Shasta Daisy Root Rot

The Shasta daisy is a perennial flower that is native to Europe but is commonly found throughout the U.S. as well in several cultivar forms. Like other flowers and plants, it is susceptible to root rot and requires management and care to keep it healthy.

Shasta Daisy

• The Shasta daisy is a hardy flower that produces daisy-like white blooms with a yellow center during June and July. The flower grows on average to 1 to 3 feet in height and prefers well-drained soil under full sun. Good drainage is essential, especially during the winter months, as too much sitting water could lead to root rot.

Pythium Root Rot

• Pythium root rot is caused by a fungus that spreads its spores through soil and water. The disease favors standing water, poor drainage and excess moisture. Precipitation of 70 percent or higher is likely to bring Pythium root rot into the soil. There are many species of the fungus that causes the disease and because of this symptoms can occur at any time of the year.

Symptoms

• Pythium root rot centers on younger tissue within the root tips, causing a rapid black rot that eats away the primary root and tissue. During wet conditions, the rot may kill many of the roots and cause the plant to wilt and possibly die.

Treatment

• Prevent this disease by avoiding poorly drained soil and keeping the plants in a raised bed to keep them out of standing water. Remove any diseased plants and apply fungicides to the soil to prevent the disease from reaching the other plants.