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You can plant daisies from cuttings easily, and it’s one of the most rewarding ways to multiply your favorite blooms.
Whether you’re looking to fill a garden bed or share a beloved variety with a friend, learning how to plant daisies from cuttings gives you a head start over growing from seed.
This method works beautifully for many daisy types, including Shasta daisies, Gerbera daisies, and African daisies, as long as you follow a few simple steps.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the entire process, from taking the right cutting to potting it up and helping it thrive.
Let’s dig in.
How to Plant Daisies from Cuttings Successfully
When you plant daisies from cuttings, you’re essentially cloning the parent plant, which means you’ll get an exact copy of those gorgeous flowers.
This is a huge advantage if you have a daisy that performs particularly well in your garden, because the cutting will carry the same traits.
The process isn’t complicated, but timing and technique matter a great deal for rooting success.
1. Choose the Right Time to Take Cuttings
The best time to plant daisies from cuttings is in the late spring or early summer, when the parent plant is actively growing.
At this stage, the stems are soft and green, not woody, which makes them far more receptive to rooting.
Avoid taking cuttings from flowering stems, as the plant’s energy is focused on blooming rather than root development.
Early morning is ideal, because the plant is fully hydrated and the stems are turgid, or filled with water.
2. Select Healthy Stems for Your Cuttings
When you plant daisies from cuttings, always pick stems that look vigorous, with no signs of disease, wilting, or pest damage.
Look for stems that are about 4 to 6 inches long, and make sure they have several sets of leaves along the length.
Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to make a cut just below a leaf node, which is the little bump where a leaf attaches to the stem.
This node is packed with meristematic cells, which are exactly what you need for new roots to emerge.
Remove the lower leaves from the bottom half of the cutting, leaving just two or three leaves at the top.
This reduces moisture loss and prevents the buried leaves from rotting underground.
3. Prepare Your Cuttings with Rooting Hormone
While you can plant daisies from cuttings without it, using a rooting hormone dramatically increases your success rate.
Dip the cut end of the stem into a powdered or gel rooting hormone, tapping off any excess.
This hormone stimulates rapid root cell division and protects the cut from fungal infections.
If you prefer a natural alternative, you can use honey or cinnamon, though they’re less potent than commercial products.
Remember, rooting hormone isn’t a substitute for good technique, but it’s a fantastic booster.
4. Choose the Right Potting Medium
To plant daisies from cuttings the right way, you need a light, well-draining mix that won’t stay soggy.
A combination of perlite and peat moss, or a store-bought seed starting mix, works perfectly.
Fill a small pot or seed tray with this mix and water it thoroughly, letting the excess drain away.
Make a hole in the mix with a pencil or your finger, then gently insert the cutting so the bottom node is buried.
Firm the soil around the stem to ensure good contact, but don’t pack it down too hard.
Best Conditions for Rooting Daisies from Cuttings
Once you’ve prepared your cuttings, the next crucial phase is creating an environment that encourages roots to form.
Daisies from cuttings need consistent moisture, high humidity, and bright but indirect light to root successfully.
1. Provide Warmth and Indirect Sunlight
Place your pots in a warm location, ideally around 65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C), away from direct afternoon sun.
Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves and cause the cutting to wilt before it has roots to take up water.
A windowsill with morning sun or a spot under a grow light is perfect for encouraging root growth.
If your home is on the cooler side, consider using a heat mat underneath the pots to warm the soil.
2. Keep Humidity High with a Plastic Cover
To plant daisies from cuttings and get them to root, you must prevent moisture loss from the leaves.
Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag, a plastic dome, or even a cut-up soda bottle to create a mini greenhouse effect.
This traps humidity around the cutting, which reduces stress and keeps the stem turgid.
Make sure the plastic doesn’t touch the leaves, as that can lead to rot.
Open the cover for a few minutes each day to allow fresh air in and prevent mold growth.
3. Water Sparingly but Consistently
The potting mix should stay evenly moist, but never waterlogged, during the rooting process.
Overwatering is the number one killer of cuttings because it suffocates the developing roots and invites rot.
Check the top inch of the soil daily, and only water when it feels dry to the touch.
Misting the leaves occasionally can also help maintain humidity, but avoid soaking the soil.
How Long Do Daisies Take to Root from Cuttings?
Patience is key when you plant daisies from cuttings, as roots don’t appear overnight.
Generally, you can expect roots to form within two to four weeks, depending on the daisy variety and conditions.
You’ll know rooting has occurred when you see new growth at the top of the cutting or when you gently tug on the stem and feel resistance.
Resistance means the roots are anchoring the plant into the soil.
Once you have a solid root system, you can begin the hardening-off process.
1. Gradually Acclimate Your New Plants
Hardening off is the process of slowly introducing your rooted cuttings to outdoor conditions.
Start by removing the plastic cover for a few hours each day, increasing the time over a week.
Then, move the pots to a sheltered outdoor spot with partial shade for a few more days.
This gradual exposure reduces shock and helps the young plants adapt to wind, temperature fluctuations, and direct sunlight.
2. Transplanting Daisies to Their Final Location
After hardening off, you can transplant your new daisies into the garden or into larger containers.
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil, as daisies hate wet feet.
Space your plants about 12 to 18 inches apart, depending on the variety’s mature size.
Water them deeply after planting and keep the soil consistently moist for the first couple of weeks.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Planting Daisies from Cuttings
Even seasoned gardeners can stumble when they plant daisies from cuttings, so let’s flag the most common pitfalls.
Avoid these, and your success rate will skyrocket.
1. Taking Cuttings from Flowering Stems
As mentioned earlier, flowering stems are busy producing blooms, not roots.
If you take a cutting from a flowering stem, it will likely put all its energy into the flower and fail to root.
Always choose non-flowering, vegetative stems for the best results.
2. Letting the Cuttings Dry Out
Once you cut a stem, it starts losing water immediately.
Keep your cuttings in a damp paper towel or a plastic bag while you’re preparing them for planting.
This simple step prevents wilting and gives the cutting a fighting chance.
Delay in planting daisies from cuttings is a common cause of failure, so act quickly.
3. Using Soil from the Garden
Garden soil is often too heavy and may contain fungi, pests, or diseases that harm tender cuttings.
Always use a sterile, soilless mix when rooting your cuttings.
This reduces the risk of rot and gives your daisies the clean slate they need to thrive.
So, How to Plant Daisies from Cuttings?
You can plant daisies from cuttings successfully by following the steps we’ve outlined here.
Start with healthy, non-flowering stems in late spring, use a sterile rooting medium, and provide warm, humid conditions.
With a bit of patience and care, you’ll have brand-new daisy plants that are identical to the parent.
This method is cost-effective, fast, and incredibly satisfying for any gardener.
So grab your scissors, pick your favorite daisy, and give it a try, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is.
Happy planting, and enjoy your beautiful, multiplied blooms.