Gerbera’s vibrant, vibrant, daisy-like blooms make this unbelievable flower good for rising in patio containers, on the entrance of borders, and even indoors. With lengthy elegant stems, it additionally makes a splendidly showy reduce flower, including sizzle to your shows. Better of all, so long as you present good rising situations, gerberas thrive right here within the UK. Right here’s how one can sow, plant and develop magnificent gerberas.
What’s a gerbera?
Hailing from sunny South Africa, gerbera is definitely a member of the identical plant household because the sunflower – the Aster household. Its blooms encompass a halo of petals surrounding a centre ring made up of tiny flowers. Some gerberas are hardier than others however, relying on which selection you select, sometimes, you’ll develop it as a half-hardy annual outside, or as a perennial within the greenhouse. Alternatively, gerbera makes a stunning houseplant that’ll come again 12 months after 12 months.
Methods to develop gerberas from seed
As a result of gerberas come from a significantly hotter local weather than the UK, you must sow gerbera seeds right into a propagator and place it someplace sunny like a windowsill. Use a superb high quality seed compost, sowing immediately onto a moist floor and leaving the seeds uncovered. Should you’re sowing your gerbera seeds within the greenhouse, the ambient temperature must be between 18 and 21C.
You’ll have to prick out the seedlings as soon as they’re large enough to deal with and switch them into trays, about 5cm (2”) aside, or pot them into particular person containers. Solely transfer them exterior as soon as all threat of frost has handed.
Methods to develop gerberas in pots
Should you choose to order your gerberas as younger vegetation, you must take away them from the packaging as quickly as they arrive. Verify the compost is moist and water if mandatory. To develop them on, pot them individually into 10-13cm (4-5”) containers utilizing a superb high quality potting compost. You need to solely transfer them exterior as soon as it’s heat sufficient, in Might or June, or maintain them inside as a houseplant.
Methods to take care of gerberas
Should you resolve to develop gerberas indoors, they actually do add an exquisite splash of color to a vibrant windowsill, conservatory or greenhouse. Having mentioned that, be just a bit cautious to not scorch them if the room will get highly regarded within the solar. Additionally, be certain to not let your vegetation get too chilly, particularly whereas they’re establishing – 10˚C (50˚F) is the minimal throughout this time.
Throughout the rising season maintain the vegetation properly watered however not over moist, making use of a balanced liquid feed each 4 weeks. Do additionally keep in mind to maintain your conservatory or greenhouse ventilated, opening the doorways and home windows on sunny days to offer the area a superb airing.
Gerbera vegetation make a vibrant addition to the patio desk and containers. Deadhead often and take away any pale flowers to encourage the plant to supply extra. And to avoid wasting your gerberas for subsequent 12 months, convey them indoors to overwinter or transfer them to a greenhouse with a minimal temperature of 5˚C (41˚F).
We hope this has impressed you to fill your backyard with these brightly colored blooms. For continuous flowering all summer time lengthy, and the potential for year-after-year returns, gerberas make a superb funding. See extra of our most widespread flower vegetation right here.
Lead picture: Gerbera ‘Traditional Femmy’ from Suttons