Gerbera Care Guide

By Jessica Mcnamara

Mar 11, 2021

Orange, yellow and red gerbera flowering plants

Welcome to your Gerbera care guide! Here you will find all of our Growers' knowledge of how best to look after your Gerbera, and what to do if you get stuck.

 

small plant

Plant name: Gerbera
Latin name: Gerbera Asteraceae
Varieties included: Revolution Mix

The typical child’s drawing of a flowering plant. 

Known as Transvaal daisy to many these stunning flowers are native to South Africa. 

Gerberas are a great garden plant to have growing in borders, garden beds, and patio containers because they produce bright colours in a single flower. Their upright stature and stunning flowers bring a smile to anyone walking through your garden. Dress to impress!

 

 

Gerbera daisy looks great when planted with shorter abundantly flowering plants with contrasting colours, for example Nemesia or Lobelia.  

Gerbera plants love the sun but don’t like it too hot! Suited to container gardening so they can be moved out of direct sunlight during British ‘heatwaves.

Gerbera are thought to represent purity and energy, and clearly one of the more vibrant flowers to inhabit the flower bed with their smiling faces to brighten up your day. Everyone needs a pick-me-up every now and, then right?

Gerbera's growing season starts from Summer to autumn, depending on species. 

 

 

Bedding plants

Plant type: Bedding (annual)
Hardiness: Tender
What does this mean? Gerberas are very tender and really dislike cold weather, so unlike hardy gerberas, protect them! You know what they say? Happy plant, happy life?

 

plant in soil

Before You Start

If you are planting in a garden container, make sure it is clean and has drainage holes in the base.  You will need a good quality compost, trowel, watering-can and gloves may also be useful.

Make sure to leave space around the plant to allow it to grow into. Talk to your plant if you want to, it might just help it grow!

 

plant in pot

Planting Guide

Grow Gerberas directly in a bed or border. It is often best to lay out your plants still in the pots so you can make sure you plant them in the best place to get the overall visual impact you are wanting. 

Once you have decided where the plant is going dig a hole a little bit bigger than the pot size in the bed / border. 

 

 

Next, take the plant out of the pot.  This can be done easily by squeezing the sides of the pot between your thumb and fingers, then releasing your grip on the pot.  This helps the roots come away from the pot. 

Then hold the plant by the base of the stem, close as possible to the pot and remove the plastic pot.  Hold your plant by the root ball and position in the middle of the hole. 

The top of the compost around the plant should be a little lower than the level of the bed / border.  If you need to dig a little deeper take the plant out and make the hole a bit deeper. 

Once the plant fits in the hole you can twist it around to get the best side of the plant facing forwards. 

When you are happy with the position fill the hole back in around the root ball and firm the soil back in. 

Finally give the plant a good water, wherever possible trying to avoid getting water on the flowers.

Avoid planting during the hottest parts of the day. They prefer to be planted during the cooler part of the day as this reduces their stress levels. Nobody wants to see a stressed plant now do they?


sunny garden

Positioning

Gerberas love the sun but also a cool temperature. They get pretty upset if you leave them in excessive heat!

 

 

Planting in containers allows the freedom to move the container during the summer.

 

 

Garden beds and borders give them the space to develop, they can thrive with plenty of plant friends around them particularly a tree offering dabbled shade in the height of the day, and more ground covering flowering plants around them.

 

 

They prefer a free draining fertile soil to grow in.   

 

 

 

watering can

Watering & Feeding Guide

Watering Gerberas when you first plant them is important. Keep your Gerbera moist but not completely saturated. Make sure you feed them with multipurpose feed, and they will treat you to a greater show of colour!

When in full flower fortnightly feeding with a good multipurpose feed that contains micronutrients is something your Gerbera will thank you for.

If your Gerbera is looking a bit sad and wilted, they may be too dry or too wet. If the compost is wet, you need to put the watering-can down. If the compost is dry, then give your Gerbera a good shower!


Soil type: Gerberas prefer a slightly acidic soil level. Drained soil should be used for planting Gerbera. You can always add some grit or sharp sand to a traditional multipurpose compost for use in tubs to ensure the drainage requirements are met.

 

Medium plant

Top Tips

Deadhead will promote further flowering. You can also pick the flowers and bring them indoors to add their cheer to your house.   

Gerberas are great in window boxes, patio containers and garden beds and borders. 

Gerberas make perfect cut flowers that will last 7-10 days in a vase inside your home.

Looking good in garden containers throughout summer, and with favourable weather (unlikely with British weather!) stretching well into Autumn.

Gerberas are attractive to bees and other insects. 

Partner Gerbera with Nemesia to bring black and yellow striped friends into your garden.

Gerbera Jamesonii or the African Daisy is a cheerful houseplant that can last in your home for years.