Advantages and Disadvantages of Planting Cushion Mums
Cushion mums are great additions to any garden or front yard area. They add a necessary splash of color and can benefit your garden in a myriad of ways. Many people want to know what advantages and disadvantages are associated with planting cusion mums. By educating yourself on the plant, you can discover the answers.
Advantages
Generally, chrysanthemums are colorful and beautiful perennial plants, which means you will be able to grow them for years as long as you properly winterize them. Cushion mums are the type that bloom during the fall season but will nonetheless need to be protected from extremely freezing temperatures during the winter.
Pruning a cushion mum is relatively simple. The pinching method is very easy to perform, and all it takes is the use of your thumb and forefinger to remove a small portion of leaves on the stem. Small pruning scissors can also do the trick. Mums also make great cut flowers, as they will last for several weeks, especially when you keep their water fresh and leave them out of direct sunlight.
Disadvantages
On the flipside, the disadvantages of planting cushion mums is that they are prone to several pests and diseases, some of which may be particularly tricky to deal with and eliminate. For example, the disease pythium affects the mum's roots and causes them to go brown and die. Obviously, a plant cannot survive if its roots get attacked to the point of death, and cushion mums are certainly no exception to this rule.
Mums are very commonly attacked by a pest called aphids. These insects feed on growing flower buds and cause the plant to wilt and for its foliage to go yellow and curl up. It may be particularly difficult to combat this pest and salvage your mums.
Fungal problems can also plague your cushion mums in an adverse manner. This usually occurs when you are overwatering your plants, and you will require a good fungicide to restore your mums.
