Native to South Africa, they do best in temperatures between 65F and 70F.
Gerbera daisies areperennialsin the coastal and tropical South and are grown as annuals elsewhere.
Here is the gist on Gerbera daisy care to make them last as potted plants or in your garden.
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When it arrives in the imperfect conditions of your yard, it will likely experience a transplant shock.
Give it a location with plenty of sun and well-drained soil.
Full sun is a must, or the plant won’t bloom.
Keep the soil moist but not wet.
To encourage continuous blooming, remove spent flower stems.
Plant where your daisies will receive morning sun and afternoon shade.
Soil with poor drainage is not suitable for Gerbera daisies.
In soil that stays soaked for a long time, the plant will develop crown rot.
If your garden soil does not provide the right conditions, grow Gerbera daisies in pots.
Do not bury the crown when mulching.
You may need to replant perennial Gerberas every couple of years to keep the crown above the soil level.
Nursery transplants are often potbound and will require more water.
The objective of watering is to keep the soil evenly moist at all times without overwatering it.
Plants may rot in excessive rain.
Water early in the day whenever the top inch of soil is dry.
Don’t get the foliage wet and allow the crown to dry out between waterings.
Temperature And Humidity
Gerberas must be planted outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
If your winters are colder, grow Gerbera daisies as annuals or take precautions to overwinter the plants.
Gerbera daisies do not fare well in high humidity above 70 percent.
Gerberas can develop iron and manganese deficiencies, so use a fertilizer that contains those micronutrients.
Keep fertilizer off of foliage and the crown to prevent burning.
Pinch off dead and fading leaves to encourage new growth and a continuous bloom.
This only works for mature plants that have grown into clumps with multiple crowns.
Remove any dead roots and dead leaves, and about half of all the lower mature leaves.
Replant the sections immediately and water well.
Keep the plants moist until they are well established.
Get a head start bysowing the seeds indoorseight to 10 weeks before the last frost in spring.
Choose a container about 2 inches wider than the nursery pot and verify it has large drainage holes.
Like all potted plants, they need more frequent watering than plants in garden soil.
If there’s a saucer under the pot, see to it to empty it after watering.
If grown as annuals, they won’t need repotting.
Perennial Gerbera daisies benefit frombeing repottedto a pot one size up and fresh soil every spring.
Overwintering
Gerbera daisies won’t survive temperatures below 40F.
The other way to overwinter Gerberas is indoors on or near a sunny windowsill.
Reduce watering during the winter and stop fertilizing.
Once temperatures remain consistently above 45F, begin to re-acclimate the plants to the outdoors.
Gray mold,powdery mildew, and anthracnose are common causes of stem and root rots.
Remove affected foliage so it cannot spread to the rest of the plant.
Plants with root rot should be pulled and disposed of.
To prevent fungal diseases, quickly clip off faded blooms and stems.
Avoid crowded conditions and confirm there is sufficient air flow between plants.
Common pests include whiteflies, aphids, thrips, andspider mites.
Spray in the late evening to avoid harming pollinating insects.
Provide light shade only during the hottest hours of the day.
In climates where Gerberas are perennial, they can bloom at almost any time of year.
Fertilize regularly during the growing season.
If the plant wilts in the heat and the soil is dry, water deeply.
Provide more protection from the mid-afternoon sun if needed.
It is usually better to discard the plant instead of trying to treat it with a fungicide.
Yellowing Leaves
Yellow stippling on leaves usually indicates spider mites sucking the sap from your plant.
Look for tiny, spider-like insects or webbing and spray insecticidal soap to control the infestation.
Yellow leaves with green veins indicate an iron deficiency.
Apply liquid fertilizer or spray with a foliar spray containing iron.
Frequently Asked Questions
With the right growing conditions, Gerbera daisies can be grown indoors.
Give them bright sunlight in a room with moderate temperatures.
Keep the plants indoors year-round or move them outdoors during warmer weather.
With proper care, potted Gerbera daisies last two to three years.
Repotting them every year helps to extend their life.
Gerbera daisies grown in warmer climates come back every year as perennials.
In areas with colder climates, they are treated as annuals, lasting only one season.
Plant them after the threat of frost has passed in colder areas.
Unlike other daisies, Gerbera daisies are for dogs and cats.
