How to Repot a Gerbera
Gerbera daisies (Gerbera jamesonii) or Transvaal daisies originate from South Africa. These perennial flowers are members of the sunflower family. Gerbera daisies reach 12 to 18 inches tall. The large 3- to 5-inch blossoms have golden centers surrounded by yellow, pink, peach or red ray petals. Gerbera daisies need repotting every few years in order to stay healthy. Repotting refreshes the soil and gets rid of the salt buildup from fertilizing. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Water the gerbera daisy so that the soil is thoroughly wet. This encourages the soil to stick to the roots and reduces transplant shock. Choose a deep plant pot so the gerbera roots will grow deeply. Rinse the plant pot with one part bleach mixed with nine parts water. Let the plant pot air dry.
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Mix together equal parts of potting soil, peat moss, and sand. This mixture creates a loose, good draining soil mixture with plenty of organic material. Mix in 3 tbsp. of slow-release 14-14-14 fertilizer into the soil mixture.
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Fill the plant pot halfway with your soil mixture. Tip the gerbera daisies on its side and shake it out of its container. Examine the roots for any rot or dead spots. Trim away any dead roots, leaves and flowers with a pair of scissors.
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Untangle the roots with your fingers if they are pot bound. Straighten them out if possible. If the plant is young enough to not have any roots showing, then do not shake the soil off to find them. Leave as much soil around the roots as possible.
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Place the gerbera daisy plant in the container. Keep the crown above the soil. Pack soil down the sides of the plant pot. Pour water in the top of the container until it runs out the bottom. Place the gerbera daisy in an area with bright light.
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Tips & Warnings
Gerbera daisies are heavy feeders and respond well to regular feeding. Use a water-soluble complete fertilizer like 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 once a month.
The gerbera daisy plant's center buries itself as the plant grows. This makes the gerbera susceptible to crown rot when water covers the center. This problem is solved by repotting the gerbera daisy every two years.
References
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