How to Grow Daisies

Last Updated on April 6, 2023 by Derek

If you’re looking to add a touch of spring to your garden, then daisies are the perfect choice. They’re easy to grow and are perennial, meaning that they will come back every year if you care for them properly.

There are many different varieties of daisies available, each with its own set of growing requirements. However, Shasta daisies are a great starting point for any newbie gardener. They’re low maintenance and do well in a variety of soil types.

Shasta Daisies Care Sheet

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Shasta Daisies	Leucanthemum x superbum	6.0 – 7.5	Well-draining, fertile	Full sun to partial shade	5-9

How to grow daisies indoors

If you love the look of Gerbera daisies but don’t have a lot of room in your garden for them, they’re easy to grow indoors. They don’t require a great deal of care, so they make a good addition to your home or office decor.

The key to growing gerbera daisies indoors is ensuring they get plenty of bright, indirect light throughout the growing season. They’ll also thrive in temperatures between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, although it isn’t necessary to keep them warm during winter.

Gerbera Daisies Care Sheet

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Gerbera Daisy	Gerbera jamesonii	5.5 – 6.5	Well-draining, fertile	Full sun to partial shade	9-11

For the best blooming results, feed your gerbera daisies with a soluble houseplant fertilizer like Miracle-Gro(r) Indoor Plant Food starting a month after planting. Apply it to the soil or mix it with water.

When the plants’ flower heads begin to wilt, trim them back. This is a good time to cut back dead and damaged leaves, as well.

Native to South Africa, Gerbera daisies are fairly hardy plants that can tolerate low temperatures and poor soil. They don’t require a lot of care, so they’re an excellent choice for beginner gardeners.

Growing daisies in pots step by step

Growing daisies in pots is easy and a great way to add color to your garden. But, you need to take proper care of these flowers to ensure that they stay healthy and produce beautiful blooms.

Luckily, daisies are a perennial flower that can be grown year after year. They also have the advantage of being low-maintenance and hardy to hot temperatures.

You can grow daisies in pots by planting them from seeds, or by transplanting young plants. If you decide to plant from seeds, you will want to choose a well-draining potting soil that is rich in nutrients.

When planting, you will want to space your daisies at least eight inches apart. This will allow for plenty of space for the roots to expand and allow the plants to bloom.

Water the plants regularly during the growing season to maintain their moisture levels. You should stick your finger into the soil about an inch deep to determine whether or not the soil feels dry.

How to grow daisies from cuttings

Propagating daisies is a simple process that yields healthy plants. This method is particularly helpful for Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) and gerberas, which can be difficult to grow from seeds.

Taking cuttings is the best way to propagate daisies. Dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone to stimulate growth, then plant it into a pot filled with quality potting soil and mist daily.

After a few weeks, when the stem has rooted, you can transplant the new plant into its own container. It should be placed in a bright, warm spot where it will receive at least four to six hours of direct sunlight per day.

The Swan River daisy needs a midsummer pruning to encourage bushy growth and to revive the plant, priming it for a fall bloom. It also needs deadheading to ensure continuous flower production.

While daisies are generally low-maintenance perennials, they can be impacted by aphids, slugs and earwigs. These pests can eat the flowers and spread disease. To protect the plant from these pests, plant companion plants that deter them.

What diseases do daisies get?

Daisy Diseases and Pests

Disease/Pest	Symptoms	Treatment
Powdery Mildew	White, powdery growth on leaves and stems	Prune affected plant parts, improve air circulation, apply fungicide
Leaf Spot	Irregular brown spots on leaves	Remove infected leaves, improve air circulation, apply fungicide
Rust	Orange, yellow, or brown spots on leaves and stems	Remove infected leaves, improve air circulation, apply fungicide
Verticillium Wilt	Yellowing, wilting, and dying of leaves and stems	Remove infected plant parts, improve soil drainage, apply fungicide
Fusarium Wilt	Yellowing, wilting, and dying of leaves and stems	Remove infected plant parts, improve soil drainage, apply fungicide
Botrytis Blight	Brown spots on flowers, leaves, and stems, followed by a gray mold	Remove infected plant parts, improve air circulation, apply fungicide
Root Rot	Wilting, yellowing, and dying of leaves and stems	Improve soil drainage, avoid overwatering, apply fungicide
Aphids	Clusters of small, soft-bodied insects on leaves and stems	Spray with water, use insecticidal soap, introduce natural predators
Spider Mites	Tiny, reddish-brown insects that spin webs on leaves and stems	Spray with water, use insecticidal soap or oil, introduce natural predators
Thrips	Slender, brown insects that feed on leaves and flowers, causing discoloration and distortion	Remove affected plant parts, use insecticidal soap or oil, introduce natural predators
Whiteflies	Tiny, white insects that swarm around the undersides of leaves, causing yellowing and wilting	Use sticky traps, remove affected plant parts, use insecticidal soap or oil, introduce natural predators
Leaf Miners	Maggot-like larvae that tunnel inside leaves, causing white streaks or blotches	Remove affected plant parts, use insecticidal soap or oil, introduce natural predators

How long does it take for a daisy to grow from a seed?

Daisies are a type of perennial plant that survives winter dormancy and blooms fresh from the roots in the spring. Some varieties of daisies can reach heights of several feet and grow new above-ground growth each summer.

They are commonly used in gardens and are an easy plant to grow from seed. They can be sown in the spring or fall and germinate within 3 weeks, depending on the climate. You can expect the seeds to germinate and appear in 10 to 20 days.

You can also grow daisies from stem cuttings. To do this, cut off 5 to 6-inch stems at a node. Dip the stem in rooting hormone powder. Place the stem in a propagation medium and plant the cutting in well-draining soil. Wait for the plant to grow and then transplant it to a larger pot or garden bed.

One of the most popular and easy to grow daisies is the Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum). This hybrid was bred in 1901 and named after Mount Shasta, located not far from California. It is a hardy, easy-to-grow perennial that flowers in white or pale yellow.

How to grow daisies outdoors

Daisies are easy to grow outdoors, if you have a sunny spot and good soil. They don’t need a lot of care, so they’re a great choice for amateur gardeners.

The English daisy, also known as lawn daisy, is a perennial that grows up to 8 inches tall and blooms in early spring. It doesn’t mind cool weather and shady spots, but it does need lots of sun.

Plant this plant in full sun to enjoy loads of blinding white flowers. Partial shade is fine in hot climates, but you’ll want to water regularly and apply mulch to help keep weeds away.

Shasta daisies, also called leucanthemum x superbum, grow well in most regions and are easy to grow. Their white or pale yellow flowers complement a variety of color schemes and cottage favorites in the garden, especially when planted with ‘Apple Blossom’ creeping phlox or deep purple salvia.

Gerbera are hardy perennials that come back year after year in Zones 7 and below. They are very easy to grow from seed and are a popular flowering container plant for gardeners.

Different Types of Daisies and Their Ideal Growing Conditions

Daisy Variety	Sun Requirements	Water Requirements	Soil Type	Fertilizer Requirements	US Growing Zones
					Minimum Zone	Maximum Zone	Ideal Zone Range
Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)	Full sun to partial shade	Regular watering, well-drained soil	Loamy, well-drained soil	Monthly fertilization during growing season	3	9	4-9
African Daisy (Arctotis venusta)	Full sun	Infrequent, deep watering	Sandy, well-drained soil	Monthly fertilization during growing season	9	11	9-11
Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia hirta)	Full sun	Regular watering, well-drained soil	Loamy, well-drained soil	Monthly fertilization during growing season	3	9	3-9
Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)	Full sun to partial shade	Regular watering, well-drained soil	Loamy, well-drained soil	Monthly fertilization during growing season	3	8	3-8

Perennial daisies that bloom all summer

Daisies are a classic garden flower, offering a cheerful splash of color that bridges the gap between tulips and irises. With a little care, they bloom year after year for a full season of beautiful color in the garden or in a summer bouquet.

Perennial daisies are a great way to fill in empty beds or create an attractive contrast between perennials and annuals. They can be planted alone or mixed with other flowering perennials to provide blooms throughout the entire growing season.

Whether you choose the traditional English daisy with its pure white petals ringed by yellow centers or a colorful variety like a blue-flowered delphinium, these low-maintenance flowers add a pop of cheer to your landscape.

The taller varieties of this perennial develop spires of varying shades of blue from early summer to fall. They grow about 2 feet high and are easy to maintain.

These sun-loving perennials require minimal watering and fertilization. They also benefit from the addition of mulches such as hay, wood chips, or straw to help retain moisture and cool the soil.

Are daisies easy to grow?

Daisies are low-maintenance perennials that do well in a wide variety of soil conditions. They do not require fertilizing on an annual basis and they thrive in warm climates; however, they can be negatively impacted by pests such as aphids and slugs.

To help them thrive, choose an area that receives full sun if possible. Part shade is okay, but the flowers will not be as vibrant or showy.

Once they are established, perennial daisies need little to no maintenance other than deadheading faded flowers to encourage new ones. They are also resistant to most common garden pests, though they can be prone to aphids and earwigs.

Plant daisies in a sunny spot and water them regularly. They love rich, fast-draining soil with a pH of neutral to slightly acidic and do not like waterlogged or overly sandy soil.

Do daisies grow back every year?

Daisies are beautiful flowers that attract a lot of attention in the garden. They are low maintenance plants that are easy to grow and produce vibrant blooms year after year.

There are many types of daisies to choose from, so it’s important to find one that suits your needs. Some varieties are annuals that only bloom for a single season, while others are perennials and bloom again each year, if the growing conditions are met.

Daisy Varieties: Perennial or Annual?

Type of Daisy	Ideal Growing Zones
African Daisy	Zones 9-11 (perennial); other zones (annual)
Black-Eyed Susan	Zones 3-9 (perennial); other zones (annual)
English Daisy	Zones 4-7 (perennial); other zones (annual)
Gerbera Daisy	Zones 9-11 (perennial); other zones (annual)
Shasta Daisy	Zones 4-9 (perennial); other zones (annual)
Sweet Daisy	Zones 7-10 (perennial); other zones (annual)

Shasta daisies, for example, are a classic flower that are easy to grow in your yard and look great in your garden. This hardy daisy comes in a variety of different colors, including white, pink, red, yellow, and purple.

In addition to these classic daisy cultivars, there are also some new varieties that are more versatile and offer additional flower colors. These include daisies that have yellow centers or even double petals.

Shasta daisies are easy to grow for beginners and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and humidity levels. These plants can grow in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9. They are sensitive to overly wet soil, so they need well-drained soil and adequate watering.

FAQ – How to grow Daisies

Q: Are daisies easy to grow?

Yes, daisies are generally easy to grow and are a great choice for beginner gardeners.

Q: Do daisies come back every year?

Yes, daisies are perennials and will come back every year if cared for properly.

Q: What kind of soil do daisies need?

The type of soil that daisies need depends on the variety, but in general, they prefer well-draining soil that is rich in nutrients.

Q: Can gerbera daisies be grown indoors?

Yes, gerbera daisies can be easily grown indoors as long as they have plenty of bright, indirect light.

Q: What temperature do gerbera daisies need to thrive?

Gerbera daisies thrive in temperatures between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Q: Do daisies need a lot of water?

Daisies need regular watering during the growing season to keep the soil moist, but overwatering should be avoided.

Q: When should I deadhead daisies?

It’s important to deadhead daisies regularly to promote new growth. As soon as a flower head begins to wilt, it should be removed.

Q: Can daisies be grown in pots?

Yes, daisies can be grown in pots as long as the potting soil is well-draining and the plants are watered regularly.

Q: What is the best fertilizer to use for gerbera daisies?

A soluble houseplant fertilizer like Miracle-Gro(r) Indoor Plant Food is a good choice for feeding gerbera daisies.