It’s considered the incarnation of a cheerful, colorful flower. Gerbera gives bouquets more pep, the windowsill cheerful elegance, and the garden summery lightness. Don’t let open questions stop you from cultivating, because you can read all the important answers here.
Plant gerberas properly
To keep gerberas thriving in the bed all summer long, follow these steps to plant the flower professionally:
- The planting pit is twice as big as the root ball
- Optimize the excavation with compost and horn shavings
- Place the potted flower exactly as deep as before
- Press the soil down, water it, and mulch it organically
A planting distance of 45-50 centimeters (17-19 inches) is considered appropriate. In damp soil, a drainage of gravel or shards of pottery on the bottom prevents harmful waterlogging.
Gerberas Care Tips
The care protocol of a gerbera includes these TOPs:
- Water the flower from below when the substrate is slightly dried
- Spray every few days with lime-free water
- Apply diluted liquid fertilizer once a week from April to August
- Clean regularly
- Repot houseplants in spring
- Winter light and cool
The watering of gerberas is not stopped at any time of the year but is adjusted to the conditions at the site.
Which location is suitable for gerberas?
The top priority when choosing the location for a gerbera is a light-flooded, airy place without direct midday sun. During the summer, temperatures of 20-25 degrees Celsius (68-77 F) elicit the most beautiful blossoms from the flower.
In winter, a cool, bright place is required, where the mercury column oscillates between 12 and 15 (53-59F) degrees.
When is Gerberas flowering time?
Gerberas flower from May to September when planted in beds. If the flower thrives on the sheltered windowsill, it exudes its floral charm from April to October.
Why Cut gerbera?
Cutting a gerbera is mandatory for several reasons:
- Cut off wilted flower stalks and leaves to keep them flowering
- To use the flower as a vase decoration
- Before moving to winter quarters
Watering gerbera
The flower should never dry out. Therefore, water more frequently during summer drought than during winter. Always give the water from below by placing the pot in water for a short time.
Gerbera Hibernation
To overwinter a gerbera properly, carry the flower in the pot to a bright room with temperatures of 12-15 degrees Celsius (53-59F). If the plant spent the summer in the bed, cut off all withered stems and leaves in the fall.
Then dig up the flower, place the root ball in a bucket with fresh, well-drained substrate and join them in the winter quarters with the indoor gerberas.
propagate gerberas
When a gerbera gets old, the willingness to flower leaves a lot to be desired. Now is the time for skillful propagation. You have the choice between these three methods:
- sowing the seeds
- division of roots
- cuttings
Is gerbera poisonous?
The gerbera does not contain any toxic ingredients. However, since the colorful flower has a strong appeal to young children and curious pets, it should be placed out of the reach of two- and four-legged explorers.
Growing the gerberas outside
The cultivation of a gerbera is by no means limited to the room. From mid-May, the flower is happy about the sun and fresh air on the balcony. In addition, the tropical beauty thrives wonderfully in a sunny, fresh, and moist bed.
Outdoor care is all about an adequate water supply because the flower must not dry out under any circumstances. If a dose of fertilizer is added every week and withered plants are cleaned off, the gerbera offers all its flowering power.
Gerberas in the garden
Gerberas thrive more vigorously and luxuriantly in the garden than on the windowsill at home. Therefore, plant the enchanting flower from May in a bright place without blazing midday sun in the nutrient-rich, fresh, moist soil. For the best starting conditions, enrich the substrate with compost and horn shavings.
It is important to note that the flower should not be placed deeper than in the nursery pot and that a planting distance of 50 centimeters (20 inches) should be taken into account. Regular watering and weekly fertilizing round off the care program.
Is the gerbera hardy?
It is considered a botanical sensation and opens up new facets in gerbera culture. Skilled breeders have succeeded in creating the first hardy flower within the genus. The white flowering Garvinea can withstand temperatures down to – 5 degrees Celsius (41F).
As a result, it cannot completely do without winter protection in rough locations. All other gerbera species and varieties have no frost resistance.
Is the gerbera perennial?
The charming gerbera has the potential for perennial cultivation. In order for the plan to succeed, these precautions are important:
- Dig up the flower in the bed before the first frost
- Place in a pot with loose substrate
- Overwinter in a bright location at 12-15 degrees Celsius (53-59 F)
- Water little and do not fertilize
Houseplants move to a similar quarter in autumn to spend the winter break in growth.
The gerbera as a houseplant
As a houseplant, the gerbera requires attention to these care aspects:
- Water regularly from below
- Fertilize weekly from April to August
- Cut off faded stems and withered leaves immediately
- Repot in spring
What to do when the gerbera withers in the pot?
If the gerbera fades prematurely in the pot, there is usually negligence in the care. Take a close look at the site and check the water and nutrient balance. If in doubt, repot the flower in a fresh substrate and place it on the sunny, airy balcony for a while.
The gerbera on the balcony
Once the ice saints have passed, the ultimate feel-good climate for gerberas prevails on the sunny balcony. Protected from the blazing sun, watered regularly, and fertilized weekly, the flower shows off its tropical beauty to perfection in this location.
The flower of the gerbera
If children draw a flower, it usually resembles a gerbera. This is not surprising given their characteristic flower shape:
- A flower head of tubular flowers is surrounded by 2 to 3 wreaths of tongue-shaped bracts
- Double flowers contain significantly more tubular and bracts
- The flower diameter ranges from 5 to 15 centimeters (2- 6 inches)
Colors of Gerbera flowers
With a firework of bright colors, the gerbera brightens up the day. A sheer unmissable spectrum of nuances leaves nothing to be desired. Starting with the basic colors white, red and yellow, the genre unfolds a festival of colors that even goes beyond the scope of professional color theory.
Two-tone cultivars are no longer uncommon. Multicolored gerberas have been on the rise for a long time.
The gerbera in the vase
To ensure that you can enjoy gerberas in the vase for a long time, these precautions will help:
- Cut the flower when the inner flower tubes are still closed
- Clean the vase meticulously
- Fill in freshwater up to a maximum of 5 centimeters (2 inches)
- Repeatedly trim the base of the stem at an angle
How to care for the gerbera as a cut flower
As a cut flower, gerberas are particularly capricious. In this regard, exemplary care includes the following criteria:
- Obliquely cut the base of the stem every 2-3 days
- Regular replacement of the water
- Water level at a maximum of 5 centimeters (2 inches)
In addition, the addition of special Blumenfrisch is recommended.
Drying gerbera flowers
Drying gerberas is very easy. Cut the flower when it is fully bloomed. Then hang the stems upside down, either individually or tied into small bouquets. In an airy, rain-protected place, the process takes 2-3 weeks.
Gerbera seeds
In order to get the seeds of a gerbera in the mood to germinate, a constant temperature of 23-25 degrees Celsius (73-77 F) in a partially shaded location is required. If you put a transparent hood over the seed pot, the warm, humid microclimate will further promote the process.
Win Gerbera Seeds
In order to obtain the seeds of a gerbera, the flower must be completely dried. Then collect the seeds with a fringe of hair, dry them in a bowl and keep the seeds dry and dark until next spring.
Are gerberas poisonous to cats?
Gerberas pose no danger to cats. On the contrary, the flower is recommended when the window sill, balcony, and garden are to bloom in a way that is safe for cats.
The most beautiful varieties of gerbera
From the manageable number of 30 gerbera species, generations of gifted breeders have created an almost immense wealth of brilliant varieties. The range extends from the mini gerbera with 5-8 cm small flowers to the standard flower with 12.5 cm flower wreaths to the giants with 15 cm flower diameters.
- Aladin: 9-12 cm (4-5 inches) (, single, dark purple flowers with a black eye
- Befi: lavishly filled pompom flowers in soft pink with a black eye
- Germini Freddy: bright yellow blossom sun, bulging and with a light eye
- Ambiance: sensational bi-color gerbera with pink petals, pink wingtips, and a dark heart
- Alain Ducasse: cream and pink two-tone beauty with a black heart and densely filled
- Avignon: a noble gerbera with double flowers in an elegant apricot
- Dark Diamond: large-flowered variety with impressive flower wreaths in rich Bordeaux
- Kimpsey: Mini gerbera with 8 cm (3 inches) small, densely filled flowers in a soft pink
