In his spare time, he enjoys yoga and urban patio gardening. By Joshua Duvauchelle. Related Articles. How to Grow Orange Coreopsis. Timing of Seeding While starting a gerbera daisy plant from seed is generally cheap, the results are unpredictable when it comes to the plant's flower color.
Timing of Plant Division Mature gerbera daisy plants produce multiple growing crowns. Temperature Considerations While gerbera daisies are hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, for the best results they should only be planted when outdoor evening temperatures are no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Mulching helps reduce the need for mechanical and chemical week control. Deadhead spent blooms and their stems down to the next stem, bud, or leaf to promote additional flowering.
Fertilizing gerbera daisies is important to produce the best-looking plants. Apply a controlled-release fertilizer two to three times during the growing season or use a liquid fertilizer every two weeks. Gerberas can suffer from iron and manganese deficiencies, especially in potting soil; therefore, use a granular fertilizer or foliar fertilizer spray that contains these micronutrients.
Common pests on gerbera daisies include whiteflies, aphids, thrips, and spider mites. Neem oil or insecticidal soap sprays will aid in controlling these pests. Do not use neem oil or insecticidal soap sprays when the temperature is above 90F or in full sun, as this may damage the plants. Spraying in the late evening is better than spraying in the morning in to protect pollinating insects.
Always follow the directions on the label. Overly moist soils can lead to stem and root rot. Gray mold, powdery mildew, and anthracnose are the most common causes of stem and root rots. Allow the soil to slightly dry out in between waterings to help avoid disease problems. This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement of brand names or registered trademarks by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied, nor is any discrimination intended by the exclusion of products or manufacturers not named.
Begin with a strong plant The key to growing good gerbera daisies starts at the store. Purchase plants from the garden center instead of the florist. Foliage should be deep green. Check the undersides for insects, such as aphids or whiteflies. If you can, gently tip the plant out and check the roots, too. They should be white, not brown or mushy, and fill the pot without being overcrowded.
An open flower or two will let you know the color, and look down in the foliage for buds so you know more are on the way. Gerbera daisy growing tips Once your gerberas are home, give them a spot with good drainage and plenty of sun. Keep the soil consistently moist but not so soggy the plants rot.
It helps if you let the soil or potting mix dry out a little between waterings. Feed plants every two weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer, such as a formula. Set the daisies 12 to 18 inches apart to allow the air to flow more around them, making them less likely to get powdery mildew. Plant them well above ground level, so their crowns aren't as likely to rot. If you have clay soil , opt for showing the daisies off in containers instead of in garden beds.
Depending on the variety, the daisies will grow anywhere from 6 to 18 inches tall, so use them in the front and middle of your flowerbeds or containers. Gerbera daisies like plenty of moisture, but let the top inch dry out before you water again. Aphids are the main insect problems but natural predators, like ladybugs, will probably show up to deal with the aphids. If not, use a mild soap spray when the sun is not shining on the leaves. Blooming is the whole point of Gerbera daisies and fertilizer helps them keep pumping out the flowers.
Check your zone on the USDA map and bring the containers indoors before the first frost. Nurse them along until the last frost in the spring and then start over again for jolly flowers in the spring and summer.
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