Chrysanthemums more unremarkably have a go at it as “ mums ” are one of the most popular fall flowers . Their vivacious colors and ruffled petals have made them a staple fibre in fall gardens , porch pots , and flower arranging for decades .
When saltation rolls around and its time to start planning the fall garden , the first step is acquiring mum seed . But for new gardeners , the multifariousness of mum seeded player type and pattern can be confusing . What precisely should you be looking for when you open up that source packet ?
In this article , we ’ll walk through the key features of mum seeds so you do it exactly what to expect when planting these fall dearie .

The Basics: Size and Shape
Mum seeds are extremely small . In fact , they are near microscopic ! The seed resemble lilliputian ovals or tear , measuring only 1 to 2 millimetre long .
They have a smooth , glossy Earth’s surface and are typically dark brown or black in semblance . Some varieties may have light chocolate-brown seeded player . The seeds ’ diminutive size allows thousands to accommodate into a single seed packet .
To give you a sense of scale , mum seeds are about the size of a grain of gumption You ’ll ask a magnifying glass to see their oval shape clearly Do n’t expect great , round source like noggin or peas – that would be far too grown for these delicate flowers !
The Coating: Fuzzy or Smooth?
Some types of florists' chrysanthemum seeded player have a blurred , hairy knocked out app . This fine layer of blur help the seminal fluid travel through the wind to circularize . The fibers get onto animals ’ pelt and wear to spread the seeds far and wide .
Other ma seeds have smooth , stark surfaces without these foggy fibers . Both types will develop as well , so the coating is but an adaptation some form have developed for full dispersion .
Fuzzy or bare , the ejaculate coating protect the inner embryo and give it the best chance at accept theme .
What’s Inside: Embryo and Endosperm
If you were to slice a mum source in half ( which would be hard to do due to their tiny size ! ) , you ’d see two fundamental anatomical structure inwardly :
The Embryo : This is the nascent plant itself , containing a miniature root , stem , and first leaves . When the seed is planted and germinates , the embryo emerges and forms the seedling plant .
The Endosperm : The endosperm provides stored food for the embryo as it sprout and starts to develop . It nourishes the baby plant life until the folio can begin photosynthesis and make food on their own .
So even though florists' chrysanthemum source are midget , they take the amazing capacity to rick into a vibrant , colorful blooming plant ! Those small black ellipse contain everything need to start the growing process .
Germination Differences Between Varieties
While all mum seeded player hold an conceptus and endosperm , their germination can differ ground on variety . Here are the key differences :
stock mumswill germinate within 5 - 15 24-hour interval of sowing , come out as picayune green seedlings .
Belgian mumstake a bit longer to germinate , around 2 - 3 week . But once burgeon forth , they catch up in size of it to received mammy .
Perennial mumscan take an prolonged fourth dimension to pullulate , sometimes 4 - 6 weeks ! But do n’t give up on them – their slow emergence is normal .
So if you institute a mix of mum variety show , do n’t be concerned if some sprout much quicker than others . The slower come just ask a flake more metre .
Effects of Light, Water, and Temperature
stimulate mama seed to pullulate takes more than just plant them in soil . Proper light pic , watering , and temperature control help maximise your germination rates .
Light : Seeds should be cover lightly with soil , not inter too mysterious . Some lighting can sink in the soil to get to them , which benefits sprouting . But void direct light photograph at this stage .
H2O : Keep seeded player moist , but not soaked . Adequate water supply softens the seed coat so the radical can emerge . But overwatering can rot the seed .
Temperature : Aim for a moderate 60 - 70 ° degree Fahrenheit . Too dusty will shillyshally sprouting ; too hot can cook the seed . Place pots or trays in a bright spot without unmediated sun .
Meeting these conditions will goad your mum seed to sprout successfully and uprise into gorgeous blooming plants !
Storing Mum Seeds Properly
If you do n’t use up an entire mum seed packet , right storage is a must . Here are a few tip :
Place leftover seed in an airtight container or zip fastener - lock travelling bag . Squeeze excess air out before sealing .
salt away the container in a nerveless , juiceless spot around 40 ° fluorine . The refrigerator is complete , if space allow .
Add a silica gel pack to the container to imbibe excess wet and preclude mold growth .
nullify direct sunlight exposure , which can degrade the seeds . A sullen storage locker is idealistic .
Ready to See Those Seeds Sprout?
Part of the fun with flowers like ma is starting them yourself from seed , rather than buying potted plants from the nursery . There ’s something satisfy about nurturing those tiny seedling into a volley of fall color .
Now that you eff what to expect from ma seed and how to originate them successfully , you ’re ready for develop these garden favorites . Expect those oval , black embryos to produce downy double blooms , graceful daisy descriptor , and everything in between .
The best advice is to not overthink it – mum seeds need to raise if given their basic needs . Before you get it on it , those near - microscopic seeded player will transform into a gorgeous surrender flower display .
Sifting Mum seeds 1
FAQ
How do you get seeds from mums ?
Do mums reseed themselves ?
How do you identify a mum plant ?
What do chrysanthemum seed look like ?
Chrysanthemum seeds are round or ellipse in chassis and can add up in many tone of Robert Brown , depending on the variety of mum . The seed are so bantam that to make up one ounce you ’ll require up to 45,000 florist’s chrysanthemum seeds , consort to HGTV . The texture of mum seeds can also pasture from hard and suave to almost prune - like , calculate on the variety show .
How do mum ripen ?
Mums are “ seed trawl line , ” meaning the ejaculate fountainhead gradually mature and break apart to spill the seed on the earth rather than retaining them or ejecting them like other plants tend to do . The source heads mature on the down part of the stem first , and then later , the top seed heads will ripen .
What should I look for when buying momma seed ?
high-pitched - quality seeds ensure healthy and robust plant that will thrive in your garden . When buy mum seminal fluid , look for reputable seminal fluid suppliers or glasshouse . They should provide detailed information about the seed , including the change , sprouting rate , and any particular care instructions .
Do mum seed germinate reliably ?
However , many hardy garden mum have cum that germinate faithfully . When selecting mum seminal fluid , look for assortment labeled as being grown from seed or specifically for the home garden . Avoid seeds of novelty varieties which may not come true from come .