Gardening Tips for the Gerbera Daisy
Gerbera daisies, native to Africa, Asia and South America, did not come to North America until the 1920s, according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Discovered by Robert Jameson, a Scotsman, in the Transvaal region of South Africa in 1880, the daisies belong to the sunflower family. With the scientific name Gerbera jamesonii, the flowers are now produced commercially, especially in Florida and California, for use by florists. Gerbera daisies are also often found in home gardens. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Key to Their Popularity
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The fifth most chosen cut flower in the world, the gerbera daisy blooms almost year-round, reports Gerbera Flower. They are available in an array of colors, including yellow, red, orange, salmon, pink and white. Some growers plant orange and red for the fall and winter and reserve pink, salmon and yellow for the spring and summer months. With proper care, the flowers can grow to 5 or 6 inches in diameter. Planted outside, they attract birds, bees and butterflies but repel deer.
Importance of Light and Water
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A gerbera's light intensity determines how many flower buds will form. Full sun is best in fall, winter and spring, advises the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Since the flowers are mostly planted in areas with brutal summers, partial shade is recommended for optimal performance during the summer. Water ranks second in importance in the care of gerbera daisies. The trick is to refrain from over-watering or leaving the foliage wet. You should water through a soaker hose and turn it off early in the day to allow the leaves to dry completely before evening. Fertilize with a water-based plant food about every other week.
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Growing Locations
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Flowerbeds, indoor pots and greenhouses can all produce gerbera blooms. Daisies grown in the house will only bloom for about six weeks, so you might consider transplanting outdoors after the initial flowering, according to Gardening Central. While indoors, the plant is most apt to thrive in a sunny location, preferably on the west side of the house. Temperature, moisture and potting media can be controlled in a greenhouse setting to cultivate long stems and mammoth flowers. Gerberas grow outside as perennials in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. Gardeners in other zones can plant them and treat them as annuals.
Avoiding Trouble
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Over-watering causes most of the diseases, as well as insect pests, that prey on gerbera daisies. Crown rot and various mildew conditions are brought about by too much moisture. Daisies are also susceptible to aphids, white flies and thrips. Thrips lay their eggs inside a gerbera's tissues, which can destroy the plant. All of these pests are attracted by standing water, so make sure your daisies are planted in well-drained soil and allowed to dry out.
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References
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