Are Your Mums Turning Brown? Here’s How To Revive Them

Are your Chrysanthemums turning brown, but you aren't quite sure what to do? Chrysanthemums, also known as "Mums" are a very hardy flower. The good news is that if you've seen some browning, you can likely reverse course. In this article, Jason Wilson examines what to do when you see browning, and how to recover.

Written by Jason Wilson Horticulture review by Sarah Jay Last updated: March 7, 2025 | 8 min read

An overhead shot of flowers that showcases why mums turn brown

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Chrysanthemums are a wonderful symbol of the fall. Mums are easy to grow and bring some much-needed color into landscapes that may be turning more dreary as the days pass. They come in countless hues, including red, orange, and green, that are sure to brighten up your garden in the fall. If their romantic beauty weren’t enough, you’ll also be glad to know that mums are incredibly easy to care for.

They are a delight to gardeners of any skill level, with rewarding blooms that don’t need much effort to look their best. With that being said, as hardy as these flowers are, they are still susceptible to issues that may endanger their health. When this happens, the flowers and other parts of the plant can turn brown.

Is this happening to you? It can certainly be frustrating, not to mention alarming, to see your prized chrysanthemums turning brown. There are a few different factors to consider when determining why your chrysanthemums are becoming discolored.

In this article, we explore the causes of mums turning brown and how to rectify each issue. You’ll also get some additional tips on how to care for browned mums, plus how to prevent browning from happening.

4 Reasons Mums Turn Brown

While there can be many reasons for chrysanthemums turning brown, it’s usually down to one of four categories. These are environmental concerns, diseases, pests, and simple natural causes.

Environmental Concerns

A shot of dead and wilting flowers in a well lti area — Several environmental factors can cause browning to the flowers.

Environmental concerns have to do with the environment in which your mums are planted, including the care that you give them. While they are a fairly low-maintenance plant, it’s still important that you find a good place for them and work to fulfill their needs. Happier mum plants produce more mum flowers, after all!

Sunlight

A shot of a composition of flowers that area wilting alongside other healthy flowers and leaves in a well lit area — Without ample sunlight, the flowers will wilt and turn brown.

Chrysanthemums thrive when given full sun. While they can tolerate some shade, you will get the brightest and best blooms when they are given a lot of sunlight.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make their food, and this process requires sunlight. Not getting enough sun can mean the flowers will wilt and your mums will turn brown. Ensure they get at least 6 hours of sun every day.

If you live somewhere warmer, mums will benefit from shade given during the hottest hours of the afternoon. Too much sun can also be a bad thing, as the flowers can burn from the heat, thus drying them up and turning them brown, as well. The key is to strike a good balance, so your mums get the sun they need without getting overwhelmed.

Soil

A shot of withered flowers in a pot in an area indoors — Soils with poor drainage can end up rotting the roots of the plants.

Chrysanthemums can thrive in different types of soil. However, it’s important that the soil has good drainage. Poor drainage in the soil can end up rotting the roots of your plants. This will turn your mums brown, as well as spell the death of the whole plant. Mixing in compost will improve drainage.

While on the topic of improving soil conditions, a lack of nutrition in the soil can also create difficulties for mums and turn them brown. Mums enjoy rich, fertile soils. You can use a test kit to determine what nutrients your soil needs more of. Then, purchase a fertilizer that prioritizes those nutrients.

Bear in mind that using any fertilizer must be done with caution. Follow the instructions thoroughly and use only the recommended amount. Any less can mean little to no effect, which is a waste of effort. Any more, and you run the risk of burning your plant, which can also turn mums brown!

Water

Chrysanthemums need a good amount of water. Not fulfilling their watering needs can easily turn mums brown. During the growing period, mums will need around an inch of water per week. Once they’re established and the buds begin to open, you will need to water at least two to three times a week. They’re quite thirsty, so take care that they’re getting the water they need.

However, overwatering can also be an issue. Too much water can mean suffocating your plant, which will deprive it of nutrients, thus wilting the flowers and causing that brown color. If you can’t tell when your mums need water, try touching the soil.

Temperature

A shot of a composition of withered flowers in a well lit area indoors — The flowers will brown when subjected to harsh cold temperatures.

Chrysanthemums are pretty tolerant, but any temperature extremes will definitely cause them to brown. This is especially true for colder weather, which mums tend to be subjected to more often since they’re a fall-season plant. Early hard frosts can cause your mums to wilt and turn brown.

If you know the temperature is going to dip below 28°F (-2°C) for more than 4 hours, do your best to cover your mums to protect them from the cold. The same can be said for any forecasted heavy rain, or even hail.

Drought will also be detrimental to your chrysanthemums’ health. If you live in a very dry area, or expect higher temperatures that will dry the soil out, ensure that you water your blooms more frequently.

Diseases

Disease can certainly be devastating to your chrysanthemum plants, easily turning their blooms brown. There are a few different causes of disease in chrysanthemums—we’ll be covering the most common ones here.

Fungal Diseases

Chrysanthemums in a pot on the windowsill affected by Fusarium wilt display wilting and yellowing leaves, along with stunted growth, while the stems exhibit dark vascular discoloration near the base. — Fungal diseases can cause trouble and kill the plant if the infection is not treated.

Fungal diseases can cause plenty of trouble for mums, so it’s important to rid your plants of the disease as soon as possible. Treating the infection and containing it is key to fixing the problem. One common fungal disease plaguing chrysanthemums turning brown is fusarium wilt.

Fusarium wilt is caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. This spreads via your mums’ roots and into their vascular tissues. The plant will wilt and the leaves will turn yellow or brown. Flowers may not bloom, in some cases not growing at all. Overall growth is stunted, too.

It can be easy to mistake this fungal infection for root rot, since the key symptoms are the same. However, there are a few differences that can help you identify the issue. Fusarium wilt will sometimes cause wilting on only one part of the plant, whereas root rot causes the whole plant to wilt.

One surefire way to tell is by looking at the roots. Fusarium wilt does not really affect the roots of the plant, so they will look healthy. Root rot, as the name implies, will rot the roots and darken their color.

You should work to control this fungal infection immediately, as allowing it to progress could kill your chrysanthemums (a much sadder outcome than the plant simply turning brown). You can do this by destroying any infected plant material. Clear the area of contaminated debris to prevent further spread. Be sure to clean your tools thoroughly before using them again on healthy plants.

Ultimately, prevention is better than cure. Purchase chrysanthemum plants that are certified disease-free. The fusarium fungus can survive undetected in your soil for many years, so ensuring that your plants are clear from the get-go can really spare you the headache.

Bacterial Diseases

A shot of leaves of a plant infected with bacterial leaf spot — Bacterial diseases can be difficult to control and can easily kill the plant.

Bacterial diseases are another common problem that can turn your chrysanthemum plants brown. They can be difficult to control, so acting fast is imperative. One common bacterial infection that affects chrysanthemums is chrysanthemum leaf spot. This is caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas cichorii.

This disease is sometimes spread through the leaves of the plant. Even healthy-looking leaves can carry the bacteria, so it can be difficult to determine if it’s there or not. Identification is key to mitigating the spread of the bacteria.

Diseased plants will have irregular spots on the leaves, dark brown in color. These will eventually dry out into a lighter color, and then crack. You will see this at the base of the plant. It will slowly make its way up, making the leaves curl up and cause blight in both new and established flowers.

The spots on the leaves will be damp—this is where the bacteria thrives. Be careful when handling these plants. Try to avoid touching them while they are wet, as this can spread the bacteria to healthy plants.

You can control the disease by using a copper hydroxide spray. Regular antibacterial sprays won’t cut it, unfortunately—these have been studied to be ineffective against this bacteria. Use the spray on the plant immediately after noticing the symptoms. Prune away damaged foliage and then spray thoroughly, ensuring the plant is covered. If there are any plants that are too badly diseased, remove these and destroy them. As always, deep clean your tools before using them on healthy plants.

Many chrysanthemum varieties will be more resistant to this type of disease. When planting, space the plants far enough apart to allow proper air circulation.

This will help mitigate the spread of bacteria, as they thrive in warm, damp conditions. Do not overfeed your chrysanthemums, as this can promote further bacterial growth. Lastly, water your plants at the base instead of from above, as moisture on the leaves can invite bacteria to infect the plant.

Pests

A shot of a slug feeding on a yellow flower in a well lit area — Pests can carry and spread diseases to the plants.

Chrysanthemums can turn brown as a result of diseases spread by pests. All plants are susceptible to pest infestations, after all, even the hardy mum. Many pests can bring problems to the plant that will cause it to discolor and turn brown.

The pests that plague chrysanthemums tend to be quite small. Thrips and mites are some of them, and they’re certainly difficult to spot. If you suspect an infestation, try placing a piece of white paper, cloth, or canvas under the leaves. Gently shake the plant, then check for black or red dots. You’ll know they’re pests if they move.

Other pests to watch out for are aphids, earwigs, slugs, and snails. These can all bear diseases that will harm your plant, as well as damage the foliage. To treat the problem, you can spray insecticide or insecticidal soap onto the plant. Once you have gotten rid of the pests, the browning should cease.

Natural Causes

Lastly, your chrysanthemums may be turning brown from simple natural causes. If you’ve ruled out all other possibilities, it’s likely that the browning is something natural that happens. This will eventually fix itself, so it’s rarely a cause for concern as long as you care for the plant properly.

Acclimation

A focused shot of a wilted flower in a well lit area — The flowers can fail to acclimate to their new environment and display alarming symptoms.

Acclimation may be the reason for your mums turning brown. Buying plants from nurseries will entail taking them from their comfortable environment, transporting them, and placing them in their new home. This can be a stressful process for the plant. As such, it could display symptoms that can cause alarm, such as wilting, drooping, lower leaves dying, and turning brown.

As dramatic as your mums are, it’s important to be patient and care for them to the best of their ability while they adjust to their new surroundings. A few weeks of TLC should get them back in tip-top shape, with the new leaves staying green, and the flowers being vibrant.

Life Cycle

A shot of dead flowers in a well lit area — The flowers can turn brown and fade away because of their natural life cycle.

The final reason your mums could be turning brown is because of their natural life cycle. While they are fall flowers, the winter will also slow growth. They will eventually turn brown and fall away when they have finished flowering for the year.

In this case, if you have cared for them properly, it’s simply time to bid them goodbye for the year, thanking them for the gorgeous blooms they’ve graced your garden with. If you’ve been diligent with addressing their needs, they should come back in time for another spectacular show when the next autumn comes.

Caring For Mums After Browning

A shot of browned and withering flowers in a pot near a window indoors — Prune off the affected areas of the plant, attend to its needs, and it will grow back into a healthy plant.

After the leaves or flowers of your mums have turned brown, prune the affected areas. This will encourage new growth in the correct color. In fact, you can cut back the plant to an extreme degree if the damage has been very bad. It should grow back healthy in no time at all.

Being vigilant and attending to their needs with greater care should perk them back up again. Fortifying the soil with hearty organic matter should also give them a nutrient boost—just be sure not to overfeed. Mulching the soil is also a great idea, and will help protect the roots of your chrysanthemums.

Browning Prevention

A person using a cloth to wipe and sanitize a black pruner. — Clean tools, dispose of infected plant matter, and provide adequate plant protection to prevent browning.

Preventing your mums from turning brown starts with understanding their needs better. Now that you’ve read through this article, you can proceed with greater confidence. Here are a few good ways to prevent mums from browning.

In the case of clearing up an infection, you can prevent more mums from turning brown by being thorough with your clean-up job. Dispose of infected plant matter properly, ensuring no diseased tissue is left behind, even as debris. We cannot stress the importance of thoroughly cleaning your tools when they’ve been used on diseased plants. This includes pots. Hygienic tools will mean better health for every plant in your garden.

If there is harsh weather forecasted, you can prevent browning by giving your chrysanthemums adequate protection from the elements. Mulching as a means of protecting against frost is also a good idea.

Prevent Early Flowering

A shot of blooming and browning flowers in a well lit area indoors — The flowers can bloom and brown quicker when planted too early in the year.

Lastly, a good tip is to prevent your mums from flowering early. If your mums flower too early in the year, they will turn brown much quicker than they should, as their flowering period will end before you want it to. Plant your mums in the spring as a way to let the plant adapt to the environment, establishing good health before showtime in the fall.

Sometimes, buds will form in late spring. Pinch the tips of the growing stems with your forefinger and thumb. Do this once or twice a month until around July. This way, your blooms are basically guaranteed to arrive in the fall, when they should. This also gives the plant better chances of their blooms lasting six to eight weeks—a long time to enjoy their gorgeous colors! Then, they will follow their natural life cycle and your mums will turn brown at the expected time.

Are Your Mums Turning Brown? Here’s How To Revive Them