I was thinking about planting my own containers of mums for this fall. I wanted to use them to decorate for the autumn season. Is it too late to plant them from seeds to enjoy them most of fall? Thank you!

Also, if it is, do you think if I got small mum plants now, I could grow them out by fall? Thank you!

Mums are not grown from seed, but if they were it would be way way too late. Yes you could buy small plants now and they would bloom, but I don't think you would be happy with the results. You would be giving them transplant trauma right at the time they are deciding how many flowers to produce, so you won't get the display you hope for, and the plants will stay small. Next year, though, you would have beautifully flowering plants.

Leftwood said: Mums are not grown from seed, but if they were it would be way way too late. Yes you could buy small plants now and they would bloom, but I don't think you would be happy with the results. You would be giving them transplant trauma right at the time they are deciding how many flowers to produce, so you won't get the display you hope for, and the plants will stay small. Next year, though, you would have beautifully flowering plants.

Oh, interesting! So are they just grown from clippings? Thanks for the info! I guess I'll just buy big ones this year! Thank you!

Yes, in the greenhouses they are grown from rooted cuttings. Of course, you in the garden can divide a mature plant in the spring.