A favorite for weddings, gifted arrangements, and just brightening up a room, Gerbera Daisies have become one of the most recognizable flowers out there. Naturally appearing in a variety of colors and often tinted and enhanced for special occasions, these bright blossoms are so gorgeous people often mistake them for artificials.
Check out some information from Gerbera.org on how to plant and maintain these beautiful flowers throughout the upcoming summer months. They’re the perfect way to brighten up any Milwaukee area home or garden!
Gerbera Daisy Plant
These beautiful blooms are perfect for any occasion (or for no occasion!) and for any region (except Alaska)! It’s widely recognized that sending colored Gerbera Daisies represents different emotions, similar to what each rose color means. The best thing? Gerberas are easy to care for, whether in a vase/pot inside, or planted/potted outside.
Most who buy “Gerbs” in seed or bulb form are proficient gardeners/hobbyists, & they’re planting in their homes’ yards, gardens or pots. Bulbs or packs of seedlings are easy to find: try a local Farmer’s Market, Greenhouse, flower/plant shop, & even in the Greenery/Yard Care sections of stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s or Kmart!
Planting & Caring for Gerbera Daisy Plants
It’s simple to pick up a pack or two of Gerbera Daisy plant seeds to sow at home. They add variety and pops of color to your home’s flower/vegetable garden outside & lovely floral accents inside. * Remember: plant Gerbera seeds in SPRING after any frost has passed (depending on your area).
•Areas with full to partial sun are best for growing & caring for these precious plants. They tolerate light frost, but where this occurs, they should be planted in shade. The best results for outdoor planning are areas where there’s mild temperature & a minimum night temperature above 59 degrees F (6 degrees C). Gerberas aren’t affected by maximum temperatures so they endure harsh sunlight. The relative humidity where you plant should average 65% with exposure to full sun. (During the cooler months – November through May – water the plants only when soil becomes fairly dry. *Plants grow best in temperatures near 75 degrees F. Avoid planting in areas that reach below 45 degrees F.)
•Carefully choose (don’t “manhandle”) 4-6 seeds from the packet & a medium sized-pot. Use a spade to set them two-and-a-half inches deep & at least a foot apart under healthy enriched soil. (Peat grass helps the plants drain well, but if soil is high in sand content it drains well, so you don’t need peat grass.)
•Water immediately; thereafter, water seeds daily to keep soil moist around your delightful daisies – but don’t water so much that soil becomes muddy or pools water at the bottom of a pot, or at the bottom stem if in a garden!
•Fertilize every two weeks with all-purpose water-soluble fertilizer.
•Water regularly to make sure the soil stays evenly moist while they bloom. After blooming for the season, allow them to dry out slightly.
•Remove dead blooms with garden shears to encourage the gerberas to keep blooming for as long as possible.
Indoor Gerbera Daisies
Most indoor daisy plants come “pre-made” as beautiful whole blooms! In recent years, flower shops, some drug stores & grocery stores have realized this favored flower’s popularity & it’s serious selling power . They joined and now offer lovely designs of pre-planted & “already bloomed” potted sets, bouquets or vases of the distinctive Daisy. Bouquet varieties & sizes vary in number/color, & have Bear Grass (or greenery) to add depth. One can purchase long-stemmed versions of a dozen, half-dozen, or fewer pre-wrapped in pastel tissue paper, or choose a ready-prepared vase bouquet. Due to these more complimentary options, most Gerbera Daisies are, in fact, bought while in bloom and for indoor decorative purposes & gifting.