Planting Guide for Gerber Daisies
Gerber daisies (Gerbera jamesonii) are known for their vibrant color and large blossoms. They are a favorite in the cut-flower industry and as a pop of color in home gardens. They can be grown as an annual or tender perennial and do best in U.S. Department of Agriculture planting zones 9 and 10. They grow on stems as tall as 18 inches that tend to be strong and durable in extreme weather. While easy to cultivate, they have certain needs that must be met for the best results. Does this Spark an idea?
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Benefits
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Gerbera daisies are bold bursts of color in a home garden, but provide other benefits as well. Once they've been established -- either outside or inside -- they are long-lasting. In addition to their aesthetic appeal, they attract bees and butterflies that can be beneficial to other plants.
Soil
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Gerbera daisies require nutrient-rich soil that provides good drainage. If the soil contains too much clay or holds water for long periods of time, it may be necessary to add organic matter -- peat moss or compost are ideal -- to make it more suitable. Loam type soil is an ideal situation for growing gerberas, planting in a raised bed or growing in a container can be gooare suitable alternatives. Keep the soil damp, but not wet, and as close to a neutral pH as possible. These conditions will produce healthy plants and plenty of flowers.
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Planting
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Gerberas should be planted in an area with plenty of sun, with some protection from harsh afternoon sun, as this may damage foliage and petals. The crowns should be above soil level to avoid crown rot and watered early in the morning and only as the soil begins to dry. Growers should pay close attention to watering and soil quality, as problems with either may contribute to diseases and decreased flower production. Maintenance is fairly easy, requiring removal of dead leaves and flowers.
Diseases
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Certain disease problems may occur in the gerbera, and are primarily caused by soil or water problems. Crown rot is almost always lethal to gerberas, and is most often caused by over watering, poor drainage or planting too low in the ground. Careful watering and proper planting are the key ways to avoiding this problem. When weather is too cool or humid, a white mildew may develop on the leaves, but is not usually fatal. A few pests are common to the plant, including aphids and whitefly. Others problems may include leafminer and spider mite. Aphids can be taken care of by introducing ladybugs, while the others can be handled with an insecticide.
Propagation
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Propagation is most often by seeds and should be done 10 to 20 weeks before the last frost of the season. No pretreatment is required and the seeds should sprout within a month or two. Plants produced from a seed may differ from the looks of the parent. To produce a plant similar to the parent, divisions can done in the spring or basal cuttings done in the summer. Before planting a basal cutting, growers should dip it in rooting hormone to promote healthy growth.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit yellow gerber daisy image by Paul O'Hearn from Fotolia.com
