By Gattina
Bologna,
Italy 
I've got a lovely display of Michaelmas daisies just now, but despite assiduous nipping out of the leading buds back in the spring and summer, they are still very leggy, with all the bloom in a bunch at the top and a nasty tendency to topple over. I think there must be something in the varieties we've got (don't ask - they don't label them here), but when we got them they were perfect, compact balls of flower, and I'd love to have them like that again each year. What do I need to do?
23 Oct, 2011
Answers
How is it that the nurserymen manage to get them to that lovely spherical shape in the pot when they present them for sale, then? - see the photos Eclectic posted for example!
23 Oct, 2011
I think they look lovely and natural and so much of them
23 Oct, 2011
No idea... I've only ever seen them growing and flowering the way your are.
23 Oct, 2011
Many flower growers frequently spray their crops with growth regulators tokeep the plants compact in the containers. Then they spray again, at the right moment, with a flower stimulator, to make sure that the blooms all come out just in time for shipment.
23 Oct, 2011
Aha! Thank you Tugbrethil, I knew there had to be some knack to it.
23 Oct, 2011
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They look exactly the way I would expect Michaelmas Daisies to look - I seem to remember Mother always had to tie hers up.
23 Oct, 2011