Gerbera daisies are some of the most popular house flowers. They are bright, beautiful, and not very difficult to care for. These flowers come in many beautiful colors and color combinations. They also grow well in pots, so you can place them indoors, on your patio, or keep them in your central garden.
In this article, we share some important tips to help you with gerbera daisy care:
* About gerbera daisies
* Growing and planting guide
* How to care for your gerbera daisies
About Gerbera Daisies
The daisy family is a large group of flowering plants. A subgroup or genus of these is Gerbera, and this name was given in the German medical doctor and botanist, Traugott Gerbe, who lived in the 18th century. These flowers are native to many tropical regions, including parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. Most gerbera daisies that you come across today are likely to be a hybrid of Gerbera jamesoni and Gerbera viridifolia, a South African variation, also known as the Transvaal daisy or Barberton daisy.
Gerbera daisies are very popular as cut flowers and decorative plants. They appear in many colors, including beautiful pinks, reds, oranges, and yellows. Some variations have different colors on the petals of the same flower. Gerberas are also important flowers commercially, being the fifth most cut flower after the rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, and tulip. These flowers are often used to study flower formation, and the plants are perennial.
Gerbera daisies can grow to a height of 8-24 inches. The flowers grow from 2-5 inches across. These flowers are grown both indoors and outdoors. One common use for them is as cut flowers in Easter bouquets.
Growing and Planting Guide
The popularity of gerbera cultivation is across the world. If you are looking to get started with planting and growing these much-loved plants, you are in the right place. Gerbera daisies can be grown from seed or grown in the plant stage. Both are feasible options, even for beginners. Growing the flowers from seeds takes longer but it is cheaper, while starting from grown plants costs more, but you get to enjoy the gorgeous blooms much sooner.
If you decide to go the seed route, here is what you need to know. Gerbera seeds should be planted indoors then transferred outdoors once the seeds have sprouted and are strong enough to withstand the weather. You are going to need a seedling tray filled with damp potting soil. Push the seeds into the soil with the fuzzy side facing upwards and the hardened end facing downwards. You only need to push until the top of the seed is just under the soil line. After this, the seedling tray should be covered with clear plastic and placed where it can get sunlight and be in a temperature around 70 degrees. If there isn’t enough sunlight, you can use growing lights. In terms of water, the soil should be moist but not excessively wet.
Once the seeds start to grow and sprout leaves, you can move them over to a pot and put them outside. Make sure you find a sunny spot for them. When your new plants are conditioned to the outdoor environment, it’s time to plant them in the garden if you wish.
How to Care for Your Gerbera Daisies
If you are starting from a grown plant or your seeds have grown into mature plants, you are probably looking for information on gerbera daisy care. Fortunately, these plants are easy to take care of and do not need very special conditions.
For outdoor daisies, there are a few things you need to watch out for. You should familiarize yourself with the water, sunlight, and fertilizer requirements of all of your plants so that you can provide an optimal growing environment. Gerbera daisies need deep watering about once a week. You can do this in the morning as this allows the soil to dry as the day progresses. These plants require full direct sunlight. Nutrient supply is particularly essential for these plants, so you should use a micronutrient-rich fertilizer, and follow the instructions on the container or packet. Once the blooms start to wilt, be sure to trim the plant to encourage the growth of new blooms.
When you have your daisies indoors, here are some of the things you have to check. You should water your plants deeply when you feel that the topsoil is starting to feel dry. Before you return the plant to its usual location, make sure that the pot drains completely. You should never water the entire plant and leaves; instead, water at the base of the plant. Reduce watering during the wintertime. You can use regular fertilizer with the plant during the spring and summer months. When your plants start to grow too large for their pots, you can repot them. As with the outdoor plants, remove any blooms that are starting to wilt to promote new growth.
Sometimes, you can find that your daisy plant has become very large. You may want to divide up the flowers to give them more room to grow. You can do this by an easy technique. You start by watering the plant a couple of days before the time you plan to divide the. One inch of water is enough. Prepare the area for the new plant by mixing in two inches of compost or peat into the topsoil of the ground.
When you are ready to divide the daisy, dig up your daisy plant using a garden spade. Try to list up the entire root ball to prevent damage to the plant. That should be about 8 inches deep. Use pruning shears to cut through the roots after brushing off some of the soil. Divide the daisy, making sure that each new plant has healthy roots and a crown. You can then proceed to replant the division in the prepared area with the crown at ground level. Divisions should be placed 12-18 inches apart and watered with an inch of water and watered often in the next few days and weeks.
Gerbera daisies are popular flowers to grow at home, both inside and outside. If you want a bouquet including gerbera daisies, should take a look at our wide selection at FloraQueen. Our fast flower delivery service allows you to put smiles on the faces of the people close to you in any and every season of life.