Gerbera Daisy Care

This is more than a three-year-old Gerbera (named after Gerber) Daisy potted plant. Here with cold winters we cannot leave it in the ground. So, I put it in a large plastic container with other flower plants (marigolds, petunia). Growing Gerbera is no problem but it has a few bad actors: Rabbits and chipmunks. Then it does not like too much rain. The leaves here show some signs of chlorosis but it is turning greener everyday. With liquid fertilizer and acid food, it will correct itself. The plant likes sun and normal watering. I like to let it dry in between watering; this is especially needed during heavy downpours. The flowers look nice in cool indoors in a flower vase. Propagation is through separation of the clumps (crowns) during spring or summer. At the end of fall season, we just bring the plant inside. We let it stay dormant in a corner in the garage. We try to keep the plant away from extreme cold and dryness. I stop watering during the winter (dormant) season. This way we can save the plant and use it year after year. Otherwise, here in the northern regions (zone 5) we have to keep buying these flower plants every year for the summer growing season. The flower size will increase a bit more. I just grabbed the photo before a hungry rabbit gets it. Daisy like petal arrangement is one of the common flower formations (geometrical pattern).

There are several nice write-ups on this showy flower plant on the Internet. Particularly the university extension or horticulture departments provide valuable care information. (For ex: see Clemson Factsheet Gerbera). We have not come across any serious pest issue so far. But I keep a home made neem oil spray bottle handy. The plant likes to be a bit on the dry side. So I try to keep the pot in shade to protect from heavy downpours in the summer. Or, one can put a plastic cover to shield from too much overhead rain.