Gerbera are known to us as a pot plant and cut flower. We have helpful tips to help the beautiful gerberas survive longer in pots, vases & in the garden.
"You make everything more beautiful", says the gerbera in the language of flowers and brings a lot of beauty to the house and garden with its intense colors and beautifully shaped flowers.
Gerbera: meaning and origin
The gerbera, one of the most popular cut flowers in the florist trade, belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae). Like her botanical name, her German name is Gerbera.
The original home of the gerbera is in South Africa. There it was known as the "African Aster" until it was first described by the Dutch botanist Jan Frederik Gronovius in 1737. Gronovius gave it the name Gerbera in honor of his botanical colleague Traugott Gerber. Today the gerbera can be found all over the world and delights the hearts of many flower lovers.
Apart from shades of blue, gerberas can be obtained in almost any color and shade. It is known as a cut flower with a long, elegant stalk supported by floral wire. It is becoming increasingly popular as a pot plant with its dark green leaves.
Buying gerberas: what to look out for
You can buy almost any type of gerbera all year round. Whether as a cut flower or a potted plant, this daisy family brings color and a good mood to every home with its beautiful flowers.
Buy gerberas as cut flowers
But what should you pay attention to when buying? In the case of the gerbera for the vase, the ring of the outer tubular flowers should already be open, but the inner ring should still be closed. If all the tubes have already fully developed, then the flower will not last much longer. On the other hand, if all tubes are still closed, the flower may have been cut too early and the flower will probably not open properly at all.
Buy gerberas in pots
If you decide to buy oneGerbera in a pot, you should make sure that the leaves of the plant are a he althy green. In addition, the flower stalks should be intact. If you discover an insect web in the pot, then you better keep your hands off this specimen. Gerberas are usually not very expensive. If the plants are very small, potted plants of different colors can be planted together in a larger pot or container with holes in the bottom. That looks particularly pretty.
Gerbera in pots: the right care
Gerbera not only impress as purchased cut flowers, they also cut a fine figure, especially in pots. So they delight the hearts of many garden lovers even over a longer period of time. We briefly summarize what is important when caring for gerberas in pots.
Gerbera in a pot: the right location
The gerbera as a houseplant needs a light location. She likes morning and evening sun. However, it would quickly “burn” in direct midday sun. In summer, the potted plant loves being allowed to move onto the patio or balcony. But be careful: Please do not expose the flowers to excessive sunlight. It should also be ensured that the night-time temperatures do not fall below 15 °C.
In the room, a bright spot on the window sill without intense sun is ideal.
Caring for gerberas in pots: watering them properly
The gerbera as a potted plant should be watered regularly. Make sure the soil is evenly moist. You should definitely avoid waterlogging. Mix some sand under the soil, this absorbs moisture well. Part of the irrigation water can also be applied to the leaves using a spray bottle. Tip: Only spray your plants when there is less light, otherwise the magnifying effect of the drops can cause "burns" on the leaves.
Caring for gerberas in pots: Fertilize correctly
In order to get a longer lasting flowering, you should add a small amount of liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water every week in the months from May to September. Our Plantura organic flower & balcony fertilizer is perfectly tailored to the needs of the gerbera and thus ensures rich flowering.
Overwintering gerberas in pots
In the winter months, the gerbera is placed in a cool room. The room temperature should be between 8 and 12 °C. Sparing watering about every 14 days is sufficient. That's how it can beRegenerate the plant well and gather new strength for spring. Then she should also get fresh soil and, if necessary, a larger pot.
You can find more tips for the ideal care of your gerbera here.
Are gerberas poisonous?
Before you bring a plant into your house or garden, you naturally want to know whether it is poisonous - especially if there are small children or pets in the family. Unfortunately, the gerbera is sometimes said to be poisonous. But that's not what she is. This misconception is probably due to the fact that the long stems of the gerbera are covered with many small hairs in some varieties. This downy hair often tempts children to pet them. But even if you put the small flowers or leaves of the gerbera in your mouth, there would be no risk of poisoning.
Gerbera in the garden
Are gerberas hardy?
In the summer months you can beautify your home garden beds very well with the colorful gerberas. In autumn, however, the plants must be removed from the ground and overwintered in a pot in a suitable, cool room indoors (the temperature should be between 8 and 12 °C). Hardy gerberas were not previously known. If they have survived the winter well wrapped up outdoors, this is a stroke of luck. Now, however, there is a new breed, the "Garvinea". It is easy to care for, robust and a hardy gerbera perennial. At -5 °C, however, their winter hardiness is exhausted. Here, too, the plant must be well covered with straw. Please do not remove the faded inflorescences and leaves. In the spring you can remove the dried leaves and stems. In the case of perennials that overwinter indoors, the withered parts of the plant are removed in autumn, but they should not be pruned too radically. The he althy parts of the plant should remain.
Gerbera in a bouquet as cut flowers
The gerbera is almost ideal as a cut flower. They are available in sufficient variety throughout the year. It does not give off an annoying scent and goes well with almost every other cut flower. Another advantage of the gerbera as a cut flower: it is not overly expensive.
Caring for gerberas as cut flowers
Apart from the rose, the gerbera is one of the most popular cut flowers in the German flower trade. Do you have a nice one?If you receive a gerbera bouquet as a gift or treat yourself, then you have to make sure that the flowers are sufficiently watered. However, the water level in the vase should not be too high, so that the velvety stems do not rot. Two centimeters of water is ideal. The water should be refilled or replaced regularly. Before the bouquet goes into the vase, the stems must also be cut diagonally with a clean knife.
If the flowers come in a glass vase, please be aware that the wire supporting the gerbera stems may leave rust spots. Once you've followed these tips, all you have to do now is find a nice spot for the bouquet.