How to Grow and Care for Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera daisy is native to South Africa and part of the Aster family. The varieties that you'll find at nurseries and in seed catalogs today are hybrids bred for their vividly colored flowers. Gerbera daisies are divided into four classes: single flower, semi-double flower, double flower, and spider flower.

In warm climates, Gerbera daisies are grown as tender perennials that come back every year. In areas with cold winters, they are treated as annuals and planted in garden beds or containers after all danger of frost has passed in the spring. If you live in a climate where winters are cold and snowy, it is best to buy nursery-grown starter plants.

Gerbera daisies establish themselves at a moderate pace, delivering their first flowers within 14 to 18 weeks and continuing to bloom throughout the summer.

Gerbera Daisy Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing a Gerbera daisy:

• Select a location that receives full sun to partial shade in the hot afternoon hours.
• Plant Gerbera daisies in soil that is rich in organic matter and slightly acidic. The crown of the plant should be about 1/2 inch above the soil line.
• Water newly planted Gerbera daisies regularly, and established plants about 1 inch of water per week.
• Feed them monthly during the spring and summer with a water-soluble fertilizer.
• To keep Gerbera daisies blooming and showy, deadhead spent blooms.
  

Light

Gerbera daisies thrive best under full sun but do not like intense heat. If you live in a particularly hot climate, try to plant your Gerbera daisies in a location with afternoon shade. Avoid planting flowers near a structure that reflects heat onto the plant, such as a foundation or stone wall.

Soil

Start your Gerbera daisy bed with rich soil high in organic matter and well-draining, ideally with a soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5—levels higher than this cause chlorosis, which manifests with yellow stripes on the leaves. Additionally, black spots or patches appear on the leaves if the pH level is too low.

Water

Water Gerbera daisies around 1 inch per week, when the soil has dried an inch or two below the surface. During hot and dry spells or when getting established, water more frequently.

Only water Gerbera daisies lightly in the winter, since they are dormant during the cold months.

Temperature and Humidity

Gerbera daisies grow best inUSDA hardiness zones 8 through 10, though they will need winter protectionin zone 8. In cooler climates, gardeners grow Gerbera daisies as annuals. The flowers prefer a cool (but not cold) winter temperature of about 45°F to 50°F. Gerbera daisy plants have no special humidity needs.

Fertilizer

The amount of fertilizer your Gerbera daisies need depends on the quality of your soil. During the spring and summer, fertilize the plants every two weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer that is high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen. Alternatively, spread compost around the plants monthly.

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Types of Gerbera Daisies

• ‘Terracotta’: Double-type Gerbera daisy flower with double yellow petals and a hint of peach surrounding its dark red eye
• ‘Winter Queen’: Crested double Gerbera daisy with white petals and a black central disk or eye
• ‘Giant Spinner’: Full-crested double Gerbera daisy flower with two rows of outer petals and two rows of inner petals; the first row of inner petals surrounds and covers the disk at the center
  

Pruning Gerbera Daisies

As Gerbera daisies wilt or fade and petals are about to fall off the flower head, deadhead or prune the flower stems to the leaves where they emerge. Deadheading extends the blooming period.

Trim the dying bud off of Gerbera daisies before they go to seed. Pinch or trim off shabby or older fading leaves to encourage new leaf growth.

Pruning Tip

Good pruning shears are essential to making sure your plants say healthy after pruning. We've tested a range of pruning shears to bring you the best ones for your garden.

Propagating Gerbera Daisies

Gerbera daisies can be propagated from cuttings, divisions, or seeds. Propagation from cuttings and division are best done in the spring or summer during the most active growth period of the plant. Dividing mature plants helps to keep them vigorous, maintains air circulation around the plant, and promotes flowering.

To propagate from cuttings:

1. In the summer when there is plenty of new growth on the plant, take cuttings from the base or the side shoots. Have a new pot, fresh potting soil, and rooting hormone (optional) ready.
2. Dip the cut end of the cutting in rooting hormone to help the cutting develop a root system faster.
3. Plant the cutting in a pot filled with fresh, moist potting soil. Keep it out of direct sunlight and water the cutting when the soil surface feels dry to the touch.
4. Once you see new growth and the cutting has rooted (gently wiggle the stem to test), move the pot to a location with full to partial sun. Keep it watered. Wait until the cutting has grown into a vigorous little plant before transplanting it into the landscape or a bigger container.

To divide plants:

1. In the early spring, just as the new growth starts, dig out the entire plant with all of its roots using a shovel or a spade. Have a sharp knife, a new pot or pots, and fresh potting soil (optional) ready.
2. Cut through the roots with the knife or spade, separating the root ball into two or more parts depending on its size.
3. Replant each part at the same depth as the original plant, or in new pots with fresh potting soil.
4. Water each division thoroughly and keep it watered until it is established.
   

How to Grow Gerbera Daisies From Seed

Although most Gerbera daisy varieties are easily grown from seed, they are relatively slow to develop, which narrows the window of their single-season growth period, unless you start the seeds indoors in late winter or early spring. Starting Gerbera daisies from seed outdoors is feasible only in warmer climates where they won’t succumb to the first fall frosts.

To grow Gerbera daisies from seed, start the seeds indoors approximately 12 to 18 weeks before the average last frost date in your region. Sow seeds in peat orpaper pots, since Gerbera daisies do not like having their roots disturbed by transplanting

1. Press the seeds gently onto the top of your soil mixture. Do not bury them—they need light to germinate.
2. Cover your pots with plastic wrap or a lid to help keep the soil and the exposed seeds moist.
3. Place the seeds in a warm, sunny spot (a temperature range of 70°F to 75°F is best) and wait approximately 2 to 4 weeks for germination.
4. Transplant your seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and harden them off before planting.

Potting and Repotting Gerbera Daisies

Gerberas should be repotted yearly or every two years in the spring before new growth begins, especially once roots crowd the pot. Select a pot one size larger than the current one with at least one large drainage hole.

Remove the Gerbera daisy by turning the current pot over in your hand, supporting the root ball. Brush away excess soil, snip browned or diseased roots, and place the root ball atop of bed of about 3 inches of new soil and fill around the sides. The root ball should sit about 1 inch beneath the rim of the new pot. Water until water comes out of the drainage holes.

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Overwintering

If you are gardening in USDA zone 8 to 10, cut Gerbera plants back to about 1 inch above soil level before the first expected frost. The plants survive the winter outdoors if protected with mulch up to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. In zones 6 or cooler, dig up your Gerberas after pruning, pot them, and move them to a brightly lit, cool room between 45°F and 60°F for the winter.

Common Pests and Diseases

Gerbera daisies are easy to grow outdoors but susceptible to some pests and fungal diseases.

Common Pests

Aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and thrips all feast on Gerbera daisy leaves. They're attracted to stressed plants, so keep your plants in good health and monitor them regularly for signs of trouble.

Small populations are easily blasted off with a strong spray of water. To control larger populations, use insecticidal soap or natural horticultural oils like neem.

Leafminers may also infest the leaves which will show the telltale sign of tunneling. Remove any damaged leaves.

Common Diseases

Powdery Mildew: While unsightly, powdery mildew is mostly an appearance issue and rarely fatal to the plants. It does stress the plant, and severe or repetitive infections weaken it and make it prone to other diseases and insect damage. Use pruners to remove the portions of your plants that have visible powdery mildew on them. If the entire plant is affected, be assured that it will subside as the season changes.

Crown or Root Rot: The fungal culprit for crown or root is Phytophthora cryptogea, which causes stunted growth, affects flower production, and leads to leaf and stem wilt. The plant root appears rotted, brown, or black. If left untreated, the entire plant will die.

Crown or and root rot often affects the plants when their soil is wet. Make sure not to overwater and allow the soil to dry out between waterings. However, do not leave the plant unwatered for so long that they wilt and become drought-stressed.

Botrytis Blight: The fungal spores of Botrytis cinerea cause a velvety coating over infected flowers and leaf tissue. Other signs of gray mold are pock marks or brown spots on the leaf stalk and tan spots on flower petals.

To prevent it, ensure good circulation around the plant during high humidity periods and water the soil, not the flowers and leaves. To treat it, remove all infected parts of the plant. Apply a fungicide formulated to treat botrytis.

How to Get Gerbera Daisies to Bloom

Bloom Months

Gerbera daisy blooms most prolifically during the spring months and again in the fall. But the plant may bloom intermittently throughout the growing season.

What Does Gerbera Daisy Look and Smell Like?

A circle of ray petals in orange, red, yellow and cream hues surround a darker center disk. Flowers may be 3 to 6 inches wide. Gerbera daisy has no scent.

How Do I Encourage More Blooms?

Gerbera daisies generally bloom for several weeks and will flower longer with these tips:

• If the foliage is getting excessively bushy, remove some of the clustered centerleaves to let more light in.
• Summer heat will often end Gerbera blooms early; consider moving them indoors in hot weather to sustain the flowers longer.
• Fertilize the plants every two weeks with a high-phosphorus, bloom-boosting fertilizer.

Deadheading Gerbera Daisy

Deadheading, or removing the spent blooms, will keep the plant looking neat and encourage further flowering.

Common Problems With Gerbera Daisy

Iron Deficiency

Leaf yellowing on lower leaves or the yellowing of plant tissue between the green veins is usually caused by iron deficiency, which may also affect flower production. The deficiency is either caused by insufficient iron in the soil or fertilizer or by a soil pH exceeding 6.2.

Other factors that impede nutrient absorption are temperatures below 68°F, soggy soil, and rotten or damaged roots, Check temperatures, soil moisture, pH levels, and root health to determine the cause. If needed lower the soil pH or add iron chelates to the soil. Avoiding overwatering.

Wilting Plant

Overwatering or under-watering a Gerbera daisy can cause it to wilt. Excessive heat may also be the culprit; water deeply and, if necessary, move the plant out of direct sunlight during midafternoon hours.

From: thespruce