How to Grow Gerbers

Gerbers bloom in bright colors.

Native to South Africa, gerber daisies are relatives of the sunflower. Their colorful, 5-inch flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Gerbers enjoy cool temperatures, and flowers wilt or the plant may fail to flower if temperatures rise over 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Southern gardeners and others that live in areas with high summer temperatures should plant the gerber in an area that affords it afternoon shade.

Things You'll Need

• Peat moss
• Garden fork
• Compost
• Fertilizer
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Rid the planting area of weeds. These plants rob the gerber daisies of nutrients and moisture in the soil.

2. Add 2 inches of peat moss to the planting soil, and mix it to a depth of 5 inches.

3. Remove the gerber from its pot, and use your fingers to gently untangle the roots. Plant the gerber in a hole that is deep enough so that the crown -- the area where the stem meets the roots -- is at soil level. If planting more than one gerber daisy, space them 12 to 18 inches apart.

4. Top-dress the soil around the gerbers with a 2-inch layer of compost in the spring and fall.

5. Provide the gerbers with enough water to keep the soil consistently moist while the plants are flowering. At other times, water only when the top 2 inches of soil is dry to the touch.

6. Fertilize the gerbers once a month while they are in flower. Use a 20-10-20 fertilizer with magnesium and iron. Water to a depth of 6 inches after fertilizing, and wash off any granules or liquid fertilizer on the foliage.

7. Mulch the soil around the gerbers to keep the roots cool. A 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch, 2 inches away from the plants' main stems insulates the soil.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension; Gerberas for Florida; B. Tjia, et al.; November 2008
• Auburn University; Gerbera Daisy; J. Raymond Kessler, Jr.
• "The Southern Living Garden Book;" Editors of Southern Living Magazine; 2004