LAZY DAISY

QUESTION My dwarf daisy bush flowered really well to start with last summer, but then struggled to put on new growth and hasn’t flowered much at all since then. Some of the leaves actually turned quite purple and dropped off. The photo shows new leaves, but the sample I sent you was from an older piece. I have two in pots, one each side of the front door, and I want them to look their best. Can you offer any advice? M. Lui, via email

ANSWER The sample you sent had aphids feeding in the centre of the new growth, which would have a debilitating effect on the plant. Purpling of foliage can be a sign of nutrient deficiency, which may be caused by lack of fertiliser in the potting medium and/or lack of water preventing the plant from absorbing the nutrients, or it may be a root problem. Daisy bushes in containers need regular watering in summer, as much as daily during the hottest weather. I suggest giving them a spray of insecticide to get rid of the aphids, such as neem or pyrethrum, or you could use Yates Mavrik Gun, which comes ready to use. Make sure to spray into the centre of the bunch of new leaves at the tip of the shoots, where the aphids are sheltering and feeding.

As for fertiliser, any is better than none, so if you already have a general garden fertiliser you could mix some of that into the top few centimetres of the mix and water it in. Or you could use a controlled or slow-release fertiliser such as Tui Novatec Premium Fertiliser or Scotts Osmocote Controlled Release Fertiliser for Pots. There are others you can choose from too.

You could also add water storage crystals to the potting mix; there are several brands available. They absorb 400 or so times their own weight in water, which reduces drying problems in summer. Ideally, you add them to the mix when repotting plants, but you can poke holes deep into the mix of existing potted plants and drop in some crystals. Follow the label recommendations and don’t over-apply them as they expand a lot when they absorb water.