How to grow daisies well? A detailed guide to the latest care methods
The daisy, also known as spring chrysanthemum, horse orchid flower, and yanmingju, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Bellis in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Europe and is cultivated in gardens across China as an ornamental flowerbed plant. It blooms in early spring, with small and exquisite flowers, harmonious colors, and full of vitality, possessing the bearing of a gentleman and a naively charming appeal. Now let us take a look at how to grow daisies well!
Daisy Growth Habits
Daisies prefer cool climates and dislike intense heat. They like light and also tolerate partial shade, and they are not strict about the soil of the cultivation site. The suitable temperature for seed germination is 22-28°C, and the suitable temperature for growth is 20-25°C. The southwestern region is suitable for planting medium- and small-flowered single or semi-double varieties. Medium- and large-flowered double varieties grow weakly and set seed poorly.
How do daisies propagate?
1. Seed propagation: In the south, sowing is mostly done in autumn from August to September, and spring sowing is also possible, but growth is often poor in summer. In the north, sowing is mostly done in spring, and autumn sowing is also possible, but in winter the flower seedlings need to be moved into a greenhouse for cultivation and management. Because daisy seeds are relatively small, broadcasting is usually adopted. However, seedlings grown from seed often cannot retain the characteristics of the mother plant.
2. Division propagation: Daisy seedlings show considerable variation, so for some superior varieties the division method can be used for propagation, but the growth vigor is not as good as that of seedlings, and seed setting is poor. In mid-to-late March, the old chrysanthemum greens can be dug out, exposing the root crown, and the lateral buds that already have roots can be cut off together with the old roots and transplanted into the field. Division propagation is more suitable when new shoots are sprouting.
3. Cutting propagation: Daisies can be propagated by cuttings throughout the growing season, with the highest survival rate for cuttings taken from April to June. The seedbed is best made with new soil mixed with thoroughly composted organic fertilizer. Cut branches with 3-5 nodes and a length of 8-10 cm, remove the basal leaves, and insert them to a depth of 1/3-1/2 of the cutting length. After cutting, keep the seedbed moist and avoid waterlogging. In high-temperature seasons, shade is needed, while at lower temperatures a plastic film arch shed can be built to preserve warmth and moisture.
How are daisies cultivated?
1. Transplanting and potting: After hardening off, the seedlings can be potted. At this time the seedlings already have 3 pairs of true leaves. If plug trays were used for seedling raising, the roots have already filled the plug tray. For potting, 300px-caliber nutrition pots are often used. After potting, there is no need to repot. When potting, compound fertilizer can be added as a base fertilizer. After potting, water thoroughly in time to settle the roots. Light regulation: Daisies also like sunlight, including during the growing period and the flowering period. Sufficient light can promote plant growth, make the leaf color tender green, and increase the number of flowers.
2. Temperature control: After potting, move them to a protected area for overwintering, which can prevent potted flowers from suffering cold damage in winter. Daisies can overwinter safely above 5°C, and maintaining a temperature of 18-22°C is most suitable for the formation of good plants. In practice, however, this is difficult to achieve. Daisies can bloom normally at 10-25°C. When the temperature is below 10°C, growth is relatively slow, the plant shape becomes smaller, and flowering is delayed. If the temperature is above 25°C, the flower stems will elongate, and both growth vigor and flowering will decline. In May to June, as the temperature rises, growth vigor and flowering are not ideal, so autumn-sown seedlings are generally used to avoid the environment of rising temperatures after May.
3. Water and fertilizer management: Daisies like fertile soil, and the base fertilizer in the medium alone cannot meet their growth needs. Therefore, fertilize once every 7-10 days. Flower fertilizer can be used, or compound fertilizer can be applied by spot application or dissolved in water for irrigation, at a concentration of 200-250 ppm. However, spot application of compound fertilizer does not take effect as quickly as irrigation. Therefore, if conditions permit, water-soluble flower fertilizer can be used alternately. In winter, however, the amount of flower fertilizer used should be reduced. Before watering with fertilizer, the medium should be allowed to dry slightly; it should be moist but not soggy. Because the leaves are clustered at the base, if there is no ventilation, the basal leaves are very likely to rot and become infected with pathogens. Giving sufficient water and fertilizer during the growing season makes the plants grow luxuriantly and can also extend the flowering period.