Gardeners Supply Plant Care & Gardening Advice/Tips/Secrets @ HortChat.com®

GERBERA FROM SEED
I want to start growing Gerbera Daisies from seed. I have some Gerbera daisies in bloom now, but don’t know how or where or when to obtain the seeds from the flower.  Can someone explain this to me?

When the flower is finished blooming and fully matured, the center will become fuzzy and the ripe seeds will be on the end of the thick hairs.  The seeds should be plump, hard and slightly thick in the middle.   To collect seeds,  place the dried  flower head in a paper/plastic bag and shake to loosen the seeds.  F1 hybrid plants will not produce many viable seeds and will revert to the parent plant characteristics.  Gerbera jamesonii is not a hybrid,  seeds can be saved from this plant and should be viable. 

The best time to sow gerbera seeds is in early spring. Plant the seeds 12 weeks before setting outside. Use fresh seeds.   Plant the pointed end down and fluffy top up in pre-moistened well-drained soil(1/2 peat and 1/2 perlite).   Do not cover completely as they need light to germinate.    Enclose the container with plastic to maintain moisture & humidity. Provide light(12 hrs of incandescent light) and bottom heat of 72-78 (22-25C). Germination takes 15-30 days.  When the plants are 1″ tall transplant the seedlings  into well drained potting soil.  It can take up to 6 months from seed to bloom.

The tiny Gerbera seeds are expensive to buy and come in a moisture proof package with a short shelf life. Some say less than a year.  Seeds should be stored in cool temperature away from light.  Once you open the package you need to plant the seeds or they will loose their viablilty very quickly. Any unused seeds can be stored in the frig for a short time.

 

 

 

How do you properly cut Gerbera Daisies for flower arrangements? I do not want to damage or shock the plants I have… All are beautiful at this time and full of flowers.

Cut the stem as close to the center as possible without cutting into the crown. Take cuttings early in the morning and place immediately in tepid water. They have a tendency to turn to the light (phototropic) so when hydrating Gerberas, suspend their heads in a grid wire mesh to keep the stems straight or wrap the stems in damp newspaper and stand them upright in a vase of water for several hours before use.

I have three miniature rose bushes planted side by side in an area of six feet wide by three feet deep. They have many little branches and I believe it need to be trimmed/pruned.  How do I go about pruning it.

Mini Roses should be planted 8-12 inches apart.  The best time to prune is in early spring when buds begin to swell; then you can see what is alive and dead.  Mini roses can be pruned just like any other rose but if you want to maintain small plant, cut them back 3-6 inches  from the ground rather than 8-10 inches. The other option is to cut it back by 1/2 to 2/3.   Be sure to remove any dead, diseased and damaged stems as well as any thin, twiggy growth. When pruning, use sharp clippers to get a clean cut.  Cut the stem on an angle above an outside bud.  Pruning will keep your plant in good shape and good health.

When the long, gray winter starts to wane and you just can’t wait to see some signs of spring, force some spring-flowering branches into bloom to brighten the indoors.

Spring-flowering trees and shrubs such as crabapples, forsythia, lilac, magnolia, pussy willows, redbud, quince, wisteria and fruit trees can be encouraged to bloom indoors.

Here’s how.
On a mild winter day, as the buds start to swell (Feb/March) cut on the diagonal 1-2 ft stems. To distinguish which the branches will flower, look for buds that are plump and rounded, pointed narrow buds will produce leaves. Bring the stems indoors to low light and cool temperatures (60-65F). Strip buds from the lower part of the stems, and make a slit or crush the bottom of the stems and place in a tall vase of tepid water. Use cold water if you are taking frozen cuttings (below 32F) to slowly defrost the stems. Mist the branches 2-3x a day or cover with a plastic bag to keep the buds from drying out. Open the bag periodically for air circulation. Be sure to change the water every other day to prevent bacteria or fungal growth. Buds should open in 1 to 6 weeks depending on the plant type and when it is collected. To speed up the blooming process keep stems in slightly warmer temperatures. As soon as the buds start to open, move the branches to a bright cool room away from direct sun and heat; this will extend the blooming time. You can stagger the cuttings for prolonged late winter /spring bloom. Closer to spring cuttings produce better blooms.

Your flowering stems will be a reminder that spring is just around the corner.

Long-lasting Cut flower tips:

Now a days, cut flowers can be bought just about anywhere. The quality and longevity depends on the care the cut flowers receive; from the moment they leave to grower to the time they are displayed at their final destination.

Here are some helpful tips to get the maximum life span from any cut flowers.

1. Add a floral preservative such Crysal, Floralife to a clean vase and fill half way with tepid water. If you don’t have any make your own 1 tsp. sugar, 1 tsp bleach, 2 tsps. lemon juice to 1 qt. of lukewarm water.

2. With a sharp knife or clippers recut 1-2 inches off the bottom of the stem and place immediately in tepid water. The preferred way is to cut the stems under water.

3. Remove any foliage that will be underwater. Deteriorating leaves can generate more bacteria shortening your flower life.

4. Check the water level and be sure all stems are in water. Add more water when needed. Change the water and recut the stems every 3-5 days. If it gets cloudy change more often.

5. Display your flowers away from direct sun, heating vents or cold drafts.

6. Store your flowers in a cool room and cover them with a plastic bag to increase humidity. You can also store them in a refrigerator at temperatures of 40-50 degrees but be sure that you don’t have any fruit or vegetables that can emit ethylene gas causing them to wilt or die rapidly.

When you purchase cut flowers don’t store them in too hot or too cold temperatures-tepid water will do.
Some flowers may have a discoloration at the bottom of the stem, this indicates that the flower underwent a pre-treatment by the grower to further extend vaselife. It is not a disease.

Daffodils should not be mixed with other flowers in a vase.

Cut daffodils release a stem-clogging sap (slime exudate) that causes other flowers to wilt especially tulips. Cut them early in the morning when they are barely opened and place them in a bucket of luke warm water for several hours. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar to quart of water to preserve freshness. Wait at least 12 hours after cutting before combining them with other flowers this allows time for the sap to leach out. Do not recut them when arranging with other flowers. They should last 4-6 days depending on temperature exposure.

Recent studies have shown that floral preservative should not be added to cut tulips. It shortens their longevity by clogging the stem causing them to wilt.

“Rose Lingo”

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner you may be thinking about giving or sending flowers to that special person in your life.

Roses seem to be the most popular flower. According to the International Flower Growers Association 174 million Americans will buy roses for Valentine’s Day. We all know that roses are the choice flower for the day. The question is what color? With 70% of total rose sales, red has always been the favorite color signifying love, desire, and passion. But the Society of American Florist found that 62% of women when given a choice preferred pastel-colored roses such as white, shades of pink, peach and yellow.

For ages flowers have been used to express unspoken words of emotion. Flowers symbolized certain meanings: although sometimes there were several interpretations for the same flower. This is also true with the color of roses. Some customers may actually ask for the meaning of each color so as not to send the wrong message even though the receiver may not be aware of its meaning.

The following is an interpretive list of colored roses.

White rose – signifies purity, charm and innocence
White & red – unity
Pink – please believe me, perfect happiness
Yellow – jealousy, infidelity
Red – Love desire, passion

Irregardless of the confusing lists and surveyed preferences red roses have and will in their own language be used to say “I love you” and a box of chocolates will make it oh so much sweeter!

By the way, did you know that before roses, red tulips were the popular rage for Valentine giving. They symbolized perfect love.