Gerbera flowers — instructions for planting and care at home (150 beautiful photos)

Gerbera is an elegant flower from the aster family, having a long thin stem and petals of various shades: from white to burgundy. The plant is native to sunny Africa, where it is considered a perennial. In our climate, gerbera cannot survive severe frosts in the open ground, so it is grown in houses and greenhouses. For the summer period, the flower is put in the garden directly in a pot.

Summary of the article:

The description of the plant was first given by Jan Gronovius in 1737, who named the flower after his botanist friend Traugott Gerber.

There is another version of the origin of the name of gerbera — not entirely plausible, but very beautiful. According to legend, a forest nymph named Herba had a special external charm.

People of all ages, men and women, admired her. And finally, tired of annoying compliments and increased attention, the nymph wished to turn into a modest wild flower. Therefore, gerbera is associated with refinement and grace.

The name "Transvaal chamomile" is often found in the literature. It is under this name that gerbera is known in England and Europe. Indeed, as the photos of gerbera show, the flower looks like a mottled daisy, and terry species can be confused with asters.

5 interesting facts about gerber

There are more than 1000 varieties of this flower. If there is a wide range of colors, there is no gerbera with blue flowers. Breeders have repeatedly made attempts to breed blue gerberas, but this has not been possible.

Gerberas are one of the best-selling flowers in the world and rank fourth after roses, chrysanthemums and carnations.

Only one flower can form on the stems of the Transvaal chamomile, so that the plant looks neat and elegant.

Gerberas retain their pristine appearance and freshness for a long time. Bouquets of this flower stand in a vase for more than three weeks without any additional processing.

Gerbera varieties

Gerbera is represented by two main species — Greenleaf and Jackson. Other varieties are hybrids of the main ones. Due to the fact that there are a great many subspecies of Transvaal chamomile, it is advisable to divide the varieties into groups according to the size and types of peduncles.

Depending on the color , they are distinguished:

yellow (Helios, Brigitte);
red (veronica, Romeo);
orange (Alice, Mirage, Rudite);
pink (rosalyn);
white (Marlene).

Depending on the size of the inflorescences:

small-flowered (Alcors with cherry-colored flowers, pink Aldebaran);
large-flowered (orange Vega, pink Migar, yellow Jupiter, orange Saturn)

Depending on the texture of the petals:

ordinary, having flowers with smooth petals
terry (Viola with pink flowers, yellow Kalinka, red Spark).

Growing gerbera at home

For growing in indoor conditions, the most suitable option is Jackson's gerbera and its compact varieties — Happypot, Parade, Ilios. The plants have lush flowers of bright shades, while the height of the stem does not exceed 30 cm.

Before you start planting gerbera, you need to choose the right planters. Air permeability is of particular importance, therefore it is recommended to pay attention to clay and ceramic containers.

It is also important to observe the temperature regime. The thermophilic plant feels great at an average temperature of 22 ° C during the flowering period. In winter, the temperature should be around 13 ° C.

Methods of reproduction of gerbera

The plant reproduces by dividing the bush or by seeds. When dividing, the age of the uterine flower should be at least 3 years old. It is necessary to carefully separate the young layering with the rhizome and plant it in a separate pot. The seedling will bloom in a year.

Seeds are planted in the spring. After the germination of the sprouts, their thinning is carried out. When five leaves appear on the stem, daisies can be planted in separate containers. Slightly acidic soil will do.

reference. When using the method of dividing the bush to propagate the indoor flower of gerbera, the new seedlings will have the same characteristics as the mother plant. If you plant seeds, the resulting sprout may differ from the original in color.

Watering gerbera

The soil in the pot should always be moist. Water at room temperature should be used. Watering should be done on the edge of the container, trying not to fall on the outlet. It is possible to fill the pallet with water: in this case, the excess water must be drained after 30 minutes.

important! As well as drying out, excessive moistening should not be allowed, as this will lead to rotting of the root system.

The home flower of gerbera loves moist air. Therefore, it is recommended to spray from a spray gun. This manipulation should be carried out only around the plant, without affecting the flower and root socket.

Top dressing

Organic fertilizers are contraindicated for Transvaal chamomile. As a top dressing, it is allowed to use mineral fertilizers about three times a month.

Protection from pests and diseases

Powdery mildew can cause harm to gerbera. The disease manifests itself in the form of white spots on the leaves. To combat the disease, Phytosporin is used, which is sprayed on the plant.

Dying leaves affected by powdery mildew should be removed. In order to prevent it, you need to follow the rules of care: do not expose the gerber to sudden temperature changes, do not use cold water for watering.

Pests are dangerous: aphids, mites, whiteflies. Disinfection of the soil and treatment of the flower with special preparations will help to get rid of them. Nicotine sulfate is used to destroy aphids.

An ordinary soap solution helps to cope with the spider mite, which after treatment must be washed off after a while. Permethrin-based solutions are disastrous for whiteflies.

Useful tips on growing gerbera

Transplanting is done as needed, but it can only be done in early spring.

From November to February, the flower needs rest to gain strength for the upcoming flowering. During this period, fertilizing is not carried out.

Gerbera is a light—loving plant, so the container with the flower should be located in a sunny place, otherwise the stem will stretch out, and the peduncles will lose their bright color.