How to Keep Gerbera Daisies Alive

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Things You'll Need

  • Pot

  • Potting soil

  • Fertilizer

Gerbera grow well in pots.

Gerbera daisies are prized for their large, colorful flowers. The blooms have a dark-colored central disk surrounded by radiating petals in bold shades of pink, green, orange or yellow. Gerbera daisies are tender, short-lived perennials that do not tolerate winter frost. They are often grown in pots either indoors or outside so they can be brought indoors before winter weather damages them. Keeping your Gerbera daisies alive requires minimal care and time, and these flowers reward your efforts with their striking blossoms.

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Step 1

Transplant Gerbera into a 6-inch diameter pot that has drainage holes in the bottom after purchase, if the plant isn't already in the appropriate-sized pot. Use a well-drained potting medium and plant the Gerbera at the same depth in the new pot that it was at in its nursery pot.

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Step 2

Locate the Gerbera away from cool or hot air drafts from vents and windows, placing it in a 65 to 75 degrees F room. Avoid placing the plant in humid areas, such as near bathrooms or kitchens, as humidity can lead to fungal problems.

Step 3

Place the Gerbera daisies in an area that receives bright, indirect sunlight. Limited daylight, such as that received in an east-facing window, is acceptable. Too much light causes the flowers to fade more quickly or inhibits blooming altogether.

Step 4

Water Gerbera when the top 1 inch of potting soil feels dry to the touch. Check soil moisture near the center of the pot, as the edges dry out more quickly. Water from the top until the excess moisture drains from the bottom, then empty the drip tray so the pot does not sit in standing water.

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Step 5

Fertilize the plants once a month with a 15-15-18 soluble flowering plant food. Apply the fertilizer at the rate recommended on the package. Feed the Gerbera from spring until fall, as fertilization is not necessary in winter.

Tip

Gerbera bloom for three years on average, but a properly cared for plant may survive longer.

Remove the dead blossoms as soon as they fade to keep the Gerbera daisy looking its best.

Warning

Bring pots indoors before the first freeze in fall, if applicable, otherwise the plants may be killed.

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