Container Culture of Leucanthemum x superbum (Bergmans ex J. W. Ingram) D. H. Kent

For container cultivation of the Shasta daisy, high-quality drainage of a peat-based substrate with the addition of sand or perlite is critical. Maintaining a pH level in the range of 5.5–6.5 is a mandatory condition for normal development. In container conditions, plants are susceptible to rapid drying out; however, waterlogging of the substrate during the winter period is strictly unacceptable due to the high risk of root rot development.

Most cultivars require an obligatory cooling period to initiate flowering, after which forcing is carried out at 15–18°C under long-day conditions. Certain cultivars show sensitivity to high levels of soluble salts in the substrate, necessitating regular leaching, as well as sensitivity to avermectins when treated for pests. To control habit and prevent excessive shoot elongation in commercial production, plant growth regulators are used.