| My Montauk daisy (which I planted last fall from a nursery pot)looked good all winter with nice green budding leaves. Then as the summer came on, the bottom leaves turned brown and crisp and fell off. I gave it tons of water. It is in good garden soil and all the annuals and perennials around it look great! Now the flower buds are on and they are getting brown too. I thought it might be getting too much water and let up, but the condition is worsening. Any suggestions? It is in sun, rich, well draining soil. |
| I'm not sure what the problem is with your Montauk daisy because they are generally disease-free. I'd suggest cutting back the affected plant parts to see if your plant can grow healthy new stems and leaves. If new growth begins to brown, your plant may have some root problems and may never look quite right. If so, I'd remove and replace it with a healthy specimen. Here is some general information on growing Montauk daisies: Nipponanthemum nipponicum which was formerly known as Chrysanthemum nipponicum and is commonly known as Nippon Daisy or Montauk Daisy is a somewhat shrubby perennial with dark green leaves and white, yellow-centered daisylike flowers in fall. Select a site in full sun with average, well drained soil. The Montauk Daisy will grown 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. If the plants are not killed to the ground over the winter, cut them nearly to the ground in early spring to control their height. Pinch off tips of new stem growth whenever it is 3 inches to 5 inches long. Continue pinching as needed until mid-July. Divide in the spring every 2 to 3 years. |
