I'll be anxious to see what kind of advice you get...I've got the same problem with the 8 mums I planted a month ago. The day I bought them none of them had blooms, but were full of buds. Then they all flowered and were gorgeous for a few weeks. Now they all (but one) look awful! I've deadheaded the spent blooms but now I just have leaves with stems that have nothing on them.

Wish I knew what happened...

Welcome to mums- they don't have a long bloom period. I think you've gotten all you're going to get from them.

Oh well, figures... ;o) Thanks for the answer to my question.

Mums bloom once.....like lilys....if they have been forced into being in bloom when you buy them in August, that's all you'll get. But if you buy tiny plants in the early spring and cut the blooms off and water well, they will be a big lovely blooming plants by fall.
Also mums will drop their bloom if they get dry.
Linda C

I've seen hardy mums in my yard bloom twice in a year. Though it may not really be twice, but more of a spread out blooming. It's never a new one, but always a plant that's 1-2 years old. They'll start blooming a bit in early August, and I'll religiously dead-head them. They usually keep producing new buds well into the fall.