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Shasta Daisies Wilting - Causes? Solutions?

14 years ago

Having problems with my Shasta Daisies (Chrysanthemum superbum) wilting in the mid-day sun (they bounce back at dusk and do the same thing next morning again). It's not even been very hot here in central PA recently, days in the mid-70's with low humidity, nights in the mid-50's. We've had a rainy spring, so lack of rain/moisture would seem to me to not be an issue. Both established plants that have come back well this spring, and also newly-planted ones, are having the same problems. I have numerous cultivars in my gardens; the ones wilting are "Alaska", "Whirral Pride", "Crazy Daisy", "Snowcap", and "Marconi". The two that are not wilting at all are "Becky" and "Switzerland". No bugs have been seen on any of the leaves. Is there something missing from the soil? Something I can add? I prepare my soil to great extremes when planting (LOL!), and most plants thrive in it; are certain Shasta Daisy cultivars different? With this happening in spring-like weather, I greatly fear what will happen to these plants when the heat and humidity of our Pennsylvania summer hits soon. I'm looking for any good advice please, I want to save these plants if possible! Thank you.

Featured Answer

aliska12000

14 years ago

That's an odd one. Where I have Becky in south front with white paint on foundation (reflection), doesn't get total full sun during the day. I noticed her leaves looked droopy in the afternoon sun the other day, and it's not that hot yet, 3rd year for her, planted late summer so not a full 3 years. I now have a soaker hose hooked up there and put in on slow drip, perked her right up. And I've been using the soaker a lot because I've tried to get some seeds going between her that should not dry out. I had the same problem with a wilder kind of shasta daisies a couple years ago and no soaker hose then; I would be out in the hot sun watering them (which you really shouldn't).

The following year I didn't need to water so much, but had to do some, then dug them all out. Becky has gotten pretty large and needs to be divided, but I amended the soil with peat and compost before I planted those.

I've got some slow drip spikes on 2 liter bottles for some plants rather than having to fight with a very long soaker hose in back. My crazy daisy seems ok for now, but I know I'll have to water it later, and I don't have a bottle ready for that, just my roses.

My ligularia does the same thing when the sun hits it in the afternoon, perks back up in the evening, but that is almost a total shade plant, so I can understand that better.

My conclusion is that the beds drain well, dry out fast, and trees nearby soak up a lot of the water, but it might even be worse without the trees as Becky would be blasted with hot sun all day in the worst months.

Comments (7)

DYH
14 years ago
My shasta 'Broadway Lights' are huge clumps in full sun, south-facing and doing the same thing this year. We've had lots of rain, too.

The daylilies beside them and the new seedlings (zinnia and gaillardia) all look fine, but the leaves on the shasta are droopy in the sun.

So, I'm going to follow the responses here, too.

Cameron
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I dunno the answer, but a lady that lives a few blocks away has a garden that surrounds the property....half of which are daisies (she has a white theme...very pretty!), but I'm not sure if they are Shasta (I really don't know the difference)all I know is they started blooming a few weeks before mine (this week). From the sidewalk just a few feet from the perimeter of the beds, I can see hardly any foliage at the base...just long flowering stalks. I didn't see anything ugly about it though. I do know that in spring before the flowering begins there is some nice looking foliage at the base. Can you post us a picture? Vera
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michaelg
14 years ago
Could just be the change from cloudy, wet weather to sunny weather. Sometimes tops outgrow roots and need a week or so to adjust.

If not all stems on a plant are wilting, or wilting persists in the shade, check for stem borers. I get these in shastas, penstemon, tall lobelias, and others.
waterMark
Original Author
14 years ago
My shasta 'Broadway Lights' are huge clumps in full sun, south-facing and doing the same thing this year. We've had lots of rain, too.

Maybe too much moisture? Could improve as things dry out a bit?
echinaceamaniac
14 years ago
I have had to spray fungicide this year because of too much rain. What happens is plants wilt because of too much fungus, etc. It makes a person think they need water and you end up watering too much. That's my experience anyways.
aliska12000
14 years ago
Is it too late to divide Becky, taking a little off 2 sides of each? Need a little more room between the plants.

We're having lots of rain, and that could cause problems as mentioned above. I sure hope I don't have to go get fungicides, got a sprayer last year but am a little afraid of it except for kelp, too wet to spray any of that.
Jean Clark
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Mine wilts in the Sun and then perk up in the evening I move them over to the shade to see how they will work in that area but the Dallas sn seems to be too hot for them

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