How do you care for the latest potted Gerbera daisies?
The Gerbera daisy is also known as the Flamingo flower, lamp flower, Persian flower, etc. It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Gerbera in the Asteraceae family, with relatively thick fibrous roots and terminal flower heads. The flowers are huge and come in rich colors, and management is labor-saving. In warm regions it can be supplied year-round, for cut flowers and for making flower baskets, and it can also be grown as a potted plant for ornamental viewing. Now let us take a look together at how to care for a potted Gerbera daisy!
Growth habits of the Gerbera daisy
The Gerbera daisy is native to South Africa and adapts to a mild climate. It tolerates heat and is slightly tolerant of cold, and prefers an environment that is warm in winter, cool in summer, with circulating air and plenty of sunlight. The optimal growth temperature is 20-25°C during the day and around 16°C at night. The optimal temperature for flowering is not lower than 15°C, and a growing environment that does not exceed 26°C during the day can allow it to bloom year-round. During the winter dormant period, the optimal temperature is 12-15°C, and growth stops below 7°C. It prefers fertile, loose, well-drained sandy loam rich in humus, and dislikes heavy clay soil. It is suited to slightly acidic soil, with an optimal growth pH of 6.0-9.0.
Propagation methods of the Gerbera daisy
1. Sowing: Each Gerbera daisy flower can usually set twenty or thirty seeds, which can be sown in spring or autumn; spring sowing in March and May, autumn sowing in September and October. Gerbera daisy seeds have a relatively low germination rate, only about 50%. After sowing, cover with paper to prevent direct sunlight; at a temperature of 20-25°C, they sprout within about two weeks. Sixty to seventy days after sowing, when the seedlings have three or four true leaves, transplant them into flower pots or set them out in the open field. With proper cultivation, flowering can be seen in two to three months.
2. Division: Division propagation of the Gerbera daisy is mostly carried out in March and April. First dig up the mother plant and divide it into several daughter plants. The daughter plants must have buds and roots, and should not be divided too small. When potted, they should not be planted too deep. It is best to plant two plants per group in a hole, as this helps increase the number of flowers.
How do you care for a potted Gerbera daisy?
1. Soil: The Gerbera daisy is very sensitive to water, so a medium with good air permeability and drainage should be used, preferably a substrate of mixed peat and perlite. A pH of 5.5 to 6.0 and an EC of 0.7 to 1.0 are favorable for the absorption of trace elements.
2. Watering: The Gerbera daisy is extremely sensitive to moisture, so the correct timing of watering must be ensured. Water in the morning or evening, and keep the plant relatively dry at nightfall. When the plant begins to grow roots, it must be watered from below, and a bottom-soaking method can be used. During high temperatures, it can be watered from above the plant, but care must be taken to prevent fungal mold that starts from the center of the plant.
3. Sunlight: During the growth process, the most suitable day length for the Gerbera daisy is 11 hours to 13 hours, so artificial supplementary lighting can be used during periods of low light. Generally, the requirement for artificial supplementary lighting is 3500 to 4000 lux per square meter.
4. Temperature: The most suitable growth temperature for the Gerbera daisy is between 15°C and 25°C, preferably no higher than 30°C and no lower than 13°C. High temperatures will affect normal flower bud differentiation, and low temperatures will cause the plant to die.
5. Fertilizing: The Gerbera daisy is a fertilizer-loving perennial flower with high fertilizer demands. The ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the fertilizer is 15:18:25, applied once every 5-6 days, and once every 10 days. If high or low temperatures cause the plant to enter a semi-dormant state, then stop fertilizing.
6. Pests and diseases: The diseases of the Gerbera daisy include leaf spot, powdery mildew, and viral disease. For leaf spot, spray with 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 800-1000 times dilution or 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 500 times dilution. For powdery mildew, use 70% thiophanate-methyl at 1500 times dilution or 75% triadimefon wettable powder at 1000-1200 times dilution for control, once every 7-10 days, spraying two to three times in succession.
7. Pruning: The lower leaves of the basal leaf cluster of the Gerbera daisy tend to turn yellow and age, and should be promptly removed, which is beneficial both for the sprouting of new leaves and new flower buds and for ventilation, strengthening the plant's growth. In addition, if the plant's branches and leaves are too luxuriant and shade each other without ventilation, part of the leaves can be appropriately removed.