Overview of Daisy: History & Common Types
Daisy plants are generally considered to be native to South Africa. The plant prefers saline soil and flowers once a year.
Daisy has a magical charm that is enough to add beauty to any garden, despite the fact that this species comes in thousands of varieties, when the word daisy comes to our ears for the first time, we imagine a small white flower with a yellow center.
If you think that this flower requires a lot of effort to grow, then the answer is no, it can be easily grown with a little care, and it is an excellent plant to grow in the garden or at home.
Generally, three main species are considered (1) Chrysanthemum Daisies (2) African Daisies (3) Gerbera Daisies.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced gardener, here in the article you will find useful tips that will help you garden effectively.
Here are some useful points that you will learn about how to care for, water, protect from pests and diseases and how to prune them, and as a result, they will help you grow bright and beautiful daisy flowers.
(1) African Daisy:
This plant grows to a height of 20-60 cm. It has small leaves and bright flowers. As mentioned earlier, this species of African origin is also available in pink, yellow and orange colors in modern times in newly developed varieties. Each species differs in its shape, color and size.
Characteristics: Since this species is originally from South Africa, it likes warm days and cool nights.
How to grow it?
First of all, it is very important to choose the right place, so while choosing the soil, the right amount of salts should be maintained in it and the availability of water should also be right.
In addition, arrangements should be made to get the right amount of sunlight. If you want to plant seeds in the summer season, then you first need to allow proper cooling in the soil or the heat will destroy the seeds.
Therefore, keep in mind that the temperature of the soil will remain below 60 degrees for the next 3 months.
(1) How to sow?
This species grows in soil where it gets full sunlight. In addition, the soil should be slightly alkaline, in its salt content should be about 6.0 to 7.0, and the garden should also be protected from heavy rain and wind.
For this, you have to dig a hole 8 inches deep and plant 10 Daisy seeds in it, then immediately sprinkle water and water it once every 2-3 days for a month continuously.
For this, it is necessary to plant 10 Daisy seeds at a distance of 4 inches. The right time for this is winter. Also, for this, the productivity of the soil should be good and the amount of useful salts in it should be at its right level.
Then the right amount of fertilizer should be mixed in it and the soil should be mixed again on top. After that, the plant should be given fertilizer regularly once a week until it flowers.
How to plant Daisy in a plant pot?
If you do not have suitable quality soil or do not have a suitable sunlight arrangement or for any other reason, then you can also plant it in a plant pot.
The following steps should be taken to plant this plant in a plant pot.
- You fill a flower plant pot with 8 inches of ordinary soil and sow the seeds in it.
- Keep in mind that the part where the sprouts will sprout upwards should be kept on the upper side.
- Then water it.
- Keep this part cool and dry or keep the surrounding environment cool and let it remain like that until winter.
- Once the sprouts are visible, you can place them in the sunlight and water them once a week.
Watering:
Once you have planted the bud, then you should water it only after the sprouts are visible in the small bud (eye) that appears in it.
It is true that the tuber needs water but giving it too much water will have an adverse effect on its growth and there is a risk of it being destroyed.
Therefore, normal humidity is essential. Different species take different times for the eyes to open, but generally, 4 to 8 weeks is expected to be adequate.
New plants do not need much water. Usually, plants that have reached a height of 8 to 12 inches should be watered regularly and deeply.
Especially in the middle of summer and at the same time, it is also the time when it is about to flower, so more water is needed during that time.
In the winter season, if you live in the colder parts of America, and Europe, then you can give it once a week in the winter season and then in the spring season. You can give it water again when new buds appear in the spring season.
Fertilizing:
The best time to fertilize the daisy flower is when the daisy flower is fully developed and falls off.
To increase the production of abundant flowers on the daisy plant and for the robust growth of the daisy plant, it is necessary to fertilize it once a month, which should be given in liquid form, which provides food for the rapid growth of the daisy and large, shiny flowers.
In other words, it would be appropriate to give the daisy plant a nutrient-rich fertilizer when the flowering period is over.
By applying this fertilizer, the plant will regain energy for the coming year and will continue to produce abundant flowers, read the instructions on the fertilizer packet for more details.
How to cut flowers from the plant to keep in a vase:
If you want to cut them as a flower to arrange in a vase, it would be appropriate to cut them when the flower is in bud form. Also, keep in mind that it is necessary to have a light green color on it, but the blooming flowers are not useful.
A little about the African daisy:
This species is originally a plant from the countries of South Africa, and this plant is famous for its unique plant appearance.
It usually reaches a height of 20 to 60 centimeters, and its spoon-shaped leaves on top add to its beauty.
This plant is world famous for its attractive flowers, in which brown and yellow stripes and spots are seen between the round white flowers.
If we talk about the leaves, then those leaves increase the beauty of the garden many times with a beautiful combination of light green and gray colors.
Other improved varieties or newly developed Hybrids also have pink, orange, yellow and purple flowers. Thus, due to its many varieties, the African daisy is a favorite flower species of gardeners.
Flowering time:
As mentioned earlier, the daisy is originally a species of the South African continent. Therefore, sunlight is very favorable for this plant during the day and the coolness of the night is also equally necessary for it.
Usually, daisy flowers start blooming as soon as light rains start along with the spring season.
The flowering period is the entire summer, which means that flowers continue to come throughout the summer. Fertilizers can also be given in very light quantities during this period.
Care:
Like other flower species, it is important to provide proper quality fertilizer and water to daisy plants.
The roots of daisy plants are also at risk of rotting due to excessive watering, so as soon as the need for water is felt in the soil, it is necessary to water it periodically. This also helps the roots to develop in a healthy state.
Pruning:
For the rapid and robust growth of the daisy plant, it is necessary to cut off the top part or remove the middle part from the three leaves or branches around the top part to give the plant a boost in growth, which is called “Deadheading” and this process is also an important process for producing more flowers.
How to take care of it during winter and snowfall?
During the winter season and especially the snowfall period, daisy is a matter of some concern, but by taking a few precautionary measures, this problem can be solved.
First of all, how can a person overcome the effects of cold temperatures during winter?
- Choose a place where the temperature remains between 45 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, for this you can keep it on a veranda or drawing room in the cold season or even on a balcony.
- Especially during the winter season, the watering process should be reduced or daily watering should be avoided, but at the same time, it should be kept in mind that the soil does not dry out completely and does not have an adverse effect on the roots.
That place should get enough air and sunlight.
- The best option for the winter season is a greenhouse where the cold environment is automatically maintained at its fixed temperature. In addition, it also protects against snowfall and ice jamming.
Pests and diseases:
Daisy plants can also easily fall victim to pests such as snails, spider mites and aphids, which are commonly found pests. But one can get rid of it by regularly inspecting and spraying liquid medicine or using a spray.
To keep it in a vase, it will be necessary to cut it in a v-shaped manner at normal room temperature. In addition, the water in the vase should be changed periodically and a copper coin or such an object should be kept in the vase as a water purifier.
Talking about other diseases, there are nematodes, gray mold (botrytis) and root rot pests for which fungicides and insecticidal drugs in liquid form are sprayed through a spray.