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Gerbera Daisy

36 Comments on Gerbera Daisy»

1. I have planted around 15 Gerbera Daisy’s for wife to have cut flowers. They are not doing so good. The leaves are light green and kind of yellowish. The petals seem OK when they are first coming out but as they get bigger, the petals become disfigured with missing petals and curled petals, etc. Some of the leaves seem to have a sort of powder on them. I would really appreciate any advice you could give.
   Thanks,Brett

   The powder on the leaves indicates powdery mildew a fungus that they seem to get easily. The disfigured flowers can be caused by cyclamen mites, thrips or to hot or cold temperatures. go to Powdery Mildew for more info.

   2006-4-18
   Tamara ( tamara.lewis@yahoo.com / )
   I bought a gerber daisy in a 2 gallon pot. I put it into a terra cotta pot. It gets lots of heat and sun but it is in some shade on my porch. The first day it was out there the flowers drooped down. So I watered it, drowned it. The plant came back to life a few hours later. I have been giving it a pot of water ever morning before work since. By doing this it seems to be keeping the soil moist and the plant standing but am I going to rot the plant? Also I have powder stuff on the leaves. I thought it might have been from the store dusting for bugs, is it that fungis.

   You’re watering is fine. Morning watering is best, that way the plant has time to utilize the moisture throughout the day. Don’t pour water into the center of the plant(crown) that can cause crown rot. Gerbera are susceptible to Powdery Mildew “>powdery mildew(fungus).

   Comment by Brett — 6/4/2005 @ 3:09 pm

2. When I plant my Gerbera daisies they wilt and die. So far three of them have croaked

   It is hard to determine what is wrong with your Gerberas. Here are some garden tips for planting them. Gerberas need full sun (except in real hot climates) and excellent drainage. Some will plant them in raised beds for better drainage. Plant them the same depth as they were growing in the pot - no deeper, otherwise it will invite crown rot. The main problem for Gerberas is crown rot which is a result of too much water and/or poor drainage. Water when the plants are almost to the point of wilting and then water thoroughly but do not water directly on the plant. The wilting is usually a crown or root rot problem. I hope some of these pointers will be of some help to you. Good Luck

   Comment by kris — 6/8/2005 @ 1:56 pm

3. How do you deadhead a Gerbera daisy? Do you simply remove only the flower (or what was the flower, actually). Or do you snip the stem at its base? I’ve never planted these before and am totally lost as to how to go about maintaining the flowers so that I have blooms throughout the summer. Thank you in advance!

   Usually, I either pinch/cut off the stem back to the the base of the stem trying not to disturb the leaves inside the crown or cut off the dead flower head.

   Comment by Jeanne — 6/12/2005 @ 1:17 pm

4. My flowers’ petals keep falling off. We have had heavy rain lately. Is this the reason?
   Even with the heavy rain, when we get a day of sun, the flowers wilt. Should I keep watering them?
   Will the flowers continue growing even though the petals fall off? What should I do with that case?
   Thank you!

   With heavy rain, they can get too much water and need to dry slightly between waterings. The petaless flowers will produce a seed head unless you cut it off. Deadheading will encourage more flowers.

   Comment by Jamie — 6/20/2005 @ 3:09 pm

5. I rec’d gerbera when my father passed in Feb. I still have in pot outside and it is doing rather well in leaf production, but has not flowered again. I use a weak solution of fertilizer in non-chlorinated water to water as needed, so why no flowers in 5 months? Will it flower again at all? I am in Austin, TX.

   Gerbera usually bloom for 6 wks or more, they slow down in the summer and long days delay blooming. If the plant is healthy,it may be getting the wrong fertilizer (too much nitrogen) which will produces heavy leaf growth at the expense of flowers. Try using a different fertilizer, formulated for blooming flowers(bloom boost), even african violet food. They also do best in lots of sun, good even moist soil.

   Angie

   I’ve had my Gerbera for a little over a year - when my friend gave it to me last spring it was in flower. The plant continues to thrive, but it hasn’t flowered since. Is there any specific way to encourage flower growth?

   It may need more light, warmer temperature and fertilizer. During the growing season feed it every other week with a water-soluble fertilizer such as Blooms Plus or even an African Violet fertilizer.

   Comment by Linda Peterson — 6/23/2005 @ 9:00 am

6. i live in florida where the soil is very sandy. i love gerber daisys but every time i buy a plant it always dies. if i wanted to plant it outside would i be better off planting in the shade.?. if i put the plant in the sun it wilts. are temps go way up to the 90s. i have read all your comments.however i’m still not sure where i should plant the flowers. if i keep the plant inside does it have to have direct sunlight? we have over hangs all around are house so we get very little sunlight. could i try and keep the plant inside all year round? please help me out. thank you

   It can get confusing. Planting Gerbs this time of the year in the sun is difficult.It’s too hot. Summer shade would be better eg. morning sun to early afternoon. They like night temps 68-70 degrees to establish their roots; bloom best in full sun in the fall, winter and spring but once its summer they slow down. Short days speed flower production and long days(summer) delay blooming. Wait till the cooler temperatures arrive(fall) and then plant your gerbera in full sun for best flower production. Gerbs grow better outdoors

   .

   Comment by lisa — 7/21/2005 @ 8:18 am

7. Was just wondering if I can keep my gerbera daisy in pot if I make sure to re-pot when needed? Or do I HAVE to plant it outside? It’s very special to me, I don’t want to hurt it by out door planting (I’m not so good at it, and our soil sucks)

   You can keep your Gerbera as an indoor plant over the winter and set it outdoors for the summer. It does better outdoors. To keep indoors provide at least 4 hrs. of sun each day. They like a room temperature of 60-75 degrees along with good ventilation. Water when the soil feels dry to the touch and be sure to drain out any excess water. They don’t require much water in the winter. Feed it once a month with a half strength balanced fertilizer.

   Comment by Joy — 8/15/2005 @ 3:46 pm

8. I purchased and African Daisy (white petals with dark blue center) from a greenhouse this spring. We live in Northern Illinois and I would like to know how to winter these plants as I really enjoyed them and would like to have them come back next summer. Do I need to take them in the house and if I do what do I need to do with them in the house to keep them going. I don’t have much of a green thumb but I really want to keep these going. Thanks.

   Try keeping them in a garage with minimal water and some light-don’t let the roots freeze. I did that last year and they did come back.

   Comment by Kathy Adler — 10/24/2005 @ 10:49 am

9. I recently received a bouquet of Gerber Daisies that lasted about 1 day before dying. I do not like the thought of these going to complete waste. I would like to save the seeds and plant them. I’ve heard of drying flowers and saving the seeds. Any tips for me to salvage the seeds and plant?
   Thanks!

   If this is a cut flower bouquet the flowers are picked before they mature enough to develop seeds. If you have a fuzzy center on one of your flowers then there is a slight chance of seeds. You can plant them pointed end down, it takes 15-25 days to germinate. It takes 6 months from germination to blooming.

   Comment by Kris — 12/3/2005 @ 1:30 pm

10. I live in Northeast Florida where we have occasional freezing temperatures at night. Should I repot my Gerber Daisies and keep indoors for the winter or leave them outside(after cutting back)? If I leave them, should I mulch them.

    Gerbera’s should survive the winter in Florida. It is hardy in zone 8 and may survive in zone 7 if planted in a protected site. Cover it with a heavy layer of dry mulch such a straw or salt hay for the winter. They grow deep roots and prefer not to be transplanted.

    Comment by Sue — 1/9/2006 @ 4:41 pm

11. are gerbera flowers edible?

    I have not read and heard of it being edible.

    Comment by nik — 2/9/2006 @ 11:04 pm

12. I live in North Dakota and would like to start Gerbera Daisy from seed. Will they do well in our climate, or are the better suited to be indoors in our zone? (zone 4)

    Treat it like an annual. You can grow it indoors as a potted plant which is short lived or outdoors in a sunny spot (4-6 hrs sun) during the summer. Be sure to bring it in before the frost, it is not hardy in zone 4.

    2006-4-28 John
    I want to start growing Gerbera Daisies from seed. I have some Daisies now, but don’t know how or where or when to obtain the seeds from the flower. Can someone explain this to me? Thanks

    When the flower is finished blooming the center will be fuzzy and the seed will be in there. Use fresh seeds, provide light and temperatures of 70-75. Germination takes 15-30 days. Plant 12 weeks before setting outside.

    2007-5-5
    jill ( jill_elizabethbulkley@yahoo.com
    I live in Pa and I am getting married this Fall 07 I wanted to grow my own Gerbera dasies for my wedding. I bought some seeds off the internet. I have read that they are very hard to grow and require specialization and a steril environment. Also, I have found varying directions on how to care for them(ie keep soil moist between waterings vs let the soil dry between waterings. Please help me!

    Gerbera do need special care when growing from seed. It can take up to 6 months from seed to bloom. You might have better luck growing potted plants. Gerberas should be kept moist (not wet) while they are blooming but allow them to dry out a bit before watering when they are not in bloom. If you want to try growing from seed or check out this site http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1144/

    Comment by Mickie — 3/31/2006 @ 9:00 am

13. My wife purchased a flowering gerbera. It was doing fine and we fertilized it with a liquid solution, approx 8% N. The plant showed an immediate response and now is doing poorly. The petioles have crisped off and the leaves are now wilted and drooping. Some are even crisping off. Could this be a N burn issue or is the plant now requiring more fertilizer???

    There can be several causes for brown edges, excessive fertilization, low humidity, poor light conditions. My guess is that the fertilizer is the culprit. Perhaps the fertilizer was too concentrated. You can leach some of it out by watering and letting the excess drain through the bottom. At this point, it may all have been absorbed by the roots. Be careful not to overwater your plant.

    Comment by Doug — 4/4/2006 @ 3:24 am

14. Is the Gerbera Daisy deer resistant?

    According to the U of C Davis, Gerbera seem to be a “safe bet” for deer resistance and Clemson U. claims Gerbera can be occasionally damaged by deer. It’s not on their top ten choices of their favorite food. To be on the safe side spray them with a deer repelent early on to discourage any grazing.

    Comment by Steve Heiser — 4/7/2006 @ 4:48 am

15. Hi! I bought a bright fuschia Gerbera daisy about 10 weeks back. I moved it from the plastic container it came in (with 6 large drainage holes) to a larger ceramic pot )with 1 small drainage hole) about 5 weeks back. I keep it on the patio of our (close to the ocean, southern california) apartment where it gets bright morning sun. I have fertilized it with a houseplant strength Miracle Gro solution once since I bought it. The leaves look good and there’ve been three new blooms. I remove dead leaves and water it once a week or so. But the new blooms are just a pale version of the original color. How can I get the bright fuschia back?

    Some of reason why the color fades on flowers is not enough sun, temperature & nutrition. Blooming plants are grown under optimal conditions in the greenhouse to get the best looking plant and sometimes that is difficult to duplicate in a home situation. Gerbera respond well to fertilization continue to fertilize every 2-3 weeks during active growth period, it might perk up the color.

    Comment by Nivedita — 4/19/2006 @ 11:22 am

16. I don’t know what kind of animal is doing it but something is eating the heads off of my Gerbera daisies. It isn’t deer because we live in the city. Is there something I can spray on them to discourage this?

    There are some products out there that you can use to spray on your plant to repel “whatever” is eating your daisies. I suspect squirrels or rabbits.
    You can make your own repellant in your kitchen by mixing 1/2 cup finely chopped Jalepenos or Habanero peppers w.1/2 gal of water. Boil 20 min. do not inhale vapors as they can burn, strain, and use as spray. Wear gloves when handling peppers. You can also try ground cayenne peppers. Re-apply once a week or after heavy rain.

    2007-4-15
    KAREN ( kcutrell@charter.net / )
    The leaves on my gerberas are being eaten - I have them in a flower bed - nothing else has holes in the leaves only the daisies! What should I be looking for “pest-wise”

    You may be looking for slugs,since they favor gerbera leaves and especially if you have a moist, mulched bed.

    Comment by Kim Fowler — 4/19/2006 @ 3:12 pm

17. My gerber daisies have a mold” “gray fungus/on the leaves. What is it, and how do I control(KILL) it?

    Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) usually develops from heavy rainfall, high humidity, excessive watering and/or overhead watering. Poor air ciculation at temperatures 68-76 adds to its survival and allows the infection to spread. Sanitation is the main control as the fungus will winter over on infected dead plant material. Remove any infected plant tissue and bury or burn it. Warm, hot dry weather reduces its growth. Once a plant is infected with a fungus, it is too late to kill it but you can try a fungicide (Dacinol) which might prevent new infections - Follow label direction.

    Comment by Travis Windham — 6/12/2006 @ 10:08 am

18. My daisies have a white, crystal-like substance–like wet sugar–on the stems and leaves, and they have what look like little dark insects on the stems also. This is the first day I’ve noticed, and it appears quite developed. What should I do?

    Its possible that you have scale on the plant. The “wet sugar” is the honeydew that they secrete. Look in Disease and Pest for treatment.

    Comment by eddy — 6/26/2006 @ 5:10 am

19. My pot plant of Gerbera is wilting - but only half of the plant. I have read on your website about drainage and not watering on the crown (didn’t know I shouldn’t do that), also the plant looks a little pot-bound. I want to re-pot it, is that possible? will it survive? What are my other options? It’s stay wilted now for the past 3 days…

    It’s not wise to repot a plant when it is stressed, wait till it recovers. It may have some crown rot problems-not sure if it will survive. Let it dry out a bit and when needed water on the perimeter of the pot, let it drain well.

    2006-11-14 @ 9:11:42 pm
    danielle ( get.nervous@gmail.com
    is there anything you can do for crown rot? i suspect my daisies have it, and i don’t want them to die. help!

    Crown rot is caused by a fungus due to heavy, wet soil and watering the center of the plant. If the center of the plant is mushy, jelly-like, dark or black in color then you have crown rot. It is fatal to the plant. The best control is to be sure your plant is in well drained soil and avoid overhead watering. At this point, water your plants when the soil is barely moist, if infection is slight there is a little chance that they might recover. If not, discard the plant and start with new ones and don’t plant in the same soil.

    Comment by Susan — 8/31/2006 @ 4:17 am

20. I purchased approx. a dozen plants this spring. None have bloomed. They are green and leafy but had not one bloom. I have two questions: 1…should I pot them and bring them indoors this winter and 2. Why wouldn’t they have bloomed this year. I planted them in June..was this too late in the season?
    Thanks

    Your gerberas should have bloomed this season and June isn’t too late to plant. Sometimes they will slow down when the weather gets hot and start to perk up again with cooler temperatures. Perhaps they had to high Nitrogen fertilizer that promoted nice green leaves but no flowers. Try a well balanced fertilizer 15-16-17 once a month or time release Osmocote (14-14-14). African fertilizer is also recommended to encourage blooming. Another factor that affects blooming is not enough sun. If you live in a cold climate, you will need to bring them indoors.

    Comment by Lori — 9/10/2006 @ 9:26 am

21. I live in Iowa and took my Gerbera Daisy inside before it got to cold outside. Now it looks like it is dying. Is there anything I should be doing besides watering and sunlight for it while the daisy is inside for the winter months? When is it ok to put it back outside?

    Unfortunately, its hard to duplicate fresh air and sunlight of the the outdoors. Gerbera do much better outdoors but to keep them indoors provide at least 4 hrs. of sun each day with a room temperature of 60-75 degrees along with good ventilation. Water when the soil feels dry to the touch and be sure to drain out any excess water. They don’t require much water in the winter. Feed it once a month with a half strength balanced fertilizer. It may still perk up. It can go back outside when temperatures are in the 40’s at night.

    Comment by Brandy Simons — 10/10/2006 @ 8:10 am

22. I bought a gerber daisy from a store about a year ago and it did really well. It bloomed every month it seemed, and I even repoted it. Then I noticed that it had spider mites and the tips of the leaves were going brown. So I soaked the plant in mild soap water and repeated that a week later and I have not seen any spider mites since. However, the plant has not gone back to it’s usual health. Sadly I’ve only had one flower since and the leaves are still going brown. I’ve cut back watering now and I can see there’s a lot of new growth in the leaves. Do you think I need to re pot again? Thanks .

    NO, do not repot. It will put your plant into a more stressfull condition inviting more problems. Wait till the spring to repot your plant. Be vigilant for spider mites as they sometimes need repeated treatments.

    Comment by colleen — 10/12/2006 @ 10:43 am

23. Hello! I have a potted gerbera which has been doing really well. It has tons of flower regrowth… Some come, they die, more come, etc. BUT… the flowers are blooming when their stems are less than an inch tall, so they’re completely hidden by the large leaves of the more mature plant. Should I cut back all of the larger leaves? Why would the flowers be blooming so close to the soil? Any advice you could give would be very much appreciated! Thank you!

    Gerberas will speed up flower production in short days. Some of the factors that cause short stems are 1. keeping the plant too dry, by allowing it to dry out to much and too often 2. low humidity -high humidity helps stretch the flower stalk 3. too cold temperature 4. too much soluble salt build up from fertilizer. If the plant has slightly yellow foliage and short flower stalks then it is getting too much light which is rare this time of year. I would not cut the larger leaves.

    Comment by Melissa — 11/27/2006 @ 5:45 am

24. I’ve had my potted gerbera well over a year and it’s been fine until recently. It’s been indoors all its life. The leaves have started to go a reddish brown and then they die. Can you tell me what’s wrong? Should I cut the leaves off? Thanks.

    It’s hard to determine what’s wrong not seeing the plant. With brown leaves you need to see if the plant is too wet or too dry. Too wet may indicate a root rot problem which gerbera are prone to. An extension advisor suggested that the plant’s crown(center) may be too high above the soil line from growing in the same pot for so long causing leaf problems. If that is the case add a bit more soil and repot slightly deeper in fresh soil in the spring . Cut off the brown leaves when they dry up. If there are green leaves in the crown then there is some hope.

    Comment by Lindsay — 1/3/2007 @ 12:10 pm

25. When do you plant Gerber Daisy’s

    You can plant them outdoors when the night temperatures are in the 40’s at night. If planting from seed, plant 12 weeks before setting them outdoors.

    Comment by Pam Hendrix — 1/24/2007 @ 6:47 am

26. We recently purchased a home in the Houston, Texas area. When we purchased the home (February) the landscape had some gerber daisies in it and one was even blooming. Now that the weather has warmed up some more and more are blooming. Do I need to do anything to help them out? Fertilize? I didn’t know they would last through the winter, can I continue to leave them planted in the landscape every winter?

    Gerbera daisy is hardy in zones 8-12 and Houston is in zone 9, therefore they can winterover outdoors. You can fertilize your Gerberas with a well balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) in the spring and again around June 1st. Spread about 1/4 cup of fertilizer around each plant.

    Comment by Jennifer — 3/3/2007 @ 9:01 am

27. I PLANTED GERBER DAISIES(1 WEEK AGO) WHERE THERE IS ALOT OF SUN. I WAS TOLD, FOR THE FIRST WEEK TO WATER WELL, WHICH I DID MORNING AND EVENING. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY WHERE THE SOIL SANDY. I NOTICIED MY GERBERS ARE STARTING TO FADE. FROM READING YOUR RESPONCES ABOVE I THINK I HAVE CROWN OR ROOT ROT… MAYBE I NEED AFRICAN VIOLET FERTERLZER? ONE MORE THING I DID PLACE FERT DOWN ON THE SOIL BEFORE PLANTED THE GERBERS. DID I DO SOMETHING WRONG? PLEASE HELP!!

    Fertilizer will not help at this time , the plant is unable to use it. Let the plant dry out a bit and be sure to water away from the center. When you planted, did you mix the fertilizer with the soil or just place the granules in the hole? Was there any contact with the roots and fertilizer? If so, the roots could have fertilizer burn which would cause the leaves to turn brown and appear burnt.

    Comment by REESE — 5/31/2007 @ 9:09 pm

28. The long stems of my Gerbera bent and looked a bit wilted. I slit drinking straws lengthwise and wrapped around the stems. Now they stand up straight and looking beautiful.

    Comment by ALICE SILVESTER — 6/14/2007 @ 6:49 pm

29. Okay, I bought a Gerbera Daisy for my Girlfriend, On the tag it says Bright Light. When I put it in the sun it wilts I put it in the shade and it starts to perk up. I spritz the leaves and around the Flower itself. But I cant Put it in the sun. What else can i do to keep it from Dying on me? Should i plant it some where?

    Excessive heat, too much sun and not enough water will cause wilting. Your plant may wilt because it hasn’t been acclimated to the bright light. It may have been in a lower light condition for a while and needs to slowly get used to brighter light. A morning sun outdoors will work and eventually you can move it to more light. Keep your gerbera in the brightest window indoors during the winter. If you don’t have to bring your gerbera indoors for the winter, plant it in your flower bed and mulch it. Water your plant until the water drains from the bottom and then allow it to dry.

    Comment by Crissy — 9/6/2007 @ 12:24 pm

30. Hello, I have a gerbera daisy plant and was wondering when would be the best time to bring it inside for the winter (what temperature)? Last fall, I think I may have waited too long or else there was an extreme temperature change, because it ended up with powdery mildew (but has since recovered)… How could I avoid this problem this year? (I live in Louisville, KY, and for the past several weeks, it’s been in the mid 80s-low 90s during the day & 70s at night but has recently started getting down into the low 50s at night) Thanks in advance!!!

    I keep my gerbera out as long as possible. They can tolerate temperatures in the 40’s. The temperature changes in the fall of warm dry days and cold humid nights can encourage powdery mildew. Since you had this problem last fall, bring it indoors now and hopefully you will avoid this problem. You can also treat the plant preventatively for powdery mildew.

    Comment by Rachel — 9/13/2007 @ 2:58 am

31. I have a gerbera Daisy growing indoors. When I bought it several months ago, it was in bloom. The flowers died, now, ne leaves grow in, only get so large and start to dry up, get very brittle, turn sort of a grey color. When I cut them off, new healthy looking green sprouts are starting to come up around the crown, but again only grow so large and start to dry up again. Can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. It gets about 4 hours of sunlight from the window, I’m very careful about watering, but nothing seems to work.
    Thanks for your help.
    Paulette

    One of the problems of indoor winter gardening is the dry, warm air that is condusive to mite infection. Take a magnifying glass and look at the leaves both sides. See if there are any tiny dots moving or an oval clear insect. They are very difficult to detect and you may need a microscope to see them. Broad mite will infect gerbera daisies causing new growth to become stunted and brittle with a “purplish” discoloration. One treatment recommended by hort.uconn.edu is to submerge the plant in hot water (115 degreesF) for 15 min. It can injure some sensitive plants so be cautious. Another treatment is to spray with a safe indoor miticide. Otherwise, you may have to toss the plant and start all over in the spring. The mite can spread to other plants such as african violets.

    Comment by Paulette Guertin — 2/8/2008 @ 12:19 pm

32. My boyfriend brought me home a potted gerbera daisy plant. It looked really good, lots of flowers, several new blooms, lots of big green leaves. I don’t know anything about plants so I found this site and I thought I did everything I read I was supposed to. I lightly misted the leaves alittle, put a few drops of plant food on the soil, watered it (but not directly in the crown), and kept the heat down. Well I woke up today and the whole thing has wilted. The flowers look pretty good, but the stems and leaves look pathetic. What did I do?? Is there any way I can fix it? Oh, also my boyfriend said he thinks the plant is ‘pot bound’, I don’t know what this means, but could it have anything to do with the sudden drastic change in my plant?

    Is it possible that you didn’t water enough or too much? Lift the pot, if it is light and your plant is wilted then it needs more water. Give it a good drink of water and let the bottom of the pot stand in water for 1/2 hr. then drain the water. If the pot is heavy and wet then it was over watered and needs to be allowed to dry out. A plant that is pot bound will use more water and thereby will need to be watered more often. You can repot the plant into a larger pot in the spring.

    Comment by Lucila — 2/28/2008 @ 8:42 pm

33. Hi i bought two gerbera flowers on the 26th Feb for my mum on mothers, day two days later (today) on one of the flowers the petals are starting to fall off but the rest are ok. what am i doin wrong?
    thanks in advance

    It may be that the flower was past its prime and is starting to drop its petals. Early petal drop can be an indicator of transportation/storage damage.

    Comment by carriann — 2/29/2008 @ 7:13 am

34. I started gerberas from seed and had good germination.They are in a hobby greenhouse
    with night temps in the 50s and day temps up to 80.They are not growing very well, having put on only 2 leaves so far. They have been up over a month. What should I be doing for them to promote faster growth? Also will they possibly flower this year?

    Your night temperatures may be too cool and that may be slowing down your growth rate. Recommended night temperatures are 68-72F for the first 3-4 wks followed by 65-68F for the next 2-3 weeks. You can also begin fertilizing the seedlings with a weak dose(1/2 strength) of 15-5-15 or a balanced (10-10-10) and be sure they get enough light . If all goes well they should bloom for you this year. Here is a link for gerbera seed growing that you might find useful.

    Comment by Kathy M. — 3/25/2008 @ 5:54 pm

35. Is gerbera able to live without any direct sunlight?
    I would like to place it in my kitchen, near the window, where there is plenty of bright light but no direct sunlight..
    In other words I would like to grow it as a permanent indoor plant.

    You can grow it as a houseplant for a limited time only. The outdoors sun, air and moisture cannot be easily duplicated indoors. Gerbera need at least 4 hours of direct sun to bloom, so even if you maintain the plant indoors you may not get any flowers and the less than ideal conditions will eventually cause the stressed plant to succumb to disease.

    Comment by kst — 4/8/2008 @ 2:36 pm

36. I just planted 2 beds full of beautiful Gerbera Daisies…the beds are raised and get the sun, and I am careful about how I water. The problem is that in just a day I came out and something has been chomping on the leaves, they leave large holes and sometimes just the veins are left. I checked with several growers and they thought it was slugs or snails…so I put out slug and snail bait but when I put out another bed of 30 plants last night (I sprayed the beds with sevin and put out slug bait) today I found some of the leaves were being eaten again. When I went to spray again, I notices something that looked like a grasshopper but it was very small almost like the size of a large mosquito but it was bright green and flew when I sprayed. Can you tell me if anyone knows what type of insect this could be and how do I keep it from having a party with my beautiful plants?
    Thanks in advance,
    Bren

    The damage you describe couldn’t be done by the “leafhopper". It’s too small right now. My guess is that it’s either slugs and snails or caterpillars which do similar damage. Sometimes they are difficult to detect, for caterpillars check under the leaves and look for webbing. You might not have eliminated all the slugs just yet as they hide during the day and feed at night and are hard to detect. Here’s more info at http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/Manual/insect-text-only.htm

    Comment by Bren — 4/12/2008 @ 6:51 pm

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