The gerbera is one of the most popular vase and house plants. But the perpetual bloomer can also be cultivated outdoors during the summer months. However, it does not tolerate the harsh winters in our latitudes well and has to be overwintered indoors. In the following article we would like to introduce you to the popular gerbera and give you valuable care tips.
The gerbera flowers in many different colors
Plant profile:
- Botanical Name: Gerbera
- Order: Asteroides (Asterales)
- Family: daisy family
- Genus: Gerbera
- Growth: Upright, forming rosettes. The flowers are on long, leafless stalks
- Growth height: 40 to 80 centimeters
- Main flowering period: April to September
- Leaf: Simply perforated
- Flower: Double, semi-double or undouble
- Flower shape: Cup-shaped inflorescences
- Flower color: There are single-colored and multi-colored flowers. The most popular colors are white, pink, orange, yellow, red and salmon.
Special properties:
The multicolored varieties in particular are a wonderful eye-catcher on the balcony or in the flower bed. As a vase flower, the gerbera has proven to be extremely long-lived.
origin
Around thirty different types of gerbera grow in nature. The colorful flower originally comes from South Africa, Asia, South America and Tasmania. Almost all varieties available in our latitudes are hybrids.
location and care
In keeping with its tropical homeland, the gerbera loves a warm, full sun. The no sun worshiper reacts quite sensitively to drafts, which should be avoided at all costs.
floor
The gerbera prefers a loose, sandy substrate that should be very well drained. Therefore, mix commercially available potting soil with sand and put a drainage layer of expanded clay (€19.73) in the planting hole or as the bottom layer in the flower pot.
watering and fertilizing
The gerbera likes it moist, but waterlogging should be avoided. Always water the soil and not the leaf rosette, otherwise the gerbera could start to rot. Alternatively, you can also water the plant over the saucer. Be sure to throw away any liquid that has not been absorbed within half an hour.
Fertilize once a week during the flowering period with a commercial liquid fertilizer that you add to the irrigation water.
The gerbera is very grateful if you occasionally spray the foliage with low-lime water and thereby increase the humidity. This also serves to prevent spider mites and other sucking pests.
hibernate
The gerbera is sensitive to frost and should be brought indoors before the first night frosts threaten. Dig up plants cultivated outdoors and place them in a pot in a bright spot. The temperature in the winter quarters should be between 12 and 15 degrees. Watering is only done when the root ball feels dry.
diseases and pests
If the above care tips are observed, the gerbera proves to be a very grateful and robust flowering miracle. May occur:
- gerber rot
- gray mold
- spider mites
- white bow tie
- aphids.
You can prevent gerbera rot and mold growth with the right care. Pests can be treated with home remedies or a preparation from specialist shops.
tips
The gerbera is considered an excellent remedy against pollutants in the room air. Bacteria responsible for this effect can be found on the roots of the small flowering wonders. One more reason to give the attractive plants a place on the windowsill all year round.