Gerbera is one of those plants that rightfully deserve the love of gardeners and florists. Large, daisy-like flowers located on long, leafless stems can be a real decoration for your home. Of course, this can be achieved only in the case when the proper care of the gerbera is ensured, in particular, in the winter.
If the plant grows in an apartment and you water it regularly, this does not mean that it needs nothing more. Therefore, in this article we will explain how to grow a gerbera in a pot so that it will delight you with its flowering for a long time.
Useful tips for the care of gerbera at home
Like many other home plants, gerberas need to respect the appropriate temperature conditions, lighting, watering systems and fertilizing.
Temperature and lighting
"Transylvanian chamomile", namely, it is often called gerbera, it does not belong to too heat-loving plants, therefore even in the summer period the temperature of +20 - + 22 ° C will be the most optimal for it. In winter, temperature indicators should not exceed + 16 ° C (this is an important condition when caring for a gerbera after flowering). At the slightest non-compliance with these requirements, the plant can stop its growth or flowering.
Important! The transition from the summer mode (flowering) to the winter mode (rest) should occur smoothly. A sharp drop in temperature adversely affects the gerbera.
The plant prefers fresh and clean air, so in the summer it can easily be taken out to the balcony or courtyard of a private house. Just try to avoid drafts.
As for the lighting, When taking care of home conditions, gerberas prefer bright sunlight, so their cultivation on the window sill is most preferable. However, in most cases, plants in pots are placed on the west or east side, where direct sunlight does not fall on them for part of the day. In winter, the lack of light is compensated for gerberas with fluorescent lamps, but the abuse of lamps can lead to depletion of the flower, and then you have to figure out why the gerbera does not bloom.
Did you know? Despite the fact that the gerbera is called Transylvanian chamomile, it came to us from South Africa.
Watering and fertilizing soil
Watering gerberas should be moderate, but the soil should not be allowed to dry. As used liquid it is better to choose soft distilled water of room temperature (not boiled). Cold water adversely affects the plant, so such watering should be avoided.
Water the gerbera in the edge of the pot and very carefully, avoiding the ingress of liquid to the rosette. However, there is an alternative option when water is poured into the pan, only in this case it will need to be drained after half an hour. Excessive moisture and stagnant water in the pan can lead to the appearance of fungus and the formation of powdery mildew. If this happens, you can not ask why the leaves of your gerbera turn yellow.
How often water gerbera? Watering is carried out evenly throughout the year. To determine when a flower needs a liquid, you can simply check the ground (the ground should be slightly damp). In addition, spraying leaves is not the last in importance. This procedure should be performed as often as possible.
Important! When spraying try not to fall on the flowers, they do not like it.As for feeding a houseplant, it is recommended to be carried out 2-3 times a month, adding mineral fertilizers to the soil. True, most often such a scheme is applied to young or recently transplanted plants. Adult gerberas feel great and when applied fertilizers 1-2 times a year (nutrients allow the plant to bloom faster and protect it from disease).
Transplant and soil composition for room gerbera
Many growers transplant indoor plants only if they become cramped in a pot, but this is not entirely correct. But how to find out when it is necessary to transplant a gerbera? Do it regularly, about once a year, in the spring. For the successful implementation of the procedure, first of all it is necessary to choose the right pot and prepare the soil. The optimal size of the capacity for an adult plant is 1.5 liters, it is not recommended to take a larger pot. A little later, if the plant is completely healthy and its growth will not be threatened, you can simply periodically update the top layer of soil.
For Transylvanian chamomile, a ceramic pot with drainage holes would be an ideal option, because it can save a houseplant from overheating on hot summer days. However, your gerbera will be doubly grateful if you choose an air-permeable, lightweight substrate for your clay pot.
The soil can either be purchased in finished form, or make it yourself. In modern supermarkets for sale really high-quality soil for indoor plants, but an increasing number of gardeners prefer to cook it themselves.
There are several ways to prepare soil for gerbera:
- the same amount of peat and sand mixed with two parts of leafy ground;
- take only pure peat;
- mix high-moor peat with soaked coke bark in a 2: 1 combination;
- add to the peat fine pour in a ratio of 1: 1.
Important! Do not add organic fertilizers to the soil; the Transylvanian rose does not like them.
If the plant has only recently been bought in a store, transplanting gerberas at home should not worry you so far. The flower should be given time to acclimatize in the house for several weeks, and only after that it can be transplanted into a new pot (with the old capacity, the plant is removed along with a clod of old earth on the roots).Did you know? Some lovers of houseplants do not understand why they should be transplanted after purchase, as if the pot is suitable and the earth is good. The fact is that, for a marketable species, sold plants necessarily include growth stimulants that allow them to maintain an excellent appearance while staying on the shop window. However, such land is unsuitable for further cultivation, so it must be replaced.
Gerbera reproduction at home
Caring for gerbera after flowering is often accompanied by the reproduction of the plant. This procedure is performed in one of three ways: using seeds, dividing the maternal shrub or grafting. In the last two cases, you are required to maximize concentration and accuracy, as there is a serious chance to damage the plant or spoil the root system.
Seeds
Gerbera seeds are sown in spring (from March to May), placing them in a container with sod, leafy soil, to which sand is added. Top half a centimeter seeds sprinkled with earth, and after the appearance of 3-4 leaves, young shoots stop in separate pots. From the moment of sowing until the beginning of flowering, the gerbera takes about 10 months, therefore, this method of plant reproduction is rarely chosen.
Dividing bush
If you decide to propagate your gerbera by dividing a bush, then for these purposes it is better to choose three or four-year-old plants, leaving two or three growth points on each of them. Flowering occurs at the same time as in the first variant.
The sequence of division is as follows: the top layer of soil is carefully removed, exposing a part of the rhizome, after which a shallow incision is made, which divides it into two parts. Place the cut should be sprinkled with crushed coal and dry earth. After the gerbera has new roots (usually it happens after 3-4 weeks), it is carefully removed from the pot and, divided into two parts, are seated in different containers.
In most cases, this method is used for the reproduction of valuable varieties, since when sowing purchased seeds it often turns out that the color in the picture and in reality is very different, and it takes a long time to wait.
Cuttings
Another method of propagation of gerbera is cutting. In the process itself, there is nothing complicated, and all that is required of you is to cut off a part of the stem with a leaf and plant it in a separate box with preheated soil (the temperature should not be below + 20 ° C).
It should be noted that this method is more difficult than all previous ones for carrying out in home (apartment) conditions. However, if you decide that it is the one that suits you the most, then find a plant no older than three years and take from it a part of the stem with a knot and a leaf. Place them in a moist soil and cover the box with an oilcloth, leaving a week. During this time, new shoots should appear, which will seed new plants.
It is better to use any of the methods described above in the summer period, because it is at this time that gerberas root well and grow well.
What pests and diseases should beware
Pests of the room gerbera are not much different from the pests of flowers growing in the open air. For example, if you notice that the leaves of the plant have started to turn yellow and fall off, you should check it for presence of spider mitethe result of the presence of which is insufficient moisture in the soil and air. In this case, regular spraying of the stems (but not flowers) and the use of special chemical compounds can help, which is better not to do indoors.
A sharp drop in temperature, excessive fertilization of gerbera with nitrogen-containing fertilizer, watering with cold water can lead to the appearance of a harmful fungal disease - powdery mildew. It is possible to avoid such an unpleasant phenomenon only if you follow the rules of care, and also protect the plant from contact with roses, which are most susceptible to the effects of this disease.
Lack of moisture can trigger whiteflies and aphidsand if there is too much of it, then get ready for a possible fight against gray or white mold. It is easiest to remove the affected leaves immediately, then reduce watering and spray the stems with copper sulfate solution.
How long gerberas will delight you with their flowering depends only on how accurately you follow all the recommendations. This flower is not suitable for you if you want to get a beautiful flowering plant in just a few months, as it does not tolerate haste and loves regularity.
