Growing Gerbera Daisies

Gerbera daisies are charming flowers with bold blooms that grow beautifully in your garden.The gerbera jamesonii, more commonly called the gerbera daisy or african daisy, is a perennial that's native to South Africa. The plant has blooms that are nearly two feet high and draw insects like bees and butterflies to drink from its lovey petals. The gerbera daisy can be grown equally well as a houseplant or in your garden, so there's no reason to avoid picking up a few gerberas from your local nursery and get to planting!

Once you have a healthy gerbera daisy in your grasp, pick out a spot in your garden that gets full sunlight throughout the day and get ready to dig. You need to work the soil at least 18 inches deep, cutting out any rocks or stray roots. Further, you need to incorporate manure and compost to improve drainage and soil health, as the gerbera daisy is particularly likely to be damaged by root rotting. Plant your gerbera about three months prior to the last frost of the season. Point the seed ends down and leave exposed, as they need light for germination, which should take about three weeks. After the last frost occurs, you can transplant them wherever you please. Buy crowns and plant them just above soil level to prevent rotting, remembering to punch down the soil and always water deeply, keeping the soil moist at all times. If you wish, you can give them a water-soluble fertilizer once every two weeks throughout the season. Deadhead as you see fit, which will compel the gerbera to keep growing new buds for you! With an attentive eye, your gerbera should stay around for years.