Gerbera Daisies

Expensive silver cutlery, exclusive ceramic pots or antique China-ware can not beat the beauty of bright and colorful gerbera daisies. These long-lasting flowers dramatically change the atmosphere of the room where they are kept. The satiny petals surrounding a prominent center are so bright and attractive that you don't need any other showpiece to enhance the beauty of the room. Gerbera was named in the honor of the German naturalist Traugott Gerber.

What Is a Gerbera Daisy
Gerbera belongs to the genus 'Asteraceae ' which includes ornamental plants from the sunflower family. Approximately 30 species of gerbera are found in the wild, in South America, Africa and tropical Asia. They are actually perennials in warm climates. The foliage develops as a low mound of large, rich green leaves. Because of the stunning beauty of the daisies, they are considered as an invariable element in all types of flower arrangements, flower decorations, flower bouquets, etc.

Vibrant and bright colors of gerbera flowers have made them very popular. Here is a list of available daisy colors.

• Yellow
• Orange
• White
• Cream
• Red
• Pink
• Purple
• Lilac
• Brown
• Salmon

Thousands of cultivars varying greatly in shapes and sizes are available these days. In greenhouses, mostly a cross between Gerbera jamesonii and another South African species Gerbera viridifolia, called Gerbera hybrida, is made available by the gardeners. You must have also come across bi-color flowers with black center and differently colored petals. Bees, butterflies and birds get attracted towards these flowers because of bright colors, creating a pleasant atmosphere in your garden.

How to Take Care of Gerbera Flowers
Taking care of gerbera daisies is quite easy.

• Fertilizer: Blooming or actively growing daisies should be fed every other week with a water-soluble fertilizer.
• Temperature: The daisies grow well in average to cool temperatures. In too warm temperatures they may stop blooming.
• Propagation: The daisies propagated from the seeds may require as long as 6 months to reach the blooming stage.
• Repotting: Gerberas grown in a greenhouse should be repotted in spring.
• Water: You should keep the daisies evenly moist during the blooming time. When blooming season is over, they can be allowed to dry slightly, before watering.
• Light: They require lots of light to do their best and bloom the longest. For this, they should be planted in a sunny location. Even additional artificial light can prove beneficial for them.
• Humidity: They require average humidity. In case of indoor plantation, you may sprinkle water over the foliage once or twice a week, during the winter but avoid misting open blooms.
• Grooming: Gerberas don't need any grooming. Just remove the faded leaves, flowers and stems. Do not apply any leaf shine products. Slightly hairy leaves of gerbera resent being wiped.
• Soil: They grow comfortably in well-drained soil. You should use a high-quality peat based potting soil for planting the daisies.
• Insecticides: Healthy daisies receiving full sunlight are usually not affected by pests. There are chances that poorly growing plants are attacked by aphids, white flies, leaf spot and spider mites. You are expected to read the instructions carefully before using insecticides.
• Flower Arrangement: To enhance the beauty of your room, you can always keep the gerbera flowers in a vase in the cooler corner of the room. Add a tea spoon of sugar in the water or add 2 drops of liquid bleach for a gallon of water to increase the longevity of flowers. You should trim the long stems of the flowers at an angle of 45 degrees, everyday. You should change the water in the vase everyday.

Too young gerbera daisies do not bloom. They bloom the longest when they receive strong light and proper fertilizer and are kept evenly moist and warm. Too high temperature can make them lose strength and wilt. Due to very low temperatures the leaves usually turn black. Watering with cold water may develop dark patches on the leaves. Being too wet or too dry is not good for the plant. The leaves may turn brown and start drying up. Too wet plants will develop a crown rot that is almost always fatal. A white mildew on the leaves means that the plant is being kept too cool and humid.

For 100% enjoyment, you should buy a plant that is just beginning to bloom and has several buds. If all the conditions are favorable, gerbera daisies may bloom for 6 weeks or more. As the plant begins to languish, you can plant it out in your flower garden, in a sunny location if it is early summer. In a well-drained soil it may bloom on until frost.

Gerbera daisy colors stand for love, appreciation, purity, innocence, passion and cheerfulness. Fresh and bright gerberas have the magical power of conveying a meaningful thought and can help in leaving a long-lasting impression.