Almost all gerbera varieties are not hardy. Gerberas that you have planted in the garden are either cultivated as annuals or brought indoors over the winter. Tips for overwintering the tropical plant.
Gerbera is not hardy
Gerbera is grown as an annual in most gardens, although it is a perennial. It just does not tolerate sub-zero temperatures and therefore cannot stay in the garden in winter.
An exception is the hardy variety Garvinea®, which tolerates temperatures down to minus five degrees. She needs winter protection if she is to survive cold winter temperatures.
All other varieties can be overwintered indoors if a suitable location is available.
How to bring the gerbera into the house
By September or early October at the latest, dig up the gerberas in the garden generously. Plant them in a clean pot with plenty of garden soil.
Place the pot in a suitable location:
- Light and airy
- Temperatures between 12 to 15 degrees
- Keep away from the wall
Corridor windows under which no heating provides heat are well suited. But basement windows can also be used for winter storage.
It is important that the temperatures never rise above 15 degrees, as the plant then interrupts its hibernation and does not form new flowers in the following year.
Care during the winter
Gerberas need to be watered no more than twice a month in winter. Do not fertilize the plant during this time.
tips and tricks
Sometimes the attempt to keep the gerbera as a houseplant in the flower window all year round works. It is then cared for in the same way as in the summer. However, you have to reckon with the fact that the plant will run out of strength for further flowers sooner.