Gerbera Daisy Plant Care
Gerbera Daisy plants, with 30 fellow varieties, are one of the most popular, frequently delivered and self-grown flowers across the U.S. Because of their bright and bold colors: red, orange, yellow, white, cream, purple and pink, they bring light to anyone who gives/receives/plants them.
Gerbera Daisy Plant:
These beautiful blooms are perfect for any occasion (or for no occasion) and for any region (except Alaska). It’s widely recognized that sending colored Gerbera Daisies represents different emotions, similar to what each rose color means. The best thing? Gerberas are easy to care for, whether in a vase/pot inside, or planted/potted outside.
Most who buy “Gerbs” in seed or bulb form are proficient gardeners/hobbyists, and they’re planting in their homes’ yards, gardens or pots. Bulbs or packs of seedlings are easy to find: try a local Farmer’s Market, Greenhouse, flower/plant shop, or even in the Greenery/Yard Care sections of stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s or Kmart.
Planting and Caring for Gerbera Daisy Plants
It’s simple to pick up a pack or two of Gerbera Daisy plant seeds to sow at home. They add variety and pops of color to your home’s flower/vegetable garden outside and lovely floral accents inside. * Remember: plant Gerbera seeds in SPRING after any frost has passed.
- Temperatures: Gerbera plants grow best at around 75F/24C . Avoid planting in areas that reach below 43F/6C – they will not survive ‘continuous, strong’ frost, so just take any pots inside (note: unheated garages/sheds might freeze as well!)
- Areas with full to partial sun are best for growing and caring for these precious plants. The best results for outdoor planning are areas where there’s mild temperature and a minimum night temperature of 43F/6C. Gerberas aren’t affected by maximum temperatures so they endure harsh sunlight. The relative humidity where you plant them should average 65%, with exposure to full sun. (During the cooler months – November through May – water the plants only when soil becomes fairly dry.
- Carefully choose (don’t “manhandle”) 4-6 seeds from the packet and a medium sized-pot. Use a spade to set them two-and-a-half inches deep and at least a foot apart under healthy enriched soil (peat grass helps the plants drain well, but if soil is high in sand content it drains well, so you don’t need peat grass)
- Water immediately; thereafter, water seeds daily to keep soil moist around your delightful daisies – but don’t water so much that soil becomes muddy or pools water at the bottom of a pot, or at the bottom stem if in a garden!
- Fertilize every two weeks with all-purpose water-soluble fertilizer.
- Water regularly to make sure the soil stays evenly moist while they bloom. After blooming for the season, allow them to dry out slightly.
- Remove dead blooms with garden shears to encourage the gerberas to keep blooming for as long as possible.
Indoor Gerbera Daisies
Most indoor daisy plants come “pre-made” as beautiful whole blooms! In recent years, flower shops, some drug stores and grocery stores have realized this favored flower’s popularity and it’s serious selling power. They joined and now offer lovely designs of pre-planted and “already bloomed” potted sets, bouquets or vases of the distinctive Daisy. Bouquet varieties and sizes vary in number/color, and have Bear Grass (or greenery) to add depth. One can purchase long-stemmed versions of a dozen, half-dozen, or fewer pre-wrapped in pastel tissue paper, or choose a ready-prepared vase bouquet. Due to these more complimentary options, most Gerbera Daisies are, in fact, bought while in bloom and for indoor decorative purposes and gifting.