

    Reply
  5. Image for Diane E Edwards Diane E Edwards

    Does this work for the planted mums? I always plant mine and sometimes they just don't make it, usually get too dry even with the sprinkler. We do get frost here but they sometimes do okay anyway.

    Reply
    1. Image for Sheilah Perry-Rosales Sheilah Perry-Rosales

      Make sure you are buying the right kind of mum for planting in ground that will come back in spring.Ask your garden center about them

      Reply
  6. Image for Janet Janet

    Thanks for the tip, mums can be so finicky about water. Your front entry looks so pretty now that the mums have blossomed out. I love the unusual color combination. It just says happy people live here.

    Reply
  7. Image for Trudyt Trudyt

    I’ll share my little tip. I buy fake and real matching mums. As the real begin to fade, I cut the fake mums apart and just stick the stems with the blooms into my faded real mums and they last through thanksgiving. I hate that thanksgiving gets overlooked with commercialness of Christmas. I love thanksgiving and all that it stands for!

    Reply
  8. Image for PJ PJ

    Where do you buy those large mums? I've never seen any quite so full around here. Have you ever planted them in your garden when they're done flowering? That's my favorite part of them...almost. Beautiful

    Reply
    2. Image for Elaine Streetrr Elaine Streetrr

      Do you only use one spike foe your large mum? I love everything about your "excess"!! And YOU for years😘

      Reply
  9. Image for Donna Donna

    They look so beautiful, as does the whole porch! I think those spikes are genius- thanks for the tip. I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one cheering my mums on 😂

    Reply
  11. Image for Joy A. Joy A.

    I was given 2 mums from those working an information table at the end of a music festival. They hadn’t even bloomed yet. Now a month later, they are beautiful and boy are they thirsty all the time as I’ve got them sitting on my front porch in full sun.

    Reply
    1. Image for KariAnne Wood KariAnne Wood

      You can see the entire process here: https://thistlewoodfarms.com/diy-plaster-walls-with-drywall-mud/ Happy day! KariAnne

      Reply

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