How to Grow Gazania From Seeds
Gazania, commonly known as treasure flower, is an herbaceous perennial from the Asteraceae family. Gazania thrives in USDA Hardiness zones 9 to 11, requires full sun and blooms seasonally with showy, colorful flowers. Although the flower prefers somewhat warmer climates, it is commonly used as a container flower and will bloom throughout the fall until the first frost. With the proper planting medium, temperature and light, you can grow gazania from seeds. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic containers with draining holes
- Planting soil
- Plastic wrap
- Tweezers
Instructions
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Purchase gazania seeds from a nursery or flower store. Do not try to use seeds collected from flowers you have growing in your garden already. Most gazania flowers sold are hybrids, and the seeds from these hybrids are usually sterile. Therefore, purchase a seed packet to start your treasure flowers.
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Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before planting outdoors. Fill a plastic container with drainage holes with planting soil specifically formulated for seed germination. Water the planting soil, then plant the seeds to a depth no greater than a quarter inch, or just below the surface of the soil. Water the container again so the soil is moist but not soggy.
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Cover the container with plastic wrap and place the container in a warm location out of direct sunlight. The seeds may take a few weeks to germinate. During this time, check the soil twice a day for moisture level. Whenever the soil gets dry, water it again, being careful not to flood the soil.
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Remove the plastic wrap when you see the shoots starting to poke through the surface of the soil.
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Place the container in a window that receives full sunlight. Continue watering until after the last frost of the season, after which you can plant the seedlings outdoors.
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Take the container outdoors and leave it in the sunlight during the day for two weeks before planting the gazania. This will help the seedlings adjust to outdoor conditions. Make sure to bring the containers back inside for the night so frost or cold temperatures don't destroy the seedlings.
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Plant the seedlings in well-draining soil and a location in full sunlight. Try not to damage the seedlings when you remove them from the germination container. If possible, gently remove the seedlings with a pair of tweezers, then plant them into soil at the same depth they were growing in the container.
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Water the outdoor planting location regularly or whenever the soil is dry. You can also fertilize once a month after the gazania has been outdoors for at least two weeks and established in the new location. Use a water-soluble, well-balanced liquid fertilizer.
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References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
