Proper planting and care of garden gerberas. Gerberas - plant care at home

The history of the gerbera from wild African plant to one of the most purchased and loved flowers all over the world. Nowadays, you can buy gerberas for a bouquet both in pots and cut ones at any flower shop. The price of a gerbera depends on its variety. Flowers with different shades of petals, new and rare varieties are the most expensive. Gerberas have a basal rosette, from which light green, deeply divided leaves grow on petioles. Peduncles are usually slightly pubescent. The flowers are collected in baskets-inflorescences, which have a yellow center. Sunny flower a sunflower or a modest daisy, that’s what the handsome gerberas resemble.

Since this is a tropical flower, it does not tolerate frost and no shelter can protect the gerbera in the garden from the winter cold, therefore, in our climatic conditions, the gerbera is planted as a perennial herbaceous plant in greenhouses, and as an annual in open ground. Digging up gerberas along with a lump of earth in the fall and sending it to the basement for the winter is the only way to preserve garden gerberas. For many years now room conditions Gerbera flowers are grown as flowering potted plants.

Gerbera care

Growing a home gerbera is not too difficult a task. This plant is quite unpretentious, but growing gerbera in pots still has its secrets. Moving a gerbera from a greenhouse to your apartment results in serious stress, so you should not aggravate it by transplanting it into a new pot. You can replant the plant after purchase no earlier than two weeks; the gerbera needs time to adapt. If the flower lives near the wat, then it is transplanted in the spring. Replant the gerbera together with a lump of earth so as not to damage the roots. The pot should have a wide top and low. Don’t forget to put drainage at the bottom of the pot.

The soil mixture for gerberas should be slightly acidic, consisting of sand and peat in equal parts, but leaf soil you need twice as much peat and sand. After transplanting a gerbera plant, care comes down to timely and abundant watering. The earthen clod should not be allowed to dry out, but it should not be flooded either. Water only into the edge of the pot and excess water must be drained from the pan. Water for irrigation is taken to be settled, soft and at a temperature not lower than +20 degrees. Watering gerberas cold water very dangerous, especially if the room is warm. It is useful to spray only the leaves, not the gerbera flowers. Gerbera grows well in bright light; direct sunlight in the mornings and evenings is not even harmful to it. In the summer it is not possible, but even needs to be taken out onto the balcony. Gerberas are not afraid of drafts and love Fresh air. In winter, gerberas suffer from too dry and warm air our apartments.

And not only in winter. The best temperature for flowering and growth of potted gerbera is +16-21 degrees, and in winter time not lower than +12 degrees. Thus, for gerberas, indoor care includes keeping them on light windowsills, spraying, sufficient watering and ventilation of the room. If all the necessary conditions are created for the gerbera, then the gerbera in the pot is capable of flowering in winter, but if this is not done, then the gerbera enters a dormant state. The plant gathers strength and grows leaves so that next year bloom. Often, re-blooming can occur in August, when daylight hours begin to wane, and this very fact serves as a signal for gerbera to bloom.

Diseases and pests of gerbera

Gerberas are not too capricious flowers, but, like many others, indoor plants, for the gerbera flower care plays important role in pest control and disease prevention. So, for example, a violation of air humidification and watering will lead to infection of the plant with gray and white rot, if the moisture is too abundant, and the lack of moisture in the pot and the air around the plant leads to spider mite damage to the gerbera. In addition to mites, the plant is also affected by aphids and whiteflies. Neglect preventive measures when planting, somehow inspecting the purchased plants to see if they are infected with diseases; disinfecting the soil leads to infection by various fungal diseases, in particular late blight and fusarium

If you allow a sharp change in air humidity and temperature, water the gerbera plant with cold water, and get too carried away with nitrogen fertilizers, then these actions may well provoke fungal diseases of the gerberas - powdery mildew. Measures to combat all gerbera scourges are standard: when purchasing the plant, you must carefully examine it; before planting, the soil for the plant must be disinfected by steaming; compliance with all rules for caring for the plant; if damage is detected by a particular pest or disease, the affected parts must be removed and the plant treated with an appropriate product; In order to localize the disease, the diseased plant must be separated from healthy plants.

Garden gerbera (lat. Gerbera) – perennial herbaceous plant family Asteraceae (Asteraceae). The plant is very popular in home and garden floriculture.

Bushes are compact, sheet plates neatly collected in a rosette. The leaves are pinnately dissected with pointed tips, the length is about 35 cm, the surface is leathery, iridescent. In some leaves, the base of the leaflets and petioles may be heavily pubescent.

The flowering stem extends 30-60 cm, and large basket-shaped inflorescences bloom at the top. The flowers themselves are similar to daisies, reach 12-16 cm in diameter, and can be single, semi-double or double.

The modest gerbera fascinates with its hypnotic beauty, and planting and caring for the plant is not difficult.

Originally from hot Africa and Madagascar, some species can be found in the tropics of Asia. By the way, other beautiful daisies were also brought from Africa - garden flowers similar to gerberas - .

When does gerbera bloom?

Gerbera flowers bloom in early spring and end their beauty parade with the onset of severe autumn cold.

Gerbera for cutting: how to do it right

Gerbera flowers for a long time retain freshness after cutting. But they should be cut correctly, or rather, the flowering stem should be carefully twisted out of the socket. If you cut or leave part of the peduncle on the bush, this threatens complete rotting of the plant left so.

Growing garden gerbera from seeds for seedlings

When to plant

To get strong flowering bushes this season, you need to grow gerbera seedlings in the fall. Gerbera seedlings need to be sown in October-November, so that those planted in open ground gerberas bloomed in July-August.

If you sow gerberas in January-March, you will not see flowering this season. Don’t be upset: plant ready-made seedlings in the garden, and in the fall transfer them to pots and keep them until next spring (more on this below).

How to plant

• We take seedling cassettes, fill them with loose nutritious soil mixture (there are special compositions for growing seedlings), place the seeds one at a time in a cell, helping ourselves with a toothpick, and deepen them no more than 3 mm.
• Spray with a fine spray.
• The optimal air temperature for seed germination is at least 18 °C; to maintain the required level of humidity and temperature, cover the crops with glass or film on top.

• The germination process takes about 2 weeks; in the future, grow without film cover.
• Maintain diffused bright lighting for at least 12 hours (be sure to provide additional illumination with phytolamps), do not forget to ventilate, and spray the crops if necessary.
• We transfer the grown plants into larger pots.
• When real warmth sets in with night temperatures above 12°C, transplant the gerbera into open ground.

Please note that flowering will occur in 10-11 months, so do not be surprised that flower stalks do not appear in the first year if you are late in sowing the seedlings. Also when seed propagation Varietal characteristics may be lost if cross-pollination occurs.

Selecting a site and planting garden gerberas

Light and soil

For heat-loving gerberas, be sure to select an open, sunny area without drafts; flooding and stagnation of moisture are contraindicated if they are located close together. groundwater you will need to make the bed elevated.

Regarding the soil: it should be loose and nutritious, good drainage is important.

Transplanting

We transplant into open ground when the soil warms up enough and real warmth is established. Dig up the area, make planting holes according to the size of the root system and roll over the bushes along with the earthen ball; the root collar should be 1.5-2 cm above the soil surface. Keep a distance of about 20 cm between individual plants.

Gerbera is susceptible to fungal diseases, so before planting it is advisable to treat the soil with special preparations.

How to care for garden gerbera

Cute appearance and bright long flowering– these are not the only advantages of the plant; gerbera grows and develops quickly and is notable for its ease of care.

How to water

During the period of active growth, regular and abundant watering is necessary; during the dormant period (when transplanting into a pot), water moderately. When watering, maintain a balance; drying out the soil negatively affects the condition of the plant, as does waterlogging. Use water room temperature, bring in carefully, trying not to get on the leaves; the leaf rosette should under no circumstances get wet.

Loosening and weeding

Pull out weeds and periodically loosen the soil.

To maintain growth and flowering, apply complex mineral fertilizers in liquid form every two weeks.

Garden gerbera in autumn

IN natural environment gerbera grows in mild, warm climates with long, hot summers. In central Russia it is grown seasonally, i.e. Planted in open ground during the warm season, it can be grown as an annual. In regions with warm winters(air temperature not lower than +10°C) the plant is left to overwinter in open ground, covered with straw or dry leaves.

Garden gerbera: how to preserve in winter

If you want to save the plant for the winter, dig up a bush in the fall and plant it in a spacious container (its size is commensurate with the size of the plant). At the bottom, lay a drainage layer consisting of expanded clay, for example, ordinary small pebbles and clay shards will also be used. The following soil mixture is perfect for winter maintenance: two parts each of leaf soil and peat and one part sand. When transplanting, place the root collar a few centimeters above the soil surface.

Winter care for gerberas is as follows:

• Keep the container with gerbera in a cool (7-8 °C) and well-ventilated area.
• There is no need to feed, occasionally spray the soil surface, provide diffused lighting.

Diseases and pests

Unfortunately, the bright garden gerbera is quite often exposed to diseases and pests, but the root cause lies in Not proper care. The crop is affected by a fungal infection, leading to rotting of the root system. This is caused by prolonged waterlogging of the soil; perhaps the soil was already contaminated. Water moderately, provide drainage, and for preventative purposes, treat the soil with an appropriate preparation before planting.

From high humidity Powdery mildew occurs. Treat the plant with a fungicidal preparation, but keep in mind that if the solution gets on the leaves, unsightly spots will remain.

If the air humidity is high and the bushes are poorly ventilated - ideal conditions for the development of powdery mildew. Treatment with a preparation containing sulfur will be required.

Dangerous pests of gerbera are spider mite, aphids, thrips. The plant will have a depressed appearance, the leaves will begin to turn yellow, whitish cobwebs can be found on their surface (traces of the life activity of spider mites), various punctures and dark spots (these are the “tricks” of sap-sucking insects), aphids can be seen with the naked eye. Treat the bushes first soap solution, as a last resort, resort to treatment with an insecticidal preparation (anabasine sulfate, nicotine sulfate and others are effective against aphids).

How to propagate garden gerbera

Vegetative propagation of gerbera is the most common method, which involves dividing the bush. Wait until the bushes reach the age of 2-3 years; the division procedure should be carried out in April-May.

• We carefully divide the bush into several parts, each of which should contain a part of the rhizome with growth buds and 2-3 leaves; the roots should be trimmed to a length of 10 cm.
• We plant them in holes at a distance of 25-30 cm and grow them all summer in open ground.

Of course, growing gerberas in central Russia involves some hassle, but in return we get neat bushes that bloom all season long. These big ones colorful flowers, reminiscent of daisies, will decorate not only the garden, but also the windowsill.

Gerbera in landscape design

Compact gerbera bushes are used for framing garden paths, V border plantings, you can use plain color scheme or play with shades.

When grown in containers or garden pots, gerberas become mobile (portable decoration): place them on the balcony, veranda, or in any corner of the garden.

Gerbera is so good that she doesn't need neighbors. Pairs perfectly with calendula.

If desired, combine with decorative foliage plants (for example, heuchera, heucherella, cereals and conifers.

Perennial garden gerberas: varieties with photos and names

The species was discovered by Carl Linnaeus, and the varietal diversity was expanded by the Dutch botanist-breeder Reman.

There are over 100 varieties to fill your garden with with the brightest colors according to your taste. The most popular red shades are the varieties Robin Hood, Ruby Amsterdam, Saskia and others. Gerberas of yellow, white, cream, pink shades are in great demand, and lilac ones are no less charming.

Large-flowered varieties with narrow petals:

• Migar – a pleasant pink shade of inflorescences;
• Vega - inflorescences of a sunny orange hue;
• Algol is a rich cherry shade of inflorescences.

Gerbera variety mixture Gerbera ‘Sweet Collection’ photo

Large flowers of medium petal type:

Mars – flowers of a rich red hue;

Gerbera variety Gerbera ‘Sweet Dreams’ flower photo

Large flowers with wide petals:

Vera, Peter, Almak, Romeo, Saturn, Delios.

Gerbera garden variety Sweet Surprise photo

Small-flowered with narrow petals:

• Aldebaran - deep pink inflorescences;
• Alcor - inflorescences of a deep cherry shade.

Double and semi-double flowers with narrow petals:

Kalinka, Viola, Sonya; of the same type, but with wide petals: variety Iskra - dark, deep red color of flowers.

Separately, I would like to note the Wright variety, which is perfectly suitable for landscape design and bouquet arrangements.

The material in this article will be devoted to growing garden gerberas. Gerbera is a perennial flower that is grown both at home and in the garden. The color of the inflorescences can vary from white to purple. In this article we will dwell in more detail on the main points of growing garden gerberas.

Planting and caring for garden gerberas are simple operations. It is important to follow according to the specifics. You can follow the instructions below for this.

When to plant?

The most good time for planting a flower in open ground - after the threat of frost has passed. Short-term cold can destroy the plant. Experienced gardeners it is recommended to determine the disembarkation time with the landing dates heat-loving plants, such as:

• Tomatoes;
• Cucumbers;
• Eggplant.

Usually, this is the last 10 days of May and the first ten days of June. When planting a plant in late time, possibly short flowering.

Selecting a location

Choosing a place to plant gerberas is one of important criteria, since in the absence or insufficient lighting the plant does not bloom. Provide gerbera required amount bright light:

In order for the flowering of gerbera to be accompanied by large and bright inflorescences, you need to be guided by the following criteria when choosing a landing site:

• Light areas of growth;
• Places sheltered from the wind;

It is worth warning that gerbera grows in open ground only in the south of our country or in the middle zone with a mild climate. Otherwise, prepare a greenhouse for the plant.

How to plant. Step-by-step instruction

Flowers obtained from seeds may lose the characteristics of the original specimen.

Preparing the seedlings:

• From January to March you can sow seeds for seedlings;
• Prepare the soil by mixing turf and leaf soil with humus and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1;
• Place the seeds 2-3 mm deep in the ground and wait for germination for 2 weeks;
• After they dive:
• When 2-3 true leaves appear, they are planted in boxes;
• When 4-5 leaves appear, put them in pots.

Transplanting seedlings into open ground is carried out taking into account these features:

• The time for night frosts has passed;
• Planting in a sunny place;
• Ensuring regular watering.

Gerberas bloom after 10 months from sowing. The flowering period depends on the type of flower.

Care

Care benefits:

• love fresh air;
• resistant to drafts.

Need to know that this flower demanding of:

• moderate humidity;
• bright lighting;
• average temperatures;
• fertilizers.

Watering should be done small but often. During active development Water abundantly, and after flowering - more than moderately, keeping an eye on the moisture at the roots.

Water according to the following rules:

• moderate watering, avoid stagnation of water;
• Do not allow water to enter the rosette of leaves at the roots or onto the leaf plate;
• Using warm water:
  • in winter – 16-20 degrees Celsius;
  • in summer – 26-27 degrees Celsius.

They grow best in soils with weak acidity, treated. It is done for prevention against fungi.

Once every 2 weeks from March to the beginning of autumn, the plants need to be fed, preferably mineral fertilizers.

It is contraindicated to use as fertilizing organic fertilizers:

• compositions containing chlorine;
• different types of manure: cow, bird, horse.

The above fertilizers have a negative effect on the growth and development of the flower and can lead to rot of the root collar, which leads to the death of the plant.

The flower is susceptible to fungal diseases, so if rot or dark spots form on the leaves, you should:

• remove diseased leaves;
• treat the plant with a fungicide.

With proper care, gerberas will bloom for 3-4 months.

How to reproduce? Methods

There are 3 methods of reproduction:

• Reproduction by seeds;
• Dividing an adult bush;
• Cuttings.

Propagation by seeds

For use this method you need to buy seeds in a store or collect them from personal plants.

After artificial pollination, gerberas begin to produce fruits—pods with seeds. By collecting them, it will be possible to grow new flowers in subsequent years.

In the most favorable conditions the seeds ripen within 3-4 months after pollination. Germination is maintained for 6-10 months.

It must be taken into account that gerberas do not inherit varietal properties, and, therefore, may have significant differences from their original forms!

This method can be carried out from January to March, but the most relevant breeding time is the beginning of spring.

It is possible to sow both dry seeds and organize a small pre-sowing treatment in advance:

• Soak a napkin with epin;
• Place seeds on top;
• Place the napkin with the seeds in a bag or other plastic container;
• Leave the container in a warm place for a day.

For sowing, loose soil consisting of high peat or its mixture with sand is needed. You can prepare the substrate using the same ingredients as when growing seedlings.

• Seeds are placed 0.2-0.3 cm deep into the ground;
• The boxes are protected with a transparent cap and placed in a warm room;
• After the first shoots appear, two weeks later, the film is removed and the boxes are placed on a windowsill with good lighting;
• Then the plants are left under artificial lighting for 1 to 3 months, keeping the daylight hours to 12-14 hours.
• Dive twice:
• There are 2-3 true leaves in the phase.
• And when the fourth or fifth leaf appears.

Plants from seeds bloom after 10-11 months.

When the sprouts get stronger and 4-5 leaves appear, they need to be planted on permanent place growth.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

This method is ideal for valuable species garden gerberas. At the end of the process, maternal characteristics are not lost. It is better to use plants 3-4 years old as a bush for dividing.

This method is common at home. Division is carried out in the summer.

After purchasing a gerbera, you must act in accordance with the following provisions:

• For half a month, plants are given the opportunity to adapt to new conditions;
• After that, you need to take a large one and fill it with pebbles or expanded clay;
• Before transplanting, you need to trim the flowers;
• Carefully transfer the gerbera along with a lump of earth and enrich it with substrate;
• Do not place the rhizome deep into the substrate!

After transplanting the plant you should:

• Water the flower only in the tray or along the edge of the pot;
• Moisten the leaves once every six months.

If you took your old plant as a source of propagation, then you need to:

• Remove the top old layer of soil, exposing top part rhizomes;
• Make a cut on the rhizome;
• Sprinkle it with a small amount charcoal;
• Place a new layer of soil in the pot and place it in a bright place.

After 3-4 weeks, you need to carefully remove the plant, divide the regrown roots into two parts and transplant them into different large containers.

Cuttings

Conducted at home with the onset of spring. To do this, use healthy plants not exceeding 3 years old:

• Prepare warm, moist soil;
• Cut gerbera cuttings are planted in prepared soil;
• Cover with glass.

Over the course of a week, new shoots grow and are planted in pots to form new plants.

This method is the most ineffective and is not used by experienced gardeners.

Diseases and pests

Gerbera diseases:

Plants may become sick if the following operations occur:

• Too much watering. Under these conditions lower leaves will begin to rot, the plant will get sick viral diseases. Philophthora and fusarium develop.
• Lack of moisture and dry air. In this case, it settles on the plant. To neutralize it, fungicides are used - special chemicals.
• Aphid. Periodically inspect your gerbera bush for aphids. If it is detected, use insecticides and chemicals to treat the stems and leaves of the flower.

Note to the gardener: problems that you may encounter

Why doesn't gerbera bloom?

• Long daylight hours - more than half a day;
• Lack of green mass;
• Lack of cool winter conditions;
• Excess nitrogen in the soil.

Why does gerbera dry and wither? Why does it turn yellow?

• Due to lack of moisture;
• Due to excess humidity;
• Availability fungal disease fusarium;
• Poor nutrients the soil;
• Accumulation of dust on the leaves of the flower, interfering with breathing;

Why do the buds wither?

• The presence of stress in the plant;
• Lack of light.

Why do the leaves turn black?

There are many reasons for this symptom to appear:

• Irrigation with very cold water;
• Abundant watering;
• Growing in conditions of high humidity;
• Cold;
• Overdrying of the earthen coma.

Winter care

Withstand the winter in the ground under open air gerbera is capable only in regions with a mild climate. In other circumstances, it must be transplanted into an ordinary flower pot for the winter. Alternatively, you can overwinter the dug plant in the basement or any other cool place.

From mid-autumn to mid-spring (winter), with the use of auxiliary light and an average temperature of 22˚C, gerberas continue to bloom. But you should not grow it without rest, because after 2 years, flowering will become sluggish.

In view of this, in December you should:

• Place the gerbera in a bright room;
• Reduce temperature to 11˚C;
• Limit watering.

Under these circumstances, a time of rest begins, which will continue until the end. winter period. Please note that the winter period ends in mid-spring!

Conclusion: As you noticed, there is nothing difficult about growing gerberas. You just need to follow the above tips.

Garden Gerbera perennial, which does not require enormous effort in care, but it still has its own requirements.

Garden Gerbera is a perennial flower with basal leaves and chamomile-like flowers. Belongs to the Asteraceae family. It blooms in gardens from early spring to late autumn. Multi-colored chamomile, only in large sizes.

The average height of the bushes is up to 30 cm, although there are taller varieties up to half a meter. Flowers of various colors with a diameter of 10-15 cm.

The most famous varieties:

1. Gerbera Daisy.
2. Jameson.

Even apartment dwellers often plant this flower on their windowsill. It is easy to care for, grows and develops quickly, and is resistant to cutting flowers.

It is better to pull out the flower stalks completely, leaving even a small cutting can cause the plant to die and rot. There are special types of gerbera bred for planting in pots; they are less demanding to care for.

Cut flowers can last up to twenty days if you do not fill a vase full of water, thereby preventing the stem from rotting.

Gerberas are so unpretentious that even planting these flowers is possible not only in spring, but also all year round, without significant dependence on weather conditions. On hot days, the leaves may wilt a little, and with the onset of a cool night they will recover again. There's nothing wrong with that.

Planting technologies

Basic principles when landing:

1. To grow this colorful flower on your garden plot one must take into account that the warm summer climate is more favorable. For the winter, this flower is covered with fallen leaves or straw. If you live in a cold climatic zone with harsh winters, it is better to dig up the gerbera and replant it in a pot. There is a high probability that the flower may freeze out in severe frosts; covering material will not save it in this case. You can grow them like annual flower, planting new ones every year.
2. When planting, you should choose a place well lit by the sun. This is one of the main conditions. Your plant will be able to achieve both normal growth and beautiful inflorescences characteristic of the variety.
3. Planting is done in the garden in early spring. In a regular flowerbed or garden bed. The soil should be well heated and with sufficient drainage to prevent rotting of the root system.
4. During active growth, water the plant generously, but too much water also has a bad effect. It is best in moderation, so that the plant does not dry out and there is well-moistened soil, without stagnant water. Watering should be done without getting on the leaves and inflorescences. It is better to use water at room temperature; do not forget about fertilizing with mineral fertilizers.

Reproduction of Gerbera garden

This plant can be propagated in three ways, let’s consider each of them:

1. To propagate by cuttings, it is necessary to form young shoots on the bush. To do this, you need to dig up the bush, wash it and cut off the rosette of leaves. We plant it in a greenhouse and after two weeks young shoots will appear from the axillary buds; they will later become the basis for cuttings.
2. To propagate gerberas, dividing the bush is the main method of propagating the plant. To do this, in the spring, dig up a bush and divide it into shoots with several leaves on each. And they are planted in the soil with a minimum protrusion of the rosette of one centimeter. If you don’t have a bush, these two methods obviously won’t work for you, and you’ll have to grow the plant from seeds. If you want to get early flowering from a flower, then the seedlings will need to be planted in January or February.
3. For planting seeds and seedlings, you can use both open and closed soils. Do not forget that the flowering of a plant directly depends on the time of sowing the seeds. Before planting, the seeds are soaked in water; it is better to place them on gauze, generously moistened with water; the seeds should not be allowed to dry out during these days. After four days, the seeds generally begin to hatch. We plant them in loose soil, sprinkling sand on top. It is recommended to cover the top with film. Recommended temperature 25 degrees. Shoots will appear in a week, but the soil should not be flooded or dry out from the sun. It is best to spray with a spray bottle; the soil will be moist and there will be no excess moisture.

Therefore, you can begin to form seedlings even in the fall. The grown plant is planted in a garden bed or flowerbed when the seedlings have 3-4 leaves. The soil must be warm and better soil Disinfect in advance before planting.

To prevent the plant from getting sick with various fungal diseases. Do not forget that the soil must have a drainage system. It is recommended to add fertilizer to the soil after disinfection before planting the plant.

How to care for gerbera at different times of the year

1. During abundant flowering It is necessary to water the flowers abundantly and prevent the root system from drying out. Drought will have a bad effect and you will not get good results. During development and growth, gerbera needs watering with fertilizer in a weak concentration. It is better to carry out such feeding twice a month, and regularly. It is better to use mineral fertilizer. In autumn, fertilizing is reduced to once a month; in winter there is no need for it at all. Since gerbera does not tolerate chlorine, potassium chloride cannot be used when fertilizing.
2. In the fall, you need to dig up the plant if you have winters in a region with a harsh climate. Having dug it out, it is transplanted into a spacious pot or container; the dimensions are selected depending on the size of the bush. The optimal soil composition for replanting will be a composition of peat (take 2 parts), leaf soil (2 parts) and sand (one part). Good drainage when transplanting into a pot necessary condition, expanded clay is perfect for it. When transplanting, the root collar is placed above the ground to avoid rot.
3. If the winters are not very cold with severe frosts, you don’t have to replant the plant. In this case, it is well covered with dry leaves or a large layer of straw. In the spring, it will be necessary to remove the covering material when the snow has completely melted and the weather is warm enough.

Diseases and pests

This unpretentious plant very highly susceptible various diseases. To prevent diseases during planting, the soil must be treated with special preparations.

Rotting of plant roots is common, which is caused by fungus or overwatering. For prevention, drainage is improved and the irrigation regime is observed.

Appeared gray rot destroyed with special preparations. They can be purchased at any flower store. Flowers need to be handled carefully; getting the product on the leaves causes unsightly spots.

Disease such as Powdery mildew mainly affects the flower in summer heat at elevated temperatures. They fight this disease using appropriate fungicides or sulfur-containing preparations.

Pests such as aphids and spider mites are diseases that can cause the death of a plant. Signs of their appearance will be yellowing of the gerbera and its wilting. In this case, the plant should be saved with insecticidal special preparations.

How to care for gerbera in Siberia

Grow in Siberian garden It's not so easy for gerberas. Middle lane Russia, of course, is suitable for planting this amazing flower, although this zone is a little problematic. After all, this plant is common in more southern gardens.

There it blooms from April to October, and in some areas until mid-November. It also depends on weather conditions and the time of onset of cold weather, which differs from year to year.

In the southern regions, gardeners do without shelter. But in the gardens of Siberia, covering will not be suitable with the onset of cold weather. In winter, the temperature drops very low; even the covering material and the abundance of snow cover will not save it.

Therefore, this wonderful flower is grown as an annual plant. In case of replanting for the winter, it is worth digging with big lump earth, or place this flower in the cellar in a box with sawdust. The desired temperature for the winter period should not exceed ten degrees.

The month of March is better suited for planting seeds, when a sunny day will occupy a sufficiently long period of time. It is worth planting in containers with a good drainage system and covering with film.

Seedlings don't like straight lines sun rays. But at the same time, the illumination should be sufficient; if you plant the seedlings earlier, it will not have enough light. sunlight and it will have to be artificially illuminated with a lamp. It is better to germinate the seeds by soaking them before planting.

Grown seedlings will need to be pruned when three leaves appear. In about three weeks, when the weather conditions become favorable temperature regime, can be planted in open ground.

If there is a chance of frost, you need to cover it with material overnight so that your seedlings are not damaged by frost. Otherwise, caring for the plant will be the same as in other regions. Once every two weeks it is necessary to feed the flower with mineral fertilizers. When watering them, you need to avoid getting them on the leaves, as this will cause red spots to appear on them. Which significantly spoils the appearance of Gerbera.

Weed and disease control is also included in the care. Gerbera is especially susceptible to gray rot. Therefore, the soil for seedlings should be disinfected before planting in open ground, thereby protecting it from the appearance of this fungus in the ground.

Having planted this wonderful flower in your garden or in your apartment on the windowsill, you will be satisfied with its constant flowering, because during the flowering period it produces up to twenty peduncles.