Daisies are one of the most popular choices among newer and more experienced gardeners alike. One concern newer gardeners have quite frequently, though, is whether or not they can grow daisies indoors. Can daisies grow in partial shade?
The gerbera daisies can grow in partial shade. But most daisies need full sunlight and thus should be grown under full sun conditions. Experts recommend exposing daisies to at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, with more being even better.
In this article, I’ll discuss how much sunlight daisies need, what the effects of low sunlight are, and how you can best grow them indoors. Keep on reading to learn more.
Daisies Can Grow Under Full Sun or Partial Shade
Daisies are often considered to be related to the equally famous sunflower. The two have a striking resemblance in features and are part of the same family.
Let’s quickly define what ‘full sun’ and ‘partial shade’ conditions mean to bring everyone up to speed.
Most Daisies Should Have Sunlight for at Least 6 Hours
Plants requiring full sun conditions require a minimum of six hours of sunlight a day. However, it’s important to remember that this is just their minimum requirement – they’ll often benefit from even more hours of exposure.
Daisies fall under this category. While six hours is the minimum, they do better on eight hours of sunlight daily. Daisies can be left under the sun all day when conditions aren’t extreme.
A defining feature of plants suited to full sun conditions is that while they aren’t completely invulnerable, they’re better able to resist higher temperatures.
Leaving them exposed to the sun during scorching afternoons, although it might not be the best idea in every case, is unlikely to cause severe permanent harm.
That is, as long as the soil doesn’t dry up – but that’s another factor to consider and shouldn’t be a problem with regular watering and the use of proper soil.
On the other hand, plants that don’t fall into the full sun category will likely suffer if left completely exposed to extreme heat and sunlight.
Daisies are pretty resistant against afternoon scorches and sun damage. However, if you live in a region with low humidity and high temperatures, you should provide them with light shade during the summer afternoons.
Gerbera Daisies Can Grow Under Partial Shade
Partial shade has varying definitions depending on who you ask, but it averages out to about 2 to 4 hours of sunlight a day. Of course, this falls far short of what is optimal for daisies. Keeping your daisies in partial shade conditions isn’t a good idea.
The only exception to this rule is the gerbera daisy (more on that later).
Low Sunlight Can Negatively Impact Most Daisies
Daisies, and all plants in general, require sunlight for a chemical process called photosynthesis to survive. Photosynthesis is complicated, but the process essentially converts the nutrients plants gather from the soil into the energy they need for their continued survival.
You can think of it like metabolism in humans; however, there are vast differences between the two, so there isn’t really an accurate comparison to be made – this is just to help you get a better idea of the importance of this process.
Plants can not carry out photosynthesis in the absence of sunlight. It’s one of the reasons that daisies close up their flowers at nighttime.
If you want to learn more about the other reasons that daisies close at night, check out this article: Why Do Daisies Close at Night? Simple Explanation
Not having enough hours of sunlight during the day means the plant will convert fewer nutrients to energy. Of course, this has several damaging consequences, depending on the severity of the lack of sunlight.
The Lack of Sunlight Makes Daisies Appear Weak and Dull
What would the effects of low sunlight look like?
Well, if we consider that the daisies get the daily 2–4 hours of sunlight defined in partial shade conditions, the effects won’t be instantaneous or shockingly severe, but they will be noticeable in the long term.
Daisies need energies to grow, multiply, and thrive. By limiting the amount of energy they produce, your daisies won’t grow up as fast, they won’t multiply as fast as they could have, and their general health will be poor.
Of course, the quality of their health impacts how they look from the outside – your daisies won’t grow up to bloom as beautifully as they would have. They may appear spindly, weak, and lacking in color definition.
Daisies Are Vulnerable to Pests and Fungi if There’s a Lack of Sunlight
Not getting enough sunlight also increases your daisies’ vulnerability to pests and diseases, especially fungal diseases.
Dark, damp, and moist conditions all favor the growth of fungi. This circumstance, combined with the daisy’s weakened immune system, will leave the plant at an increased risk of infection.
So, while daisies can be grown in partial shade (they likely won’t die off due to lack of sunlight if they get 2–4 hours of it daily), it is highly detrimental to their overall health and well-being.
The Gerbera Daisy Can Grow in Partial Shade
If you want to grow daisies, but the position of your garden doesn’t allow for full sunlight conditions, or you’d prefer growing them indoors, then you’re not out of luck. While daisies, as a whole, are overwhelmingly fond of full sun conditions, there are exceptions.
The gerbera daisy is a type that doesn’t require full sun conditions. In fact, it’s best suited to indoor/partial shade conditions.
The gerbera daisy has a distinct pinkish tone to the color of its flowers, adding an element of beauty and grace to the indoors of any house.
Keep Your Gerbera Daisy Close to the Window
Keep in mind, though, that while you can grow gerbera daisies indoors, they still need some sun. It’s best to place your daisies near a window so they can get their few hours of sunlight a day.
If that’s not possible, you’ll want to keep them as close to a window (or any other opening) as possible; indirect sunlight still helps.
In developing an affinity to partial shade, the gerbera daisy gives up the resistance to direct sun typically found in daisies. The gerbera is at risk of heat damage if exposed to harsh sunlight in hot temperatures, so it’s not advisable to grow them in full sun conditions.
That means you shouldn’t grow them out in your garden unless you can provide the gerbera daisy with a means of partial shade during the day.
Avoid Overexposing Your Gerbera Daisy to the Sunlight
Signs of damage due to excessive exposure to sunlight include the yellowing and crisping of flowers. If you frequently come back to dry soil despite following a consistent watering routine, that may indicate overexposure to the sunlight.
The good news is that as long as you don’t wait until it’s too late to take action, this kind of damage is easily remedied by relocating the daisy.
Under normal conditions, the gerbera daisy will begin to heal on its own. If the leaves appear damaged beyond repair, consider cutting them back to encourage the plant to heal.
When growing the gerbera daisy indoors, all the health-determining factors other than sunlight still apply. You must consider water levels, soil quality and pH, temperature and humidity, pests and diseases, and fertilization.
Don’t Place Gerbera Daisies Somewhere Dark and Damp
Fungal diseases are sometimes an issue with this variety of daisies, so just take care not to place the gerbera in a dark, damp corner. Being closer to sunlight helps here, too.
Deadheading is particularly effective with daisies. You want to be on the lookout for damaged, dried-out, or dead flowers.
After the daisy has bloomed (typically by the end of the fall), you want to take some time out to cut the stalks back to the point where they meet the crown or base of the daisy. It’ll set your daisy up for better growth in the following season.
Final Thoughts
Most daisies require full sun conditions, meaning they need at least six hours of sunlight daily, with eight being even better. Partial shade conditions offer only 2–4 hours of sunlight daily, so daisies can’t be grown in partial shade without seriously compromising their health.
Fortunately, the gerbera daisy is a variety that thrives under partial shade. Since it can thrive with exposure to only a few hours of sunlight a day, it’s ideal for indoor growth.
