Gerbera indoor home care in winter. Basic rules for growing gerbera

Gerbera, or Transvaal chamomile, as it is also called, is a flower of extraordinary beauty, widely used to create bouquets. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, grows up to 30 cm in height, and the flower diameter can reach 15 cm.

Gerbera amazes with a variety of varieties, which differ in the type of inflorescence, color, size and doubleness of the flower. The bright bloom of the garden gerbera lasts throughout the summer. However, growing it yourself is not so easy: it is quite demanding and capricious. Which variety should you choose? What subtleties and nuances should be considered when planting and caring for a plant?

Consider in detail the planting and caring for a gerbera in the garden.

Types and varieties of gerberas for the garden

There are about 80 known garden species. The most popular of these are:

Gerbera Jameson is the most common species. Hardy enough for street conditions. It has a short stem and a powerful root system... As a result of crossing, many varieties have been bred.
Gerbera Wright - Suitable for cutting and creating bouquets. Blooms until cold weather.
The green-leaved gerbera is the original species with narrow-leaved pink inflorescences.
Gerbera Abyssinian - looks like a medicinal chamomile. The inflorescence is white with a yellow center.

Almost all modern varieties are obtained by crossing the Jameson gerbera and the green-leaved gerbera. There are already more than 1000 of them, and they are united under the general name Gerbera hybrida. They can be small-flowered and large-flowered, simple, semi-double and double, with narrow, medium and wide petals. Some of the most popular varieties are:

Wega is a large-flowered variety with narrow petals, a pink-yellow flower, its diameter is up to 13 cm;
Aldebaran is a small-flowered variety with narrow petals and pink flowers;
Hollywood - has large inflorescences with wide petals of a pale pink color;
Mars is a large-flowered variety with medium red petals. Flower diameter - up to 13 cm;
Viola - has semi-double and double narrow-petaled inflorescences up to 11 cm in diameter;
Golden Serena is a large-flowered variety with orange-red flowers up to 12 cm in diameter.

Planting gerberas in the garden

Gerbera is very demanding on growing conditions, loves warmth and moisture, does not tolerate cold and frost. In view of this, landing in open ground is carried out only after the threat of frost has passed and the ground warms up well. Experienced gardeners recommend planting gerberas together with thermophilic vegetable crops such as eggplants and tomatoes. Most often this is the end of May - beginning of June. If you plant the plant later, it will delight you with flowering for a short time.

Gerbera prefers a well-lit, quiet place... Therefore, it is better to plant it near a fence, earthen hill or wall so that the cold wind does not blow over it.

Also, the site should be well lit by the sun throughout the day. You can choose a shallow hollow for the flower, but on condition that water does not accumulate in it.

Gerbera soil needs light and nutritious... Mixed leaf turf, peat and sand in equal proportions with a small addition of chopped pine bark are suitable. Forest soil with a high content of decaying leaves is also suitable.

A drainage layer should be laid at the bottom of the fossa. The soil must contain nitrogen and other minerals. For abundant flowering it must contain sufficient amounts of manganese, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium.

Gerbera garden care

Gerbera is very demanding both for the watering itself and for the quality and temperature of the water. The latter should be soft and warm, otherwise the plant will get sick and rot. Watering is abundant during the growth of leaves and buds. It should be carried out at the root, but not with a strong jet, so as not to wash off the soil and expose the roots.

Water should not fall on the rosettes of the leaves, as this is fraught with their rotting. During and after flowering, watering is significantly reduced. Gerbera does not tolerate both drying out of the earth and its waterlogging, so it is important to monitor the regularity of soil moisture.

Gerbera prefers well-lit places in the sun. In this case, the bushes will be powerful, compact, and the flowering will be abundant and large.

The flower is very fond of warmth, so if a strong cold snap comes in summer, it should be covered. For this, a frame of arcs is prepared, and at night the plant is covered with a covering material.

Air humidity with regular and sufficient watering for gerbera is not very important. However, in the shade and dampness, it is likely to rot. In a rainy and cool summer, it is better to treat it with a fungicide.

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For a lush and long flowering gerbera needs regular feeding. From frequent organic fertilizers the bush stretches out, and the flowers become smaller. Therefore, it is recommended to feed the plant with a diluted solution of cow dung 1-2 times throughout the season. In this case, mineral fertilizers should be applied once every 2 weeks. For this purpose, complex feeding for decorative flowering plants is suitable.

Breeding methods and gerbera seedlings

Gerbera propagates in 3 ways: by cuttings, dividing the bush and seeds.

Cuttings... It is necessary to form young shoots on an already existing adult bush. To do this, it is dug up, the root system is washed, the rosette of leaves is cut off. Then the rhizome is planted in a greenhouse. After 10-14 days from axillary kidney new young shoots will appear, serving as the basis for cuttings. When they get stronger, they are separated and planted in a flower bed. The advantage of this propagation method is a good survival rate of cuttings and minimal care for them.

Dividing the bush... This is the main breeding method for gerberas.

To do this, a large mother bush is divided into several small shoots, each of which should have several leaves.

Young specimens are planted so that the rosette is 1 cm above the ground. This will speed up rooting. This division should be done in early spring.

Seeds... If we consider that a gerbera grown from seeds blooms 9-10 months after germination, then in order to enjoy its flowering in early summer, sowing should be done in the fall.

For this, boxes or peat pots are used. The soil should consist of a mixture of leaf and turf soil with the addition of sand and humus.

For disinfection, the soil is spilled with a hot solution of potassium permanganate before sowing.

The seeds are sown to a depth of 0.2-0.3 cm. After that, the containers are covered with glass. Regular ventilation and, if necessary, watering is necessary. After 7-10 days, when the first shoots appear, the container is transferred to a well-lit place, but without direct sunlight.

Additional lighting may be needed as the recommended daylight hours should be 10-12 hours. If the seedlings have 3-4 leaves, a pick is made. In the spring, when the threat of frost blows, gerberas are planted in open ground.

Caring for a garden gerbera in winter

Since gerbera does not tolerate frost well, its year-round cultivation in open ground possible only in the southern regions of Russia. At the same time, for the winter, she needs shelter with hay, straw or fallen leaves. In spring, the covering material is removed when the weather outside becomes warm enough.

In a harsh winter, a gerbera should be dug up for the winter and transplanted into a pot together with an earthen clod.... Until spring, it is kept in a cool, dry place.

A basement is ideal for this purpose. If it is not there, then you can put the pot in another dark place, for example, under the balcony door.

In winter, the gerbera should be watered several times, while slightly moistening the ground. Transplanting the gerbera back into the open ground is carried out in the spring, when the weather is warm.

Also in the middle and northern latitudes, the gerbera can be grown as an annual plant.

Knowing about the peculiarities of planting and caring for a garden gerbera, you can successfully grow this marvelous Transvaal chamomile and enjoy its lush bright flowering for a long time!

You can find out about caring for a gerbera at home.

This view The plant belongs to perennials and is classified as a species of the Aster family. The leaves of this beautiful flower gather in a root rosette during growth, and, together with a peduncle, the plant resembles a dandelion big size... A bright, sunny and cheerful flower. Gerbera flowers, after the end of their development, are very similar to daisies, but, at the same time, they have different colors. The flower is capable of reaching approximately 15 cm in diameter depending on the species. It can also be considered an advantage that there are many colors of these colors in the world, in addition to blue.

Conditions of detention

Temperature

The plant is adapted to the warm season and develops well when the temperature fluctuates 20 to 24 degrees Celsius... The flower is able to tolerate hot periods much easier than the cold season. When the temperature drops, the plant enters a dormant state. Minimum temperature limit - 12-14 degrees Celsius... But, it is advisable not to keep the gerbera at the lowest thermal threshold, otherwise the plant may die.

Humidity

The plant prefers to thrive in humid air, therefore, during growth and flowering, it is necessary to maintain a stable humidity of approximately 70%. You need to spray the perennial carefully, avoiding stagnation of moisture on the leaves and the middle of the flower. Since gerbera is not adapted to life in temperate latitudes, the maintenance of humidity and air and its temperature must be carried out every day. Otherwise, the plant may get sick from lack. necessary conditions for existence.

Light

Gerbera is a plant from South Africa, and only in this part of the continent can it grow and develop in open space. Therefore, flower growers grow it only in greenhouses or at home. Gerbera loves warmth and light, so it is worth placing it in those parts of the room where there is enough light. But, like most plants, gerbera can burn when exposed to strong light intensity. Therefore, if the sunlight is too bright and the temperature outside is high enough, then you need to protect the plant, at least by covering it with a curtain and, thereby, providing diffused light.

It is necessary to create such conditions under which the flower will be shaded by the sun at least half of the daytime and exclude an excess of heat, and then the plant will flourish and develop.

It is necessary to take care of a perennial every day, because the only natural habitat is the tropics, and in all other latitudes it is necessary to help it. And then the gerbera will be able to delight the grower with its beauty.

What kind of soil is suitable for the plant?

For the growth of a perennial, the soil must do not contain organic matter... The reason the plant does not like organic matter is the excessive pliability of the root system to fungal diseases. Water stagnation or watering in excess of the norm can provoke the development of fungi on a tropical perennial. A neutral soil that is not susceptible to fungal contamination is best suited. When using this soil, there is no need to use pesticides to combat harmful fungal formations in the soil.

Watering and feeding the plant

Watering is carried out with warm water with an approximate temperature of about 20 degrees centigrade... It is necessary to carry out watering along the edges of the container in which the plant lives and, at the same time, do not allow water to get on the leaves and the rosette of the flower. Gerbera is by nature a tropical plant, and because of this, you have to constantly maintain a certain moisture content in the soil. In case of watering cold water, especially in hot weather, the roots of the plant will not withstand the drop in heat and the flower will get sick. Therefore, regular watering with warm water is recommended. Also, waterlogging should not be allowed, because because of it, rotting is possible. lower leaves... If the soil is too wet for a long time, it is possible that nematodes, tiny worms, will start in it. This will lead to plant diseases.

Gerbera requires daily spraying with warm water, because it loves moist air.

Due to the need to use a neutral soil, it becomes necessary to use mineral fertilizers... It is necessary to fertilize constantly. Gerbera needs watering with complex mineral fertilizers when planting seedlings. In this case, the substrate should not dry out. During flowering, the plant is fed with complex fertilizers with a high content of potassium and calcium. It is also necessary to use fertilizers with a high iron content or irrigate the soil with an iron chelate solution. Held feeding once a week.

How to propagate gerberas correctly?

There are two ways of reproduction - this is by dividing the bush and propagating with seeds.

When transplanting, the root collar is specially placed in the substrate in such a way that its top rises about 2-3 cm above the soil surface.
Reproduction of a perennial is carried out in March. To carry out the reproduction process by dividing the bush, it is necessary to divide the root ball of the flower and plant it in a container with a diameter of 10 cm.This space will be enough for its development.

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Gerbera seed propagation is carried out in January or March, while the containers in which the seed was planted are covered with glass to create a microclimate. These containers need to be ventilated daily so that air circulates in the ground. But it is not recommended to leave it for constant air circulation, because then the microclimate will disappear, and the seeds will not be able to grow. When germinating plant seeds, the temperature environment should keep within 16-18 degrees Celsius... Also a prerequisite is moderate and constant soil moisture.

Over time, the seeds will begin to grow and young plants will appear, not yet sufficiently developed into a separate flower, but already capable of transplanting. Then it will be necessary to transplant into pots with a diameter of 10 cm. After the next growth, transplant into pots with a diameter of 15-20 cm. This is already the final transplant after reproduction. The main feature of transplanting plant shoots into large containers is the correct determination of the size of the plant that can tolerate the transplant. It is necessary to transplant into large containers when the gerbera is already strong enough. This is determined by eye. The shoot must be stable and strong in its small size.
The same transplant in a larger container accompanies the root ball splitting method.

Care must be taken when propagating gerberas and remember that the plant is tropical, which means that tropical conditions must be strictly observed during propagation. But you cannot overdo it with temperature and moisture, as the plant is too weak during the breeding process. Self-care and reproduction of gerberas is quite simple.

Preparing a flower for wintering

In winter, caring for gerberas is stored in a dry and dark room, mainly in the basement. It is placed with a lump of earth at a temperature of 6-8 degrees. The gerbera can stay on the windowsill. But it is better to give the plant a rest and endure the cold and unacceptable period for it in darkness, dryness and rest. It is imperative to leave the roots in the ground so that the root system is under a layer of natural heat insulator and is not exposed to cold masses. After all, only the upper part of the gerbera can tolerate atmospheric changes without problems. And then, when kept in comfortable conditions. But the root system of the flower is very susceptible to disease and the influence of air, so you need to be especially careful with the roots, especially during wintering.

The digging process itself is carried out after the leaves fall off. The yellowed leaves and flowers are cut off by a neat method and only when the already binding elements with the stem have wilted enough, and when torn off, there will be no open wound in the plant. Leaves and flowers are broken off, not cut.

Plant diseases

Decay of the root collar due to stagnant water or contaminated soil. A precautionary measure is drainage and proper watering.
Gray rot is also a gerbera disease and is caused by excessive moisture in the ground. For prevention, special prophylactic drugs are used.
Powdery mildew appears when the air is too hot, and you can get rid of it with the help of fungicides or preparations containing sulfur.
Aphids, thrips and spider mites can also terrorize the plant, causing the flower to turn yellow and die. Insecticidal preparations are used as prophylaxis.
When the flowers are cut, the peduncle fouls and this rot affects the entire plant. It is recommended to break the flowers out rather than cutting them off.

Recently, many garden flowers have moved into the home and are successfully grown in a pot. Here is a bright gerbera, not a capricious beauty at all, pleases the views of gardeners, standing on the windowsill.

Gerbera is a flower of the Asteraceae family, which belongs to perennial plants. This flower is well adapted for growing not only in the garden, but also at home.

Not complicated at all home care for room gerbera... The height of this home-grown plant reaches 40-45 cm.

How to grow such a miracle on your windowsill? Is it possible to grow in winter time of the year?

Types of gerbera with photo

At home and with proper care, indoor gerbera can bloom several times a year. All the flowers presented, which are grown in the plots and at home, have occurred as a result of the selection of two varieties: classic green-leaved and Jameson. And within these species, varieties and varieties are separated by color, flower size, terry.

For growing on a windowsill, undersized and compact species, which include the following varieties:

The festival is distinguished by a short stem and large multi-colored flowers. Aldebaran and Alcor - have small flowers and narrow leaves, often used for cultivation in production. Jupiter, Vega, Migar - the flowers have narrow leaves, and the flowers are slightly larger. Mars - The flowers of this variety have medium-sized leaves and large flowers.

Gerbera Mix is especially popular with flower growers, which is distinguished not only by its beauty, but also by its various colors. It does not grow large when grown in pots and does not require much maintenance.

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Growing gerberas from seeds

When purchasing gerbera seeds, you need to pay attention to the expiration date. They remain viable for up to 8 months from the date of collection, so the grower should not miss this moment.

The optimal time for sowing seeds is spring, but if there is a possibility of artificial illumination, then sowing can be done at any time.

Sowing of seeds occurs in the sequence:

For sowing, you must first prepare the soil. It should be loose and light, and also consist of peat, sand, perlite and leafy earth. All components are mixed in equal proportions.
In the container for planting, you need to make drain holes and pour expanded clay with a thickness of 3 cm.
Now you should fill up the soil and tamp everything.
Sow seeds on the surface of wet soil, lightly pressing them down and sprinkling with sand.
Place the container in a warm place with a temperature of 16-20 degrees.
The planted seeds are aired 2 times a day and the soil is moistened as needed - it should always be slightly moist.
After 8-12 days, the first shoots will appear. After the appearance of the leaves, it is necessary to dive the seedlings into a larger container, observing the distance for planting between them 7-8 cm.
When 5-6 leaves appear, the seedlings must be planted in pots with a diameter of 10 cm.The soil in this case is already made from a mixture: one part of peat, sand, humus earth, sod land, two parts of leafy earth and a little perlite.
Transplant the grown young gerberas into containers with a diameter of 15-20 cm.

Indoor gerbera begins to bloom only 9-11 months after planting and subject to proper care. If you allow small flaws in the care or transplantation, you can significantly postpone the flowering period.

How to care for a gerbera in a pot?

Growing a gerbera in a pot is not difficult. Compliance with certain rules and principles allows you to create a whole greenhouse of gerberas on the windowsill.

Care features

Gerbera, like any home plant, loves care and attention. It is important to know how to do this, and the following important aspects are highlighted here:

Flowers prefer bright lighting and fresh air, so the room where the flower is located must be often ventilated, avoiding drafts.

The room temperature in summer should be +16 - +20 ° C, and in winter, when the plant is at rest, 12-14 degrees.

During the dormant period - from August to March - the gerbera grows leaves, thus preparing for flowering.

The plant is moisture-loving, so it should be watered often, but not zealous, as this can rot the roots. When watering, it is important not to touch the flowers themselves. It is better to water the gerbera through a sump, from where excess water is drained after a few minutes of soaking into the soil. The water temperature for irrigation should be about +20 degrees. In winter, gerbera is watered much less often.

You can spray the plant, but try to avoid getting water on the flower.

You can feed a flower only with a complex mineral fertilizer, because it does not tolerate organic solutions. From April to August, the frequency of top dressing is once every three weeks. During flowering, gerbera should be fed with fertilizers with a high potassium content. And during the dormant period, fertilizers should contain more nitrogen. It is important to remember that the fertilizing solution must be of low concentration, otherwise you can harm the plant.

Proper care of indoor gerbera contributes to regular flowering and disease prevention. You should not be zealous with watering, spraying and fertilizing.

Gerbera care at home

There are advice and suggestions from specialists in caring for a home gerbera, which will be able to ensure the correct growth and flowering of the flower.

So, the following aspects can be distinguished here:

Photophilous gerbera stops blooming if there is too much light. It is desirable that the daylight hours of the gerbera lasts no more than 12 hours. In connection with this fact, it can be noted that from the end of August to November, it blooms especially magnificently.
Winter for this plant is a dormant time, so it is better to give it a break from flowering, let it gain strength and overgrow with foliage.
It is also necessary to monitor the flowering period of the gerbera. If the break in flowering is longer than three months, then the reason for the lack of bud formation is not in the lighting, but in something else.
Gerbera can stop blooming if planted in a pot that is too large, as a result of which all its forces will be used to strengthen and build up the root system.
You cannot overfeed the plant with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, otherwise it will stop blooming altogether.
Gerbera is accustomed to the tropical climate and tolerates hot summers much easier than cold. IN winter period the pot can be on a glazed balcony at a temperature of 12-14 degrees Celsius, but for a short time. It is not recommended to change flowers often temperature regime- this may reduce the resistance of the plant.

Transplanting a gerbera into another pot must be carried out only at rest. The pot should be selected 2-3 cm larger than the previous one.

Gerbera propagation

A flower can be grown not only from seeds, but also by dividing the bush. From the lush gerbera bush, which is 3-4 years old, it is necessary to separate the bush, which by this time it should have formed several.

Plant the separated seedling in a pot, where within six months it will be mastered and rooted. Flowers on a new bush will appear only after 10-11 months.

Gerbera pests and diseases

The presented plant is very resistant to diseases, but, in spite of everything, it is necessary to observe the watering regime. The roots should not be poured, otherwise they will begin to rot, and the rot will spread to the stem and leaves.

The most dangerous fungal diseases gerberas:

Gray rot - affects the base of leaves, flowers and peduncles. A plaque appears on them gray, which leads to a gradual wilting of the plant. At the first manifestations of such lesions, the plant must be treated with the fungicides Fundazol, Rovral.
Powdery mildew - more often affects young plants, appears in the form of a white bloom on the leaf stalks. If you do not take action, fungi will spread to flowers, buds and greens, as a result of which the flower may die. In such cases, the plant should be treated with the fungicides Topaz or Fundazol.

Dry air can also harm the flower - it can wither and dry out. In addition, it can provoke an infection with a spider mite, which will help get rid of treatment with fungicides. Excessive watering of the plant is fraught with late blight infection.

Gerbera care, video:

Gerbera garden: planting and care

Gerbera loves warm mild climates. When growing this bright flower in the garden, remember that in cold weather it simply will not bloom.

Choosing a variety for growing outdoors

To achieve a bright and regular flowering, it is important to choose the right flower variety. The following varieties are suitable for outdoor cultivation:

Each variety has its own requirements for growing conditions and care, so it is recommended to study the full information before buying.

Gerbera planting

You can plant a gerbera in the garden in three ways: by seeds, seedlings and by cuttings.

Planting by cuttings requires preparation. To do this, you need to dig out a gerbera bush, rinse the rhizomes and cut off the rosettes of the leaf.

Plant the rhizome in a greenhouse, and after two weeks sprouts from the axillary buds will begin to show. These are cuttings that after a while can be planted in the ground.

It is possible to grow seedlings from seeds only indoors. It is necessary to start sowing on the assumption that the gerbera will begin to bloom no earlier than 10-11 months later.

In the prepared soil, pre-treated with a solution of potassium permanganate, and also optimally moistened, seeds should be planted, slightly deepening them into the soil, and sprinkled with peat. Cover the bed with glass or foil.

It is important to ventilate and moisturize the soil every day, as seeds will only germinate in moist soil. Shoots will appear in 8-10 days.

Plant in open ground when constant warm weather is established, without frost. The sprouts themselves should grow to an acceptable size - have several pairs of leaves.

Features of growing gerberas in the open field

To grow gerberas in the garden, you need to choose a sunny place. When planting cuttings in the soil, you cannot deepen the stem, otherwise the root may rot. Seedlings need to be watered regularly and abundantly.

Gerberas bloom for 4 months, which means that the whole summer in the garden will be bright and sunny. Watering flowers on the site is necessary warm water avoiding hitting the flowers. Once every two weeks, the plant should be fed with mineral fertilizers.

For the winter, gerberas are dug up and put into a room where the temperature does not drop below +7 degrees. At this time, it also needs to be watered and ventilated.

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Since the gerbera is a perennial plant, in the fall it can be left on the site, but covered with a thick layer of leaves or straw. In colder climates, the bushes can be grown as an annual plant.

The diseases in the garden gerbera are the same as in the home gerbera, and the processing methods are similar. Pests of plants planted in open ground: spider mites, thrips and aphids.

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Attacking a gerbera, they cause its wilting, yellowing of the leaves and even the death of the bush. Having recognized the pest in time, the plant should be treated with insecticides.

Gerbera is a very beautiful and bright flower that delights the eye and improves mood. By planting seedlings in time and taking proper care of them, you can grow a healthy and flowering plant. Gerbera symbolizes modesty and tenderness, so give flowers to your loved ones and loved ones as a sign of great respect and admiration.

Nowadays, on the windowsills of city apartments and private houses, you can increasingly see plants that were usually grown in the garden. Was no exception and indoor gerbera, home care for which should be comprehensive. This will allow you to achieve long-term lush bloom, pleasing the gaze of the owner with its spring colors.

Types and varieties of indoor gerberas

Gerbera cultivated in greenhouses, front gardens and flower pots, is a herbaceous perennial plant from the Asteraceae family with a variety of colors, with the exception of blue. In the wild, there are more than 80 species found in South Africa, tropical Asia and Madagascar. Outwardly, the flower is very similar to chamomile, for which in literature, especially in English, its second name is used - transvaal chamomile.

In indoor floriculture, compact forms and varieties of Jameson's gerbera are grown, not exceeding 25 cm in height. The most commonly used varieties for landscaping apartments and offices are Happipot, Ilios, Hummingbird, Parade and Duroramix. The last variety with semi-double inflorescences is distinguished by a longer life phase in comparison with other forms.

How to care for indoor gerberas?

Caring for a gerbera in a pot is not particularly difficult. However, when purchasing a flower or receiving it as a gift, the owner should know that the plant, of which he becomes the owner, needs proper care, allowing the tropical plant to fully develop and bloom.

Lighting and temperature control

The flower needs a lot of light, tolerating the direct sunlight of the morning and evening sun well. In the summer, you should expose the gerbera to fresh air or organize systematic ventilation of the room where it is located. In the winter season, artificial additional lighting should be provided, which will increase the length of daylight hours and extend the flowering period.

The temperature regime is provided depending on the season:

in summer - 20-24 ° C;
in winter - 16-20 ° C.

Important! Lowering the temperature to 12 ° C leads to the immersion of the flower in a state of dormancy, in which all processes slow down, flowering becomes impossible until awakening.

Watering

A tropical flower requires constant watering. Humidification should be carried out with settled water no colder than 20 ° C. Watering with cold water is very dangerous: the plant can get sick and even die.

The procedure can be carried out in two ways:

The plant is watered around the edge of the pot to avoid water getting into the outlet.
Humidification with a pallet involves placing the pot in a container of water for half an hour.

Attention! Waterlogging of the soil should not be allowed: excess moisture can cause the development of rot on root outlets and dangerous pests - nematodes.

Air humidity

The exotic representative does not like dry air and will be very grateful for systematic spraying. However, the plant should be sprayed from a fine spray bottle that creates a water mist so that drops of water do not fall on the flowers.

Fertilization

Indoor gerberas need additional nutrition and enrichment of the substrate with various macronutrients, depending on the phase of development:

In the phase of growing green mass, which occurs from February to April and in the summer months, the plant is fed with nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizers.
During the flowering phase, gerberas require fertilizing with a high potassium content, which ensures the splendor of the flower.

Important! When preparing a nutrient solution, it is necessary to reduce the concentration of mineral fertilizers by half from that indicated on the package. And also the use of organic matter is not allowed due to its intolerance to a tropical plant.

Transfer and soil requirements

The transplant is carried out annually after the end of flowering, when the plant is immersed in a "dormant" state.

At that time:

A pot is prepared 2-3 cm larger than the previous one.
Drainage from expanded clay or gravel is placed at the bottom.
The container is filled with special soil for growing gerberas.
The flower is taken out of the old pot carefully, so as not to damage the delicate root system, together with the earthy clod and placed in a new one.
The root collar should be 2-3 cm above the surface of the substrate.

Gerberas prefer slightly acidic soils. The substrate for an indoor culture representative is purchased in specialized flower shops or prepared independently from leafy soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1.

Diseases and pests

The culture refers to plants that are resistant to diseases and pests. However, a violation of the watering regime can lead to the development of rot, powdery mildew and viral diseases. With prolonged stagnation of moisture, not only in the soil, but also in the flower rosette, manifestations of late blight and fusarium are also noted. In this case, adjusting the care measures, as well as timely treatment with a fungicide solution, will help protect the gerbera. But, despite the negative consequences of waterlogging, low air humidity and a shortage of soil moisture can cause wilting and death of the plant.

The plant suffers from greenhouse whiteflies, thrips. In dry air, the appearance of spider mite, which can only get rid of by spraying with the insecticidal preparation "Actellik" or other analogs according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Reproduction of room gerbera at home

Domestic gerbera reproduces in two ways: vegetative and generative.

Vegetative method

The main method of gerbera reproduction is dividing the bush: during grafting, varietal qualities may not be preserved. Upon reaching the age of three to four years, the flower already forms several new bushes and can be planted. When separating the bushes, it is necessary to control that there are at least three growth points on each specimen. Rooting of a new plant lasts about six months, and flowering occurs ten months after planting.

Seed method

The method consists of the following steps:

Seeds are sown for seedlings.
For the first time, seedlings dive when one pair of true leaves is formed on the seedlings.
After the formation of the second pair of leaves, the second picking of plants is carried out into separate pots.

The generative method is rarely used due to its laboriousness and low productivity.

The main problems in growing

Growing gerberas at home does not always go smoothly. Often, novice florists face certain difficulties associated with ignorance of the nuances of care.

Why do the leaves turn yellow?

Among the reasons that can lead to yellowing of the leaves are:

excessive watering, leading to stagnant water and provoking the development of rot;
water ingress during watering into the plant outlet;
excessive soil and air dryness;
non-compliance with spraying rules;
watering with cold water.

By providing adequate conditions of detention, problems can be avoided. If they have already arisen, then adjusting the care measures will allow you to solve them.

How to achieve lush bloom?

The abundance of flowering is in direct proportion to compliance with the agrotechnical requirements for growing gerbera at home:

Lighting. In order for a gerbera to bloom, it needs a certain length of daylight hours - 12 hours. It blooms most abundantly from August to November, when this condition is met naturally. Also, the blooming state can continue until June, subject to the creation of additional lighting. But from June to August, when the sun is at its highest point, the gerbera stops blooming and increases the green mass.
Top dressing. Do not use too many nitrogenous plants. They should be replaced with mineral fertilizers, which include potassium and phosphorus - superphosphate, potassium nitrate.
Transfer. When a plant is transplanted, the size of the pot should be correctly selected: in a pot that is too large, the gerbera will not bloom, spending all the energy on building the root system.

Florists who have conditions for keeping flowering plants have long been planting gerberas in pots on their windowsills. Caring for them is no more difficult and no easier than for other plants that can delight the owners. But these flowers are so lush and beautiful that they become a decoration of the home garden. Those who first became interested in this plant and were going to enrich their collection with it should understand for themselves its features.

Start nursing

First of all, most plants, when moving from a flower shop to a permanent residence, require almost immediate transplantation. But not indoor gerbera! The flower is quite delicate and takes some time to adapt. He simply will not survive two shocks in a row. Therefore, you will have to wait two weeks or even longer. The right moment is not difficult to grasp: as soon as the plant cheers up, the leaves start up - you can transplant. Since the gerbera in the store lived in temporary soil, before transplanting into suitable soil, it will have to be fed with complex fertilizers every three days. And do not forget: when the home gerbera "moves", the soil in the pot must be changed completely, with the exception of the one that stuck to the roots. Moreover, in order to avoid infection, the pot (best of all, clay, breathable) must be poured over with boiling water.

Which soil to choose

So you bought potted gerberas. After they have become accustomed to your home, care begins with the selection of the soil into which you transplant them. Most often it is advised to take soil consisting of leafy earth (2 parts), peat and sand (one at a time). However, given that indoor gerberas in pots are prone to fungal diseases affecting the roots, many growers recommend planting them in perlite. It is very resistant to fungi, but at the same time it does not contain anything useful for plants, so you will very often have to give them complex fertilizers with the necessary microelements. In dry weather, it is necessary to feed every other day, in cold weather and rains - less often. So whether or not to use this method depends on your experience in growing gerberas in pots. Leaving, of course, in some ways becomes more difficult, but, on the other hand, you do not have to treat the plants, which is even more troublesome.

How to choose the right place of residence

Indoor gerbera needs a lot of light. Moreover, unlike many other home flowers, she is not even against direct rays - they do not harm her. However, the most favorable for it will still be the western and eastern windows. In the north, of course, it will be just dark, so you will have to install a stationary additional lighting. In the south, at the very noon in summer, the sun can burn the plant. So you have to shade it.

If you want to prolong the flowering of your gerbera in pots, care in winter will be complicated by the creation of the desired temperature plus additional lighting - the sun at this time is clearly not enough for the flowers.

What temperature does the plant like

Another subtlety of how to care for gerberas is the thermal regime. The plant is not too capricious, but does not like sudden temperature changes. But it is completely indifferent to drafts, so in the heat it is quite possible to regulate the heat with ordinary ventilation. The only thing is that when the temperature drops below +10 Celsius, the gerbera will not bloom, and if the flowers have already blossomed, it will drop them. In winter, the frames are already due to a lack of light, so you will have to warm up the room for the blooming gerbera to at least +20. Moreover, the air must be even warmer so that the soil warms up to this temperature.

Watering correctly

Water is the basis of life for any plant, including potted gerberas. How to care for it while watering? First of all, you need to take soft, and not just settled, and warm water. Basically, the temperature of the water should match the temperature of the soil. It is necessary to accurately determine its amount: with an excess, root rot develops, with a deficiency, flowering stops and the leaves dry. The basic rule of how to care for gerberas during watering is not to let the drops fall on the leaf outlet. Otherwise, be sure - the roots will start to rot. You can pour water from the edge of the pot, but it is better - into the tray, and the fact that the flower has not "drunk" in half an hour must be removed.

Favorably perceives gerbera and spraying, since it dies in dry air. But here, too, there is a caveat: the drops should not fall on the flowers. Only leaves and stems can get wet!

Subtleties of care

For a beautiful and lush flowering, it is imperative to remove the buds from the gerbera that have already faded. Moreover, it is absolutely impossible to cut them off - only to break them off. If you neglect this rule, the remainder of the peduncle begins to rot and destroy the entire gerbera.

All for the same delightful flowering, the plant needs to be fertilized; and the feeding should include more calcium and potassium than usual. But for the normal growth and appearance of the leaves, you need to choose fertilizers that include iron. Alternatively, you can add its chelates to the water for irrigation. This is because gerbera is vulnerable to chlorosis.

Home gerbera spends the warm months with pleasure on the balcony or in the garden - the abundance of air hardens and strengthens it.

And the last thing. This flower is rather short-lived. To extend the life and flowering period, the gerbera must be transplanted into a slightly larger pot annually in the spring. Drainage at the bottom is required, we also leave a clod of earth, but we fill the cavities with new prepared soil - such an update is very useful for the plant.

What do you need to protect a flower from?

First of all, from mistakes in care. When overflowing, it can get sick with gray mold, from which a whitish bloom appears on all organs of the plant. It can kill all your gerberas in a pot. How to care for a sick flower? Ruthlessly remove all affected parts, reduce ambient humidity and spray gerbera with copper sulfate.

Another problem is that the air is too dry. Because of it, the leaves turn yellow, and soon fall off. This is a sign of the presence of a spider mite. We will have to urgently increase the humidity - at least by spraying the gerbera 3-4 times a day. It did not help within a week - use Actellik.

If the flowers have been infested with aphids, they are treated with nicotine sulfate or anabazine sulfate; if a whitefly has visited, we buy a drug with permethine and every three days we treat our garden with it.

Gerbera propagation

There are three ways to multiply the “population” of a gerbera. The first is cluster division. An adult plant is divided into 2-3 parts; each of them must have at least two growth points. When planting flowers, they break out of the nest, the roots (with excess length) are trimmed, the wounds are disinfected. In a month, you will already have full-fledged bushes.

The second way is grafting. Sections of rhizomes with a couple of leaves are cut and deposited in separate "dwellings". For them to start, you need well warm, +25 degrees, air and high humidity land - nothing else and gerbera cuttings in a pot do not need. We have already told you how to care for transplanted plants.

The third method is sowing seeds. For them, you can take the soil mixture described above, or you can do with ordinary peat. Seeds are laid out on the surface and covered with a thin (0.5 centimeter, no more) layer of perlite, peat or sand. They will rise in a week or two, and it will be possible to open them in the same period. The first flowers on new plants will appear in just six months.

Large flowers, outwardly similar to chamomile, but painted in bright various colors are gerberas. Plants have been known in indoor floriculture for a long time. But in the open field, their cultivation is associated with certain problems. But for those who are in love with these beautiful flowers, nothing is impossible. Heat-loving plants are ideal for southern gardens and parks. But flower growers in cooler regions, knowing little secrets, can also create elegant corners in their garden and enjoy optimistic colors. Having understood the nuances of planting and caring for garden gerberas, you can make your own private plot much brighter.

History and description of gerbera

Hot Africa is not only endless deserts. The continent gave the world many unusual plants, among which there are blooming ones. One of the representatives of the African flora was first described in 1737. The name was given in honor of the German physician and botanist Traugott Gerber. I think that you have already guessed, we will talk about the gerbera.

Gerbera has other names as well. For example, in English literature the plant is called "transvaal chamomile / daisy".

Gerbera is very similar to a modest chamomile, but its bright color makes it a real queen of the flower garden.

Gerbera combines the modest appearance of chamomile with a wide range of colors in which the flowers are painted. These are herbaceous perennials that are successfully grown in the open field, in greenhouses and on the windowsill. The bright flower is an indispensable participant in many landscape projects and bouquet compositions.

Elongated pinnately dissected leaves of a juicy green color are collected in a basal rosette. The root system is well developed. The bases of the leaf plate, peduncles and petioles of some species are covered with fluff. The flower has inflorescences typical for Astera - baskets located on long peduncles, up to 60 cm, and devoid of leaves. The diameter of gerbera inflorescences depends on the variety. There are also small flowers - up to 4 cm, and large - 15 cm. The inflorescence is collected from 2 types of flowers. Several hundred individual flowers can be combined in one basket. After flowering, a fruit is formed - an achene.

In fact, a gerbera inflorescence consists of hundreds of individual flowers.

By the way, oh colors plants. On the market you can find gerberas of various colors and their shades - red, pink, yellow, purple, white, orange, cream. Perhaps the only color that cannot be naturally reproduced in the coloring is blue.

Gerbera color palette delights

Gerbera is one of the most popular flowers for open ground, able to decorate a nondescript garden corner, flower garden, public park. But it is worth considering the African roots of the plant. The summer months in central Russia are quite satisfied with an elegant flower, but on condition that there are no differences in day and night temperatures. But the cold autumn and frosty winter are not at all the conditions under which the gerbera is able to overwinter. If the flower is not dug up in time, it will turn into an annual, that is, it will simply die and next spring you have to plant a new plant.

Therefore, the overall climate middle lane Russia is not intended for year-round cultivation of African beauty in the open field. In such climatic conditions, the flower is best grown in greenhouses or mobile pots.

But residents of warm regions are more fortunate. Mild winters are suitable for a dormant period outdoors, but covering the root system with a pile of fallen leaves or straw is a prerequisite for the survival of the flower. It is with this kind of care that the gerbera can grow for more than one year.

In the south, the plant manages to reveal its full potential. The inflorescences are large, do not fade for a long time and the number of flowers on one plant is maximum.

Gerbera blooms all summer. Bright colors are pleasing to the eye for 3-4 months. But this period can be different, it all depends on the characteristics of the variety or hybrid. If you want to collect a bouquet of these bright flowers, then the peduncle will have to be broken out or carefully twisted out of the leaf outlet, being careful not to damage it. If even a small piece of the stem remains after pruning, the plant may rot and die.

Bright elegant gerberas feel great in warm regions and can even hibernate outside.

Growing conditions

In winter, the gerbera feels great at a temperature of 6 - 8 ° C. As already noted, in the southern regions, the plant is able to survive the winter months with an average temperature of 0 to –3 ° C, being in open ground under a reliable shelter.
Despite the love for a lot of sunlight, the flower needs to be slightly shaded during the hottest midday hours. At this time, the leaves may wilt slightly. But with the arrival of the evening coolness, the turgor in them is restored.
It is not necessary to spray the gerbera specially. The fact is that moisture trapped in a leaf outlet can cause a decay process that can destroy the entire plant.

What is the difference between indoor and outdoor varieties

In the open field, strong plants with a high peduncle and large inflorescences are grown. They are more hardy and resistant to diseases and pests.

In indoor floriculture, preference is given to undersized compact hybrids with short peduncles and small flowers. These plants are more pampered and demanding on living conditions and care.

Unlike outdoor gerbera, indoor varieties have compact dimensions

Popular species, hybrids and varieties with photos

In nature, there are, according to various sources, from 30 to 80 species, which are mainly distributed in South Africa and Madagascar. Due to the high commercial success of the flower, breeding work does not stop for a minute. As a result, a huge number of varieties and hybrids have been created, which differ from each other in the appearance of the inflorescence and in a variety of colors. Therefore, the gerbera is often classified according to external characteristics:

small-flowered;
large-flowered with narrow petals;
large-flowered with wide petals;
terry;
semi-double.

But the ancestors of all this splendor are 2 species - the Jameson gerbera and the green-leaved gerbera.

Gardeners are offered a large selection of exactly garden plants... I will describe only a few of them:

Gerber Jameson. This species is considered an ideal garden plant. Herbaceous perennial has a strong bush. Slightly raised long (up to 20 cm) feathery leaves, sometimes with slight pubescence, are collected in a rosette. The peduncle is thick, not too tall. The daisy-like inflorescence reaches 10 cm in diameter. Long flowering period (up to 3 weeks) and bright colors make this look welcome guest in the flowerbed.
Gerbera Jameson - the ancestor of many hybrid hforms
Gerbera garden hybrid Garvinea Sweet Dreams. The large plant is a novelty in horticulture. The bush reaches a height of 45 cm, and in diameter - 30–40 cm. The hybrid strikes with an abundance of flowers, because one plant can simultaneously release up to 20 peduncles. The color is varied. Flowering continues from spring to early autumn.
Gerbera Garvinea Sweet Dreams has a long flowering period
Gerbera hybrid (patio) Klondike. The plant is large - the height of the bush and its diameter are almost equal in size - 45 cm. During the season, the hybrid can give up to 50 flowers. The huge variety of shades is striking. The flowers are large - up to 12 cm in diameter, semi-double. The flowering period is from July to October.
Gerbera Klondike amazes with an abundance of peduncles
Gerbera Abyssinian. Perennial reaching 45 cm in height. Elliptical leaves form a rosette. The plate is 22 cm long, 14 cm wide, the edges are wavy or notched-finely toothed. A young leaf is covered with a light downy. Inflorescences are solitary, apical. The flowers are ligulate, painted white, but sometimes have reddish tints.
Gerbera Abessinskaya is an incredibly delicate and beautiful plant
Orange gerbera (auranticka). Elliptical leaves form a rosette. Low bush with a thick root. Single basket inflorescences are colored orange, bright red, pink, dark scarlet and yellow colors... The middle flowers can be black or dark purple.
Gerbera orange is presented in yellow-red-orange colors
Gerber Wright. Lobate or pinnate leaves with whole, sometimes serrated edges, form a wide basal rosette. The long peduncle is crowned with a chamomile-like flower. Depending on the variety, the inflorescences are colored red, orange, purple, yellow, pink. The middle can be yellow or white.
Gerbera Wright looks like a big bright daisy
Gerbera Vega. Refers to varieties of American selection. It is distinguished by a large inflorescence - up to 13 cm in diameter and narrow long petals. The peduncle is high - 70 cm. The color is orange-yellow.
Gerbera Vega - one of the varieties with narrow petals

Planting methods

It is unlikely that it will be possible to get a gerbera in the open field using direct sowing of seeds. Too specific conditions for their germination will be required. Therefore, for planting on a flower bed, you must first grow seedlings. As you may have guessed, this is a very exciting business, but it requires a lot of patience.

To begin with, you have to acquire seeds. The main task is to correctly determine their expiration date. Germination lasts from six months to 10 months.

Seeds can be obtained independently using existing plants. But for this you will need to resort to manual pollination of the gerbera.

Planting of garden gerbera seeds is carried out from January to March. It is also important to consider here that plants grown from seeds will bloom only after 10 - 11 months, therefore, spring sowing is desirable for a garden variety.

Prepare a nutrient mixture. For this you need to take:
- 2 parts of sod land;
- 1 part of leaf and humus;
- sand (but not fine).
Use low, oblong pots with drainage holes as a container.
To exclude the development of pathogenic flora in the soil, spill it with a hot solution of weak potassium permanganate. After the soil has cooled down, start sowing at home.
Cover the seeds shallowly - by 0.2–0.3 cm. It is best to spread them on moistened soil, and lightly sprinkle dry on top.
Planting pattern 3 - 5 mm. Such crowding is not terrible, because not all seeds will sprout.
Cover the container with glass or a bag to create greenhouse conditions inside. Moisten the ground periodically (this is easy with a spray gun) and ventilate the shelter. During this period, it is important to maintain a stable temperature of 18 ° C.
The first shoots will appear on the 5th - 7th day. Within 10 days, the rest of the seedlings appear. After 2 weeks, real leaves are already formed on them.
The first shoots appear early - on the 5th day
Take a pick when there are 3 - 4 real leaves on the seedlings. Plant the seedlings in separate pots with a diameter of 8 - 10 cm.
The pick is carried out in the phase of 3 - 4 leaves
The temperature for growing seedlings is 18 - 20 ° C. The place is bright, but not in direct sunlight. Drafts are contraindicated. Water only after the topsoil dries out. The water should be at room temperature.
A month after the pick, you can feed the young seedlings with complex mineral fertilizers. The next time the nutrient solution is added after 15 to 25 days.
If your windows face north, the seedlings may lack natural light. Fluorescent lamps will help to correct the situation and stop the pulling out of seedlings.

Sowing gerbera seeds - video

Gerbera seedlings are very delicate, so mistakes that can destroy the seedlings should be excluded:

watering with cold water;
high humidity;
non-observance of the temperature regime;
insufficient illumination;
deepening of the root collar when diving.

Transplanting into the ground is possible only when the threat of night frosts has completely passed. Such conditions develop in late May - early June. A later transplant will shorten the potential flowering period. But first you need to find a place worthy of a bright beauty. This should be a well-lit area, you will not wait for flowering in the shade. And if flowers do appear, they will be small and few in number. But in the southern regions, where the sun is very aggressive in summer, a diffused shade at noon is desirable for the gerbera. Although a mature bush is not afraid of the wind, make sure that the plant is protected from the prevailing air flow.

Only strong and healthy seedlings are suitable for open ground. Those who are not strong enough are best left in pots and continue to care for them in a comfortable environment.

For outdoor use, prepare only strong and healthy plants.

Before transplanting into open ground, the seedlings must be hardened. To do this, take young plants outside, gradually increasing their time in the fresh air.

In the conditions of central Russia, in summer, changes in day and night temperatures are possible. Therefore, prepare in advance a lightweight prefabricated shelter, consisting of a wire frame and non-woven material, with which you must cover the gerbera in case of a sharp cold snap.

The soil in the flowerbed should be prepared in advance:

clean out weeds, dig it up well, adding sand and peat in equal parts. High looseness, moisture and air permeability of the soil are the main conditions for successful growth. Gerbera prefers soils with neutral acidity;
since the plant often suffers from root rot, try to exclude the introduction of humus into the soil. It can cause fungal diseases.

Step-by-step transplanting seedlings into open ground

Dig a hole that will be slightly larger than the seedling's earthen ball.
Lay a small layer of drainage on the bottom (you can use small twigs after pruning healthy trees), cover with fertile soil mixture on top.
Transplant by the transshipment method. After placing the earthen lump in the hole, fill the voids with soil and compact.
A correctly planted gerbera should not be buried. The leaf rosette is located above the planting level at a height of 1 cm.
Water the planted plant at the root.

Gerbera in the open field - video

Reproduction by dividing the bush

You already know about the seed method. It should be noted that it has both advantages and disadvantages. The plus is that with the help of seeds you can get many new plants, diseases are not transmitted to them, and seedlings develop quickly. But there is one significant disadvantage - the plants obtained from seeds do not always support the variety.

As a rule, the garden gerbera is propagated vegetatively - by dividing the bush. An adult plant that has reached the age of 3 years can be safely divided into several parts. To do this, the bush is dug up, the root system is shortened to 10 - 15 cm and divided into parts with roots and 2 - 3 shoot points. To prevent rotting, the cut sites are treated with crushed activated carbon, and when planting new plants in the ground, the growth point is not deepened. Also, the first time you should shade the bushes. The procedure should be carried out at the beginning of summer so that the cuttings can recover at a temperature of 22 - 24 ° C. By the way, it takes a long time, almost a month.

Narrow-leaf bushy varieties are very well suited for this breeding method.

Garden gerbera reproduces easily by dividing the bush

Care after landing

The temperamental southern character of the gerbera requires a special attitude towards it in open field conditions. But thanks for the efforts will turn out to be an incredibly beautiful sight - flowering, which lasts quite a long time.

Watering

The soil in which the gerbera grows should be moderately moist. These flowers love the golden mean - they do not tolerate either drying out of the soil or its waterlogging. The average frequency of watering is 2 times a week, but precipitation and air temperature should be taken into account. During active growth and budding, watered often and abundantly. At the moment when the buds begin to bloom, watering is reduced. After absorbing moisture, light loosening should be carried out so that the roots receive enough oxygen and do not suffer from overmoistening.

It is advisable to water it under the root with water that has warmed up in the sun. The most favorable period of the day for watering is early morning. If, during moistening, water droplets hit the leaves or buds, then they will not harm the plant - the moisture will have time to evaporate before the heat begins. Evening procedure is undesirable due to possible hypothermia of the roots.

To prevent watering from exposing the roots, water in a circle at a distance of 3 cm from the beginning of the growth of the outlet.

Watering early in the morning so that the water droplets on the plant have time to evaporate before the heat and do no harm

Fertilizers

It is not worth bringing humus and manure under the bushes, as they can provoke fungal diseases, from which gerbera often suffers.

Only complex mineral fertilizers are suitable for flowering plants. During the period of growing green mass, preference should be given to nitrogen-containing compositions. But when the budding process begins, switch to fertilizers containing potassium and calcium. It is these macronutrients that will support abundant flowering.

Top dressing is carried out often - once every 2 weeks, while the concentration of the solution is made weaker than the norm indicated on the package.

Gerberas in the open field are often fed, but fertilizers should be unconcentrated.

Weeding

A flowerbed with a gerbera must be weeded periodically. This procedure will save the plant from competitors - they will take away the nutrients and moisture necessary for the flower. In addition, pests grow in the weed grass, which will gladly move to the juicy leaves of African chamomile.

Pruning

To prolong the flowering of gerbera and stimulate the establishment of new peduncles, the faded inflorescences should be removed in time. But, as already mentioned above, they are not cut off, but broken out at the base or twisted out of the leaf funnel.

Post-flowering care

After the gerbera has given all its strength to bloom, it should be prepared for winter.

How it winters in the south

Only mild winters can guarantee normal wintering of gerberas outdoors. But this does not mean at all that the plant does not need shelter.

After the gerberas have faded, all flower stalks should be removed, watering should be reduced, and fertilization should be stopped completely.
The root zone at the end of September should be covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves or straw. But be careful, the leaves should only be collected from under healthy plants.
An excellent way to preserve perennial plants is a plywood box or a box made of very thick cardboard.
With the arrival of spring on sunny days, try to lift the boxes to gradually accustom the plant to natural conditions. With the onset of stable heat (10 ° C), the shelter is removed.

By the way, there are new gerbera hybrids that can tolerate large frosts (more than -10 ° C), but again, they need shelter, even if the winter is warm.

In the southern regions, gerbera is one of the most popular plants for landscape design.

Wintering in central Russia

In this climatic region, the cultivation of gerbera is practiced as annual plant... But you must admit that it is a pity to treat a flower this way, which can please for more than one year with its beautiful flowering. Therefore, for growing a gerbera as a perennial, it is envisaged to move it for the winter in suitable conditions. For this, the plant is dug up together with an earthen clod and moved to suitable containers. Storage conditions should be as follows:

ventilated basement with a stable temperature and low humidity;
temperature 10 - 12 ° С, but not higher than 15 ° С;
very rare watering and no feeding.

You can also put the gerbera pot in the greenhouse. If there is no basement or greenhouse, use the coolest corner of the apartment, where there is no bright light. In such conditions, the plant will be able to rest until spring, in order to please with lush flowering with the beginning of the new season.

If you do not want to transplant the gerbera from the flower garden to the wintering pot and vice versa every year, use a container in which the flower will be comfortable throughout all seasons. From spring to autumn, the plant will delight you with flowers on the street, and for the winter you can remove it to a place suitable for relaxation.

In the conditions of central Russia, gerbera can also be grown outdoors, but for the winter it will have to be provided with more comfortable conditions.

Diseases and pests that most often cause problems when growing outdoors

Among the difficulties of growing gerbera in the open field is its vulnerability to diseases and pests. The greatest danger to the plant is represented by various kinds of rot.

The disease causes decay of the leaf outlet, thinning and putrefaction in the roots. All this leads to wilting and wilting of the leaves, and then to the death of the plant. The cause of the problem lies in improper watering - excessive soil moisture and moisture ingress into the leaf outlet, use cold water... For treatment, use Fundazol or Maxim. If the gerbera is no longer treatable, the bush is dug out of the ground along with the roots and destroyed to prevent further spread of the infection.

Root rot is a frequent companion of waterlogging

Gray rot

Peduncles, flowers and leaf bases suffer. Parts of the plant affected by the fungus become covered with a gray fluffy coating and die off. A diseased plant can die if left untreated. To combat the disease, a solution of Fundazol or Rovral is used. The method of application is indicated on the package. To prevent any kind of rot, you need to follow the correct agricultural techniques and plant only healthy plants. The disease, as in the case of root rot, leads to:

With an increase in temperature and humidity on the petioles of gerberas, especially in young plants, a white, flour-like plaque appears. Over time, it becomes off-white. If the disease is allowed to progress, then the spots will begin to capture the entire leaf plate, which will lead to its drying out. The final stage of the disease will be the defeat of peduncles, buds, flowers. Infatuation can lead to defeat mineral feeding or lack of calcium in the soil. Measures to combat powdery mildew is the treatment with Fundazol or Topaz. Disease prevention is as follows:

compliance with the temperature regime;
maintaining normal humidity;
providing sufficient sunlight and adequate ventilation;
correct feeding.

Leaf with traces of powdery mildew

Mosaic

This viral disease is carried by harmful insects, mainly sucking insects. The disease can also become active at the end of the growing season, when the intensity solar lighting decreases, the air temperature decreases, but the humidity remains high. Gerbera leaves are covered of various shapes spots with clear boundaries that have a yellow-green color. Subsequently, the leaf blade is deformed. Sometimes, pronounced tissue pigmentation along the veins may appear. Necrosis is possible. There is no cure for the virus, but preventive measures will help to avoid the problem:

be sure to treat the site against pests;
do not plant a plant on an area where representatives of the Pumpkin family previously grew;
follow the basic agricultural techniques.

Compliance with the rules of planting and caring for a gerbera will help to avoid mosaics.

Aphids are collected in colonies in places with the most delicate cover, that is, on the underside of a gerbera leaf, on young peduncles and buds. By piercing the thin tissue of the plant with the proboscis, it sucks out nutrients thereby weakening the flower. In addition, aphids are a carrier of many unpleasant diseases, including mosaics. Damaged leaves are deformed, turn yellow and dry out. If peduncles develop, then the flower will be defective. You can fight aphids chemicals- Decis, Karate, Inta-Vir, Aktellik or Fitoverm. You can also use folk remedies, for example, pollinate plants with ash or tobacco dust. Prevention of the appearance of aphids:

inspect plants for pest detection;
fight weeds;
observe the watering regime.

Aphids are a carrier of untreated mosaic

This small white butterfly often infects plants in greenhouses, but when the temperature and humidity rise, the pest can also be found in the garden. The insect feeds on plant sap. This leads to yellowing and drying of the leaves. The signs by which the pest can be detected are as follows:

the leaves are covered with a sticky shiny coating - these are traces of the butterfly's vital activity:
translucent scales - larvae appear on the surface of the leaf plate;
gerbera is significantly behind in growth;
a frequent companion of the whitefly is a sooty fungus.

The drugs Aktara, Akarin, Confidor or Iskra will help to fight the pest. But it should be repeated after 1.5 - 2 weeks, since toxic substances infect butterflies, and the ovipositor remains. If you do not want to use toxic substances, then stock up glue traps, for example, from the Pheromone company. Peppermint or nasturtium will be good neighbors in the flower garden. The smell of these plants scares away the white-winged pest.

Whitefly can harm plants outdoors

Gerbera is perennial from the Asteraceae family. There are many varieties of gerbera, which are distinguished by color, terry and type of inflorescence. Let's take a look at the questions about how many gerberas bloom, how to plant and care for them.

The most popular varieties of garden gerbera

Today 80 varieties of this beautiful flower are known. Most of them belong to two main plant species: the Jameson gerbera and the green-leaved gerbera. In houses on windowsills, it is customary to grow a dwarf variety of Jameson's gerbera. This variety is also used to create bouquets.

Did you know? Gerbera varieties are distinguished by the shape of the flower (double, semi-double and simple), the height of the peduncle (up to half a meter) and the color of the petals. There are even blue gerberas.

The most popular gerberas:

white-flowering varieties with large buds and flowers with emerald greens - Labylose, Maria, Symphony;
many red shades are represented by varieties Mars, Romeo, Robin, Alamak;
if you want to decorate your garden with the most delicate pink inflorescence, then pay attention to the varieties Aldebaran, Migar, Viola, Vera;
a small and gentle sun can be grown from varieties Jupiter, Kalinka and Malena.

Rules for planting seeds in open ground

Gerbera is usually propagated by dividing the bush or seeds.... Growing gerberas in the open field can only be done by dividing the bush. With the help of seeds, you can sow only seedlings, because if you sow seeds directly into open ground, they will not have time to germinate before the cold weather and will die.

They begin to sow them in early April. The sown seeds are sprinkled with substrate or peat. For the first time, it is advisable to place the seedlings in a mini greenhouse, and when the first leaves appear, they can be removed. The hardened seedlings are planted in open ground in warm weather. This is the only way a gerbera can grow from seeds at home.

Did you know?How greenhouse, you can use ordinary cellophane - it is covered with a pot of sown seeds.

Conditions for growing garden gerbera

Gerbera is very fond of moisture and warmth. Strongly not tolerating frost, the flower is annual. To understand how to grow gerberas at home, it is important to know the best time to plant gerberas. The best time for planting a flower can be considered mid-late spring, when the frosts have finally passed.

If you plant a flower later, then you run the risk of shortening its flowering time. The landing site is also an important factor. It is important to protect the gerbera from drafts and strong winds. The area with flowers should be well lit by the sun throughout the day. The growth and flowering of the plant depends on the amount of direct sunlight.

The soil for gerbera growth should be nutritious and light. A mixture of peat, sand and leaf turf is perfect, you can add a little chopped pine bark. You can use special gerbera soil or rose soil. Gerbera needs good watering during bud formation and leaf growth. But as soon as the first flowers appear, you need to reduce watering. Constantly monitor the condition of the soil - gerbera does not accept either waterlogging or excessive dryness.

Important! You need to water the gerbera only with warm water, from cold it can get sick and rot.

Reproduction of garden gerbera

Let's figure out how to propagate a gerbera at home. There are three ways:

Cuttings. For this, young shoots are formed on the bush. To do this, the bush is dug up, washed and the leaf rosette is cut off. Then they are placed in a greenhouse. Two weeks later, you will receive young shoots from the axillary buds, which will later become the basis for cuttings.
Division of the bush. This method is considered the main one. In the spring, they dig out a bush and divide it into shoots, leaving several leaves on each. Each shoot is planted in the ground, leaving a centimeter protrusion with a rosette on the surface.
Using seeds or ready-made seedlings. You already know how to plant gerberas using seeds, but let's take a closer look. Seeds must be soaked in water before planting. You can put them on well-moistened cheesecloth. Do not let the seeds dry out. After a few days, the seeds will begin to hatch, which means that you can transplant them into the ground. Further, a semblance of a greenhouse is made, and after the seedlings are planted in open ground.
Gerbera application

Although the popularity of gerbera is no longer as high as in past years, it is still used very often. The plant is actively used in floristry as the main flower, constructing around it striking compositions and bouquets, or additional, emphasizing its beauty and irresistibility ready-made bouquets. A bouquet of gerberas is perfect for a gift for both a man and a woman. Gerbera is used as a decorative element. Massive, large inflorescences with a unique basket transform rooms beyond recognition.

The undoubted advantage of gerbera is its delicate scent, which allows even allergy sufferers and asthmatics to grow a flower at home without fear of attacks.

How to keep cut gerbera flowers in a vase longer

So that gerberas can delight you with their appearance and aroma for a long time, you can carry out a few simple manipulations. Firstly, no need to cut flowers with pruning shears. This will squeeze the vessels in the stems, from which the flower will not be able to be well nourished with water.

Using a sharp knife, cut the gerbera at an angle. In order for the flower to stand for a long time, you need to make the stems as short as possible. Since the stalks are quite heavy, try to keep the stems from reaching the bottom. In this case, the flower heads will not press on them. Cut back the stems every few days to provide the best nutrition for the plant.

If you constantly change the water in the vase, then the cut gerbera will last more than 20 days. During this period, it will not wither and will not lose a single leaf. If you resort to a little trick - add an aspirin tablet to the water - then it can calmly stand for more than a month.

How garden gerbera winters

Freezing for gerbera is certain death. If you want to save the flower, then at the end of September you need to dig up the gerbera. It is dug out together with an earthen lump and immediately transplanted into a pot. This is the ideal time to transplant a gerbera. In winter, the gerbera is placed in a cool dry place. The perfect place there will be a basement for wintering. If there is no basement, then place the flower in a dark, cool place... It can be returned to the garden as soon as it has warmed up convincingly.

Diseases and pests of gerberas

During the time that gerberas bloom, they do not get sick often, and if you find symptoms of the disease, then you should know: you are taking care of her incorrectly. Gerber can be damaged by viral and fungal diseases.

Gerber Wright.
G. ferruginea DC.
Green-leaved.
G. aberdarica R.E.Fr.
Gerbera Jameson.
Gerbera Abyssinian.

When is the best time to grow?

Important! Water the gerbera only with warm water. Cold water can cause the plant to die.

The first time when watering, it is necessary to use a spray bottle so that the water jet does not wash the seeds out of the soil.

If all the conditions are met, the gerbera will germinate in seven to ten days. Seedlings should grow and get stronger. This will take two to three weeks. By this time, the gerbera should have three or four leaves.

During the formation of leaves and buds, gerbera needs systematic watering.
However, as soon as the first flowers appear, watering should be reduced. But it is worth constantly monitoring the condition of the soil - gerbera does not like high humidity or dryness.

Water at the edge of the pot so as not to flood the root outlet. Or pour water into the pan, but after half an hour, the remaining water should be drained. Do not under any circumstances allow water to stagnate in the pan. since this can lead to fungal diseases and the formation of powdery mildew.

Gerbera loves spraying with water. It is worth at least once every one or two days to spray gerbera leaves with water dust, but not the flower itself.

The optimum temperature for growing gerbera is about 18-20 degrees. During this period, it is better to avoid direct sunlight.

Attention! To grow a beautiful and healthy gerbera, it should be fed with mineral fertilizers every two to three weeks. However, gerbera does not like organic fertilizers, so do not cover the soil around the plant stem with compost or humus!

Between June and August. It blooms only when the leaf rosette has grown enough. The number of flowers and their size directly depends on the quality behind the plant, as well as on the light and air temperature. In order to prolong the flowering of the gerbera, it is necessary to remove the faded inflorescences. This will lead to the emergence of new buds. Dry stems should be cut as low as possible so that the stumps do not rot.

If the gerbera was planted outdoors, it should be transplanted into a spacious pot in the fall. For the winter period, the plant should be placed in a cool, dry place, for example, in a basement (the temperature should be at least 12 and not higher than 14 degrees). Until spring, the gerbera only needs to be watered a few times.

Read more details about the diseases and pests of room gerbera, and in the next section we will consider the problem of why the leaves of the plant turn yellow.

Based on the foregoing, growing a gerbera is not as difficult as it seems. Following clear directions, everyone is able to grow this beautiful flower that will decorate your flower bed or windowsill. There is even a belief: gerberas attract prosperity, love and joy to the house. They also say that gerberas are flowers that can be given to men.