Gerbera Daisy -Transvaal Daisy- African Daisy -Barberton Daisy-Gerbera Jamesonii

Gerbera daisies are easy to grow them at both indoors and outdoors when you provide sufficient resources to the flowering plants. It helps to bloom flowers quickly in the growing season. You just need minimal care for gerbera seeds before planting.

Gerbera daisy is grown commercially and is 5th most used the cut flower in the world. These plants are native to Asia, Africa, South America and is widely used as decorative or cut flowers. It acts as air purifier plant that completely eliminates the harmful toxins in your surrounding area.

Daisy flowers are available in red, orange, white, yellow, pink, purple, maroon and bronze colors. The flower has striking florets available in pink and red colors. Flower heads are small ranging from 7-12 centimeters in diameter. Sometimes the center of the flower is black and petals with different colors. Hybrid species of gerberas greatly vary in size, the shape that includes gerbera viridifolia, gerbera hybrida, gerbera jamesonii and red gerbera daisies.

Gerberas look very pretty when different color flowers are arranged together in a vase. Flower extracts are used in perfumes, nail paint, lipsticks and as cut flowers for birthdays, weddings and anniversaries.

Gerbera Companion Plants

Companion planting is the process of pairing 2 plants that benefit each other in the same way. It mutually helps to deter pests from each other and provides nutrients more effectively. Gerbera daisy plants love to grow with dichondra, portulaca, evolves, heliotrope and helichrysum. Some other wedding flowers that grow along with daises are tulips, dahlias, hydrangeas, lilies, pansies and ranunculus.

Gerbera Daisy Varieties

Gerbera is a very popular tender perennial plant that usually grow as decorative garden plant or cut flowers. It attracts butterflies, bees, birds and repels deers. These flowering plants should be kept in a moist soil to grow quickly. Here is the list of some popular gerbera daisy varieties that you can grow at home and garden.

S.No Variety Specification 1 Salmon pink gerbera daisy 1 feet, strong green foliage, pink flowers 2 Gerbera jamesonii daisy South Africa, large orange color flowers 3 Pink elegance gerbera daisy India, large pink showy flowers, green foliage 4 Gerbera transvaal daisy South Africa, crimson red, ornamental plant 5 Variegated gerbera daisy Red with yellow centers, evergreen foliage, 6 White gerbera daisy 12 inches, white flowers, full sun to partial shade 7 Gerbera apricot Salmon apricot, tinder perennial plant 8 Gerbera fiction beige 1 feet, strong green foliage, white-yellow with pink center 9 Gerbera aurantiaca Crimson red with black center, tender perennial plant 10 Gerbera hybrid Evergreen foliage, yellow, light salmon with red center 11 Black eye gerbera daisy Red petals, black to yellow centers, dark green foliage 12 Gerbera jamesonii souvenir South Africa, Large red-orange or sandy brown flowers 13 Gerbera petunia wonderla 1 feet, spreads 5 feet wide, yellow, magenta pink with purple centers 14 Gerbera spider daisy Narrow and sharp edged petals, ornamental plant 15 Orange spider gerbera daisy South Africa, edge shape narrow petals, coral, oranage 16 Pink gerbera daisy germini Popular cut flowers, pink, deep showy pink flowers 17 Garvinea classic jasmina Pink with yellow centers, light green foliage

Given below are some of the gerbera species that are mostly found in hill areas, forests etc.,.

Gerbera ambiuga Gerbera bonatiana Gerbera cordata Gerbera diversifolia Gerbera elliptica Gerbera emirnensis Gerbera galpinii Gerbera kunzeana Gerbera latiligulata Gerbera leandrii Gerbera macrocephala Gerbera maxima Gerbera nepalensis Gerbera nivea Gerbera parva Gerbera perrieri Gerbera petasitifolia Gerbera raphanifolia Gerbera serotina Gerbera serrata Gerbera viridifolia Gerbera wrightii Gerbera tomentosa

How to Grow Gerbera Daisy from Seeds?

Gerbera daisy flowers are favorite for many people as they are available in bright pretty colorful flowers. These colorful flowering plants make the garden look fabulous. It is mostly used as ornamental flowering plants and in making flower bouquets. You can even grow them near window location in pots.

Pot & Soil

Purchase the seed variety from nursery or supermarkets. You can start from seeds in spring or summer season. Choose a pot or small container to grow daisy variety from seed indoors. Pot size should be of 6 inches when you start growing from seeds. Maintain well drain fertile soil with a ph between 6 & 7.

Planting

Before sowing seeds into the pot dig holes about 2inches deep to place seeds. Now cover the seeds with mulches which help to improve the soil fertility. Seedlings may develop within 2-3 weeks and are ready to transplant outdoors.

Water & Sunlight

Water regularly in little amounts until the seedlings appear. When the plants grow to a certain height of 2 feet tall, water the plant in huge amounts on daily basis. Provide sunlight to daisy plants to bloom flowers quickly. These plants are frost perennials i.e. it can withstand at low temperatures below 30F.

Pollination

In case of daisy plants pollens are transferred from flower to flower carried by wind and rain. These beautiful flowers attract butterflies, insects and birds by spreading beautiful fragrances.You can also hand pollinate daisies to distribute pollens between the flowers.

Nutrient Deficiency

S. No Element Deficiency symptom 1 Nitrogen Yellow leaves, thin shoots 2 Phosphorus Dark green leaves, scorched leaves 3 Potassium Brownish yellow color leaf margins 4 Calcium Light green foliage, stunting leaves

Pests & Diseases

Pests Diseases Whitefly Powdery mildew Leaf miner Root rot Mites Blight Aphids Damping off Nematodes Grey mildew Thrips Fusarium wilt

Fertilizing Gerbera Daisies

For better results fertilize the daisy plant regularly once in a month. You can apply slow-release fertilizers 2-3 times in the growing season. Gerbera daisy plants are mostly deficient in iron and manganese, so spray organic solution like fish emulsion and seaweed on plants to bloom flowers. You can also prefer organic matter such as Epsom salt, compost or manure, Eggshells, neem oil and Baking soda to deter pests and disease problem.

Harvesting

Plants usually grow for a single season. But if you maintain right growing conditions then it can survive for 2-3 years. The flowers may bloom 14-18 weeks after planting and abundantly in the summer season. Cut the beautiful daisy flowers using a sharp knife and store them in cool place i.e. refrigerator to stay fresh for few days.

How to Propagate Daisy Plants?

Propagation helps to create a new variety by considering a small portion of the plant. Of all daisy varieties Shasta daisy is most suitable plant to grow from cuttings which grow in the USDA zones of 5 to 8. Though these plants are sun-loving perennials they can tolerate in shade. Here are 2 simple procedures to propagate daisy plants i.e. from stem cuttings and division method…..

From Cuttings

Take the daisy stem cutting of size 8 inches tall. Trim off the bottom leaves and allow it to dry for some time. You must also remove buds and flowers from the stem to ensure fasts growth. Now place the cuttings in a peat, perlite and coarse sandy soil. This mixture allows you to hold good drainage with plenty of moisture.

Place it in sunlight and water the stem evenly at regular intervals. If the outside weather is too hot for daises then cover the plant with a plastic sheet. The plant is ready to shift outdoors and makes your garden look beautiful.

From Division Method

Propagation gerbera daisy from division method involves by considering the existing plants. For this, you need to cut the root crowns with your fingers by leaving some good roots i.e. at least 1 growth bud for each division.

Now plant those divisions in a well-drain fertile soil and the position of each root crown is slightly higher than surrounding soil. Water the gerbera divisions and place them in sunlight for a minimum of 6 hours a day. The divisions may take some months time to establish leaves, stems and roots completely.

Now the gerbera daisy plant is ready to fertilize with organic matter to bloom beautiful vibrant flowers. Flowers may bloom in its growing season when the plant reaches to a height of 3 feet tall. harvest them and use it for interior decorating.

How to Care for Gerbera Daisy?

Here are some possible gerbera daisy plant care instructions that will help you to make a better daisy garden.

Provide proper spacing for each plant so they do not fight for food.

Do not overwater the daisy plants as it may result in the plant to root rot.

Test the nature of the soil and ph before planting from seeds indoors.

Daisy plants cannot survive if you grow them in extremely hot conditions.

Water the plant regularly to maintain the soil moist and not completely wet.

If you find the plants overcrowded then safely repot them in any growing season.

Prune dead flowers and dry foliage regularly that reduces the chances of diseases.

Keep pets like dogs and cats away as they can spoil beautiful flowers from blooming.

When you grow gerbera daisy plants indoors, place it near window location to receive sunlight.

When you select the pot or container make sure it has holes at the bottom for proper drainage.

Is a gerbera daisy annual or perennial?

Daisies act as a perennial flowering plant if you grow in the USDA zone regions of 8-11. You can plant it in your garden and expect it bloom year after year. Daises should be treated as annuals if you grow them in colder regions.

Is gerbera daisy poisonous to pets?

These houseplants are easy to grow at home or garden and do not harm your pets like dogs, cats and horses unless any in digested plant material can cause vomitings.

Why gerbera daisy leaves turn yellow?

Container growing daises should have sufficient drainage holes. the huge amount of water in soil can cause root rot that prevents absorbing nutrients from the soil. This can cause the plant to fall sick and the leaves may even turn yellow, brown and red colors.

For more information refer: Why are my plants turning yellow?

What are the medicinal uses of daisies?

Gerbera daisies serve the best remedy for a cough and cold, headache, treats rheumatism and reduces the risk of cancer. it also acts as an antispasmodic to treat mouth sores. Some people do not like the smell of daisies which results in asthma, fever and contact dermatitis.

It’s fun to grow and enjoy gerbera daisy plants in your garden space starting from seeds/cuttings that spreads beautiful fragrance, purifies air and keeps surrounding hygiene. If you have wonderful ideas about growing beautiful daisies, please share your experience with us in the comment section.

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