I love daisy type flowers. I love mums, coneflowers asters, dahlberg daisies, shasta daisies, rudbeckia and my new true love--blackfoot daisies.
They are all so pretty and look so happy. The blackfoot daisies are my new favorite (although rudbeckia remains my very favorite!) I get a smile on my face every time I see them. There is just a small problem with my emotional attachments to these precious flowers---I can't grow them!
I have tried very hard to ignore them as I read that is what you do. I only watered them when they were brand new or look wilted. I do deadhead them, but read that is not necessary. Some of them look like this picture....but some....
look like this. The plants looks healthy, but they just don't bloom. Do I need to feed them? Do I need to water more? Do they not grow in our black gumbo dirt? Do they just not like ME??
I need help!!!
8 comments:
What kind of light conditions are they planted in? Are they getting too much fertilizer perhaps? I love your blog. Your pics are fantastic. Happy Blogging!
Perennial Gardener,
They are planted in about 6 hours of hot sun. Is that too much? I never fertilize them--should I be?
Thanks for your help--and thanks for the compliment! I am trying!
I don't grow Blackfoot daisies, but I'm thinking they like their soil on the spare side. Could they be getting soil that is too rich? I had this problem with Echinacea. I then planted it on a slope in the worst soil I have, and they are fabulous.~~Dee
Dee--I bet you are right! I have problems with my coneflowers too, and they are all in the same bed! Not sure how to fix it--but I think I have the answer!
Thanks!
I agree with Dee. They like hot sun, spare soil, and little water. In short, they are perfect for our summers. Perhaps your soil is just too heavy in those spots where they aren't thriving. Try mixing in some decomposed granite the next time you plant them. And remember, they are short-lived perennials, lasting only a season or two. But they will usually seed out.
Thanks for the advice Pam. I read that Cindy from Katy has problems with hers too. This black gumbo is great for growing cotton, but not so great with some flowers!
I'll remember to add the decomposed
granite--and hope for re-seeding!
I agree with everyone. Very well drained soil and full sun is what the black foot daisy needs. Our black gumbo tends to hold too much water and rot the crown of a plant. In the nursery it happened fast. You could try amending your soil by tilling in bark mulch. It is what we did in the cactus garden and it is working great.
Thanks Debbi--I will try that. I was just talking to a nursery guy about amending the soil. That is my goal this winter!
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