Secrets of planting a gerbera in a summer cottage. Rules for the care of garden flowers. Gerbera garden

In recent years, garden gerberas have become a familiar and desirable inhabitant of Russian summer cottages. Planting and caring for this plant does not cause any particular difficulties even for novice flower growers, but bright and surprisingly beautiful flowers delight with a riot of colors throughout the summer.

plant description

Garden gerbera became known back in 1737 thanks to the botanist J. Gronovius. However, its modern name the plant received a little later, after twenty years. It was awarded in honor of the biologist F. Gerber.

The gerbera flower looks very similar to chamomile, and this is confirmed by its name in some sources - transvaal daisy, which translates as "transvaal daisy". This flower is considered to be a symbol of innocence and youth. One of the legends about him tells of a beautiful forest nymph named Gerba. Her beauty was admired by young guys, girls and old people. But the constant general attention so tired the girl that she chose to become an amazing flower - a gerbera.

Garden gerbera, planting and caring for which require certain knowledge, belongs to the Compositae family. Her flowers are collected in the center of the rosette and can be different sizes. On average, their size is twelve centimeters in diameter. There are short and tall varieties which can be up to a meter high. However, most gardeners prefer to grow plants no more than thirty centimeters high.

Gerberas of any kind are characterized by long flowering: one flower pleases with its beauty for about a month, then it is replaced by the next, and this process lasts all summer. Planting and care of garden gerbera in the open field has its own characteristics. For the winter, plants must be covered with a well-ventilated layer of rags or bushes should be transplanted into pots and stored in cold weather at room conditions.

Gerbrer classification

In the world, this plant is very popular, and breeders in different countries are constantly working on the creation of new, more original varieties, of which there are already more than a thousand today. All of them differ in color, shape and size of flowers, which can be any color except blue.

The vast majority of varieties are derived from two species - the Jameson gerbera and the green leaf gerbera. In industrial floriculture, garden perennial gerbera is divided into several groups:

• small-flowered - with inflorescences up to ten centimeters in diameter and thin-petaled baskets;
• narrow-petal large-flowered - plants with reed flowers and petals three millimeters wide and fifty millimeters long;
• broad-leaved large-flowered - the petals of these flowers are up to twelve millimeters wide and about fifty millimeters long;
• semi-double - reed central petals in the inflorescence are noticeably shorter, they form a separate corolla;
• terry - this group has petals that are shorter towards the center, they fill the entire inflorescence.

If you want to grow a gerbera flower at home, then pay attention to dwarf varieties that do not exceed twenty-five centimeters in height - Hummingbird, Happipot, Parade and Durora mix.

Varieties of garden gerbera

Today every owner suburban area can choose varieties in accordance with their preferences and features of the landscape design of the site.

Gerber Jameson

This plant is considered the ancestor of all species. The perennial garden gerbera of this species is distinguished by its massive stem and large, up to fifteen centimeters in diameter, flowers. They can be of various colors, and the baskets are simple, terry or needle-shaped.

Wright

Typically grown for cutting and arranging bouquets and flower arrangements. It stays in a vase for a very long time. Flowering continues until the cold.

Abyssinian

And this is an exact copy of chamomile, but more impressive (up to fifteen centimeters) in size. White flowers have a yellow center.

Alcor and Aldebaran

These varieties belong to the small-flowered and narrow-leaved group. Alcor flowers are dark cherry, and Aldebaran is bright pink.

Garden gerberas: cultivation

It is no secret that planting any plant on the site is initially associated with the choice of a place for it. This heat-loving plant needs a well-lit place - gerberas do not tolerate shade at all. AT open ground plants are planted in the spring, after preparing the soil and providing it with drainage. Watering flowers with water room temperature as needed. Propagation of garden gerbera is done by seeds. Seedlings are grown from them, and then they are transferred to open ground.

How to grow seedlings?

If you want to grow a houseplant, then you can do this at any time of the year that is convenient for you. But if you need a garden gerbera, the seeds are planted in March. First you need to prepare the soil and special containers for seedlings. The earth for it is pre-treated with a hot solution of potassium permanganate. After that, seeds are sown in moist soil and sprinkled with peat or forest soil on top, the layer of which should be no more than 0.5 cm.

After that, the box with seedlings is covered with glass or plastic wrap. Every day it is necessary to open the crop and check the soil moisture. On the tenth day you will see the first shoots. During this period, the seedlings will need good lighting, but in such a way that direct sunlight does not fall on it.

In winter, when daylight is very short, provide young plants with additional lighting using fluorescent lamps. Daylight hours must be at least twelve hours. When the first three or four leaves appear, the seedlings dive. Each plant is placed in a separate pot. They should not be too deep.

When growing seedlings indoors, there should be a constant air temperature of about +20 ° C. Many flower growers recommend using when growing seedlings peat pots. In this case, the roots of the young plant will not be damaged when planting it in the ground along with the pot. Thus, the plant adapts faster.

Landing in open ground

With the onset of heat, usually this happens in the middle or end of May, seedlings can be planted in the ground. At this time, the likelihood of night frosts is minimized. Healthy and strong seedlings are selected for planting.

Division of the bush and cuttings

For these propagation methods, an adult plant with a strong root system. For grafting, the bush must be dug up and the root carefully cleaned of soil, then the outlet removed. After that, the prepared rhizome is planted in the prepared soil and greenhouse conditions are created, maintaining constant humidity and temperature. Two weeks later, shoots will appear from the axillary buds, after another ten days, when they have already gained strength, cuttings are cut from them.

They can be planted directly in open ground. Caring for cuttings is quite simple, they take root well and form a new plant. The division of the bush is usually carried out in early spring. To do this, you need to choose a strong large plant and separate small shoots with leaves from it.

Basic landing requirements

1. Garden gerberas need warmth and moisture.
2. The flower loves well-lit areas.
3. Gerbera garden watering prefers moderate, excessive moisture and waterlogging of the soil should be avoided.

The soil for gerberas should contain:

• phosphorus;
• nitrogen;
• magnesium;
• potassium;
• manganese.

When preparing the soil, if possible, use forest soil that is rich in organic matter. It must be well drained, as the plant does not tolerate even the slightest stagnant moisture.

Care

Many gardeners like garden gerbera. How to care for her so that the bushes delight with large and bright flowers? This is a plant that not only amateur gardeners liked today, it is massively grown in industrial scale. Someone considers him a little capricious, but competent care and the grower's desire to decorate his site allow you to grow magnificent specimens.

We will start from the fact that the seedlings have already been grown and planted in open ground. Therefore, we dwell on the basic rules for caring for an adult plant.

Watering

The most important moment in the care of gerberas. For this purpose, only warm and soft water is used. Watering is carried out from a special watering can, so that the flow is diffused, and the jet does not expose the root system, it is better to water the gerbera under the root. Quite often and abundantly, the bushes are watered before the first flowers appear. After they bloom, the amount of moisture can be reduced to a minimum.

top dressing

The lack of minerals in the soil can be replenished with the help of regular fertilizing, which is usually carried out twice a month with special formulations that can be purchased without problems in specialized stores. With a deficiency of nutrients, the plant develops poorly, its flowers become rather small, the flowering period is noticeably reduced, and sometimes it may not come at all. Therefore, special attention should be paid to soil nutrition if you want to grow a strong and healthy plant.

Winter Care

Such a perennial plant, which is grown from seeds and planted with seedlings in the ground, can delight you with its luxurious and abundant flowering for several years. If the winters in your region are not too frosty, then you can cut the dried stems up to ten centimeters from the soil, and cover the bush with straw or dry leaves.

But such a shelter must be monitored very carefully: when warm winters it is quite likely that the bush is getting warmer. If the winters in your area are very cold, then it is more advisable to dig the flowers out of the ground and transplant them into pots. In a warm room, they overwinter well.

Flowers should be dug up with a small amount of soil. This will minimize root damage. Bushes are stored in winter time in bright room which must be constantly ventilated. The air temperature in it should not be lower than +6 ° C, but not higher than ten.

Garden gerbera is a perennial herbaceous plant from the Asteraceae family, which is considered quite finicky in terms of care. To grow a flower on a personal plot, the gardener needs to know and apply tips and recommendations on agricultural technology, in particular, on planting and care.

flower description

There are several dozen species of garden gerbera, most of which grow in their natural environment on the African mainland and in the tropical regions of Asia. Due to the characteristic shape of the flower, the gerbera is also called the Transvaal chamomile or daisy (Transvaal is an area in South Africa where the flowers were first discovered).

The plant has the form of a shrub 25–35 cm high., although some species reach half a meter. The leaves are basal, fleshy, elongated in shape with sharp tips, collected in a rosette. Roots short, fibrous.

The flower was discovered in South Africa, first described in the 18th century and got its name in honor of the German botanist Traugott Gerber.

The peduncle is smooth and pubescent, rises above the foliage. It ends with a chamomile-like flower that blooms for 30–35 days. The inflorescence is round, collected in a basket. Petals reed-shaped, tapering towards the base. They can be simple, semi-double and terry.

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Large flower diameter - 10 ... 12 cm, color is allowed in all shades of white, red, pink and yellow color. The flower of a hybrid variety can reach 25 ... 30 cm in diameter. The middle of the inflorescence has round shape and brown.

Gerbera fruits - seed pods small size . The plant blooms for 3 months, and in total, up to 20 flowers can form on a shrub per season.

Landing in open ground

The optimal time for planting gerberas in the soil is mid-May when the risk of returning night frosts is completely eliminated. It is not worth delaying the planting date, because this way you can shorten the flowering period.

When choosing a landing site, you should pay attention to open, well-lit places.. The preferred soil for gerberas is nutritious, well-drained, and slightly acidic.

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Available at gardening stores specialized soil for gerberas or roses, but you can make your own soil mixture for a flower garden. To do this, mix equal proportions of leafy turf, peat and drainage (sand or perlite).

When planting seedlings and cuttings, the soil is treated with phytosporin against fungi. Small holes are made in the ground (3-5 cm deep), at the bottom of which expanded clay or crushed brick is placed. Seedlings are covered with earth and watered.

If there is a danger of the return of frosts, then the seedlings in the open field are covered for the night. nonwoven fabric or other protective material. It is also possible to prepare a mobile prefabricated shelter from spunbond (thermobonded fiber) stretched over a wire frame.

The best precursor plants for perennials will be calendula and marigolds, which saturate the soil with phytoncides. Difficulties with the growth of the flower will arise when planting on the site after tulips, gladioli, potatoes, tomatoes and other solanaceous (they can leave pathogenic fungi in the soil).

Temperature and lighting

Warmth and diffused sunlight are key requirements for growing beautiful large flowers.. If there is not enough sun for the plant, its stem will stretch, and the diameter of the flower will be small.

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In the midday heat, in sun-drenched areas, the leaves of the gerbera may droop, but by the evening the turgor is restored.

The location of the flower garden in dark places, lowlands and in dense shade can provoke root rot - a disease to which the plant is already very susceptible.

Gerberas do not tolerate a sharp temperature drop, and they can even die from drafts. Optimal temperature regime for a flower - 10-12 degrees.

Watering

Gerbera leaves are wide and actively evaporate water from the surface, so the plant needs regular watering.. For 1 m 2 of a flower garden, 25 liters of water are consumed. The table shows an approximate irrigation scheme depending on the stage of plant development.

Water for irrigation should be at room temperature, settled. You can collect water in the morning, let it warm up under the sun during the day, and start watering in the evening.

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When watering, do not allow moisture to enter the outlet - this can lead to rotting of the rhizome.

It is recommended to pour water directly under plant root, so as not to erode the soil and not expose the defenseless fibrous rhizome. It is necessary to ensure that when watering moisture does not fall on the rosette of leaves, this can lead to decay.

Whether the roots of a perennial are sufficiently moistened can be understood precisely by the state of the leaves.: if they turn yellow and dry, then watering is insufficient, excess moisture leads to decay.

After each watering, the soil is loosened to a depth of 6–7 cm and freed from weeds.. It is impossible to allow a crust to appear on the surface of the soil - it makes it difficult for oxygen to reach the roots of the plant.

top dressing

The plant needs liquid top dressing twice a month.. The perennial tolerates mineral fertilizers well, and from an excess of organic fertilizers it can lose its decorative properties(the flowers will be small, and the shrub will often get sick). However, to stimulate growth 1 time per season, it is allowed to use cow dung as a feed.

The best option for gerbera - a complex mixture of fertilizers for flowering plants. The perennial responds well to magnesium sulphate, and the lack of illumination can be made up for with phosphorus-containing fertilizer.

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The flower cannot be fed organic fertilizers and chlorine-based preparations. Gerberas are contraindicated in feeding with substances containing chlorine, especially potassium chloride.

For abundant flowering, the presence of minerals in the soil is important:

• phosphorus
• manganese
• magnesium
• potassium

In autumn, maintenance mixtures can be applied less frequently - once a month. When the plant has faded, top dressing can be stopped.

reproduction

Gerbera, like other representatives of Aster perennials, can be propagated by cuttings, dividing the bush or seeds.

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Vegetative way

The main method of shrub reproduction is the division of an overgrown bush. It is used to propagate valuable plants, because it allows you to save varietal characteristics.

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The division of the bush - reliable way preserve the varietal characteristics of the flower. Rejuvenating division is shown to an adult plant at 3–4 years of age. This procedure is usually carried out in early spring, separating a young shoot with 1-2 leaves from the mother bush. In this case, it is recommended to shorten the roots to 10 cm.

Rooting delenki takes an average of 35 days. In this case, the rosette of the gerbera should not protrude above the ground by more than 1 cm.

cuttings

Cutting an already adult bush allows you to get a viable, high-quality planting material variety desired by the grower. After cuttings, the shoots will give flowers the next year.

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In order to get cuttings, you should:

1. Dig up a bush, clean the root system from the soil, rinse it with running water.
2. Remove rosette of leaves.
3. Plant a cluster of roots in a greenhouse, wait for shoots to appear from axillary buds (this usually happens after 2 weeks).
4. When the shoots get stronger, they can be planted in open ground as cuttings.

How to grow seedlings from seeds

When buying plant seeds for germination, it is important to monitor their germination period - it is only 7 months. Sow them early autumn or between January and March. African exotic seeds remain viable for 7-8 months.

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Seeds are planted not in open ground, but in boxes or tubs with loose soil., consisting of sod land, leaf humus, sand, perlite and peat. The soil substrate must be sterilized before planting: calcined on fire or steamed in a water bath. As a drainage, expanded clay is usually placed at the bottom of the box.

A week before the proposed planting, the seeds are wrapped in gauze or cloth. dipped in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then the gauze is gently squeezed out and stored for 1-2 days in polyethylene. This method allows you to achieve faster shoots.

Perennials grown from seeds begin to bloom 10-12 months after planting.

The landing order is:

1. Seeds are scattered over the surface of the soil, a small layer of fine river sand is poured on top.
2. Water the crop and cover polyethylene film or glass. Place a box with seedlings in a warm place with diffused lighting.
3. In the morning and evening, the shelter is removed so that condensation does not form.
4. As necessary, the soil is sprayed with water at room temperature.
5. After 10-12 days, when the first shoots appear, you need to switch to regular moderate watering. Since that time, the seedlings are no longer covered with a film.
6. Seedlings with a pair of leaves dive into a new box, seated from each other at a distance of 8–10 cm.
7. A seedling with 6 leaves is ready for planting in the garden.

It is important to maintain good illumination of seedlings - daylight hours are about 12 hours. For a short duration daylight hours in winter, artificial lighting with fluorescent lamps is allowed.

The only problem seed way reproduction in that it does not guarantee the preservation of the characteristics of the mother bush.

Plant transplant

When transplanting a plant, you need to ensure that the root neck of the flower is not covered with soil.. In this state, the shrub will not take root in a new place and, most likely, will die due to rot.

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Transplant - great way"rejuvenate" an adult plant. At the time of transplantation, an adult bush can be divided into several small ones. To do this, the rhizome of the excavated plant is cleaned of soil, carefully divided with a disinfected blade or sharp knife into 2 parts.

The cut is treated with powdered charcoal or ashes, and until it begins to dry out, the seedlings are planted in a new place and watered abundantly.

If for some reason transplanting a plant is undesirable, then it is initially planted in a convenient container, tub or container that can be moved around the site and brought into the room for wintering.

Features of care during the flowering period

The flower stem is not cut, like others decorative flowers, and twist or break out. Since the flowering period of the shrub is quite long - 2-3 months, care during this period needs to be strengthened. Except abundant watering and frequent feeding, it is recommended to remove dried flower stalks, cutting them as close as possible to the base of the outlet.

It is better not to cut the flowers for bouquets, but to twist them out of the rosette of leaves or carefully break them out.

This method will allow you to achieve the appearance of new large buds and activate flowering.. If pruning is not carried out, the rest of the stem will rot, and rot can spread to the roots.

It is also necessary to remove dry foliage in a timely manner.- it signals the presence of a disease in a gerbera and can contribute to the infection of other plants. Another important nuance in care during flowering - the need to irrigate the leaves to remove dust and dirt.

Winter Care

AT southern regions, where winters are warm and humid, the plant waits out a dormant state with a protective shelter in the form of spruce branches, straw or sawdust.

In the central regions of Russia, gerbera should be dug up in the fall as an annual and stored in a cool, dry place without clearing the roots from the ground. Right along with earthy clod the plant is placed in wooden box, filled sawdust and stored in a dry basement.

Breeders have already bred hybrid varieties, which can withstand temperatures down to -10 degrees, but in Siberia and middle lane Russia will still have to dig them up for the winter.

In central Russia, digging is also mandatory: the temperatures in these areas are too cold in winter for the plant to survive. The flower is transplanted into pots and brought in for the winter in a room where the temperature does not fall below +7 - +8 degrees.

Diseases and pests

Capricious gerbera is prone to fungal diseases and putrefactive lesions. The most dangerous disease for perennials - rotting of the root neck, which is caused by fungi.

However, over watering or moisture entering the outlet can also provoke plant pathology. Problems can be avoided by regularly draining the soil. If it is not possible to save the affected plant, then it must be dug up and burned so that the disease does not spread to neighboring shrubs.

The danger for gerbera is also gray rot , which can be recognized by the characteristic brown spots on the leaves, a gray fluffy coating. First, it leads to decay of the foliage, and if left untreated, the roots of the flower. They fight the disease with the help of fungicides Teldor, Gamair, Skor and Diskor emulsions.

Fusarium infection is determined by characteristics: weakening of the plant, the appearance of brown spots and drying of the leaves on one side.

In summer, the perennial is prone to infection with powdery mildew., which also occurs due to a lack of calcium in the soil, an excess of mineral fertilizers. on flowers and ornamental plants dew is destroyed by preparations Topaz, Chistotsvet, Skor.

Insect pests are destroyed by the use of insecticide chemicals. The main pests of gerbera, due to which the flower turns yellow and fades:

• spider mites (Aktellik, Neoron, Fitoverm)
• thrips (Regent, Pegasus)
• whitefly (Fufanon, Agrovertin)
• slobbering pennitsa (Pyrethrum, Karbofos)
• aphid (Aktara, Fas, Confidor)
• slugs (collected and destroyed by hand)

Potential Growing Problems

Growing gerbera on suburban area, the gardener may face a number of problems. Knowing the cause of difficulties with the growth and flowering of perennials, it is easy to find solutions.

When planting gerbera seedlings in an open flower garden, you need to avoid common mistakes in agricultural technology:

• watering with cold, unsettled water
• fertilizers with organic or chloride fertilizers
• covering the root collar with soil during picking
• landing in a shady, swampy place

Perennial types

Scientists distinguish about 80 species of garden gerbera. The most popular of them are collected in the table.

species name	Characteristics
Green leaf (common)	Distinctive feature- narrow leaves and flower petals. Inflorescences are usually pale pink.
Gerber Wright	It has a prolonged flowering period: from spring to the first cold weather. The flowers are marginal, have a white-pink color.
Gerber Jameson	More related to indoor varieties, very capricious in care when planting in open ground. Has short stems large diameter flower.
Abyssinian	Homeland - Ethiopia, outwardly (the shape of the inflorescence and color) is very similar to chamomile. The stem can reach 50 cm in height.
Mini	A dwarf variety, a miniature plant no more than 25-30 cm high, helps purify the air. Inflorescences can be orange or yellow.

To create bouquets, Wright's gerbera is most often used - it stands in water for a long time and has outstanding decorative qualities.

plant varieties

The varietal diversity of the plant is also extensive: most often varieties are obtained by crossing African species: Jameson gerbera and green leaf. There are varieties with:

1. Small flowers and narrow leaves (Alcor, Aldebaran).
2. Wide flowers and narrow leaves (Vega, Migar, Algol).
3. Large flowers with medium petals (Mars).
4. Large flowers and wide petals (Peter, Delios, Romeo).
5. Narrow terry and semi-double petals (Sonya, Kalinka).
6. Wide terry and semi-double petals (Spark).

You can choose a perennial for a flower garden based on the color of a plant of a certain variety.. The brightest colors and their corresponding gerbera cultivars are collected in the table for the convenience of gardeners.

The only color that is not characteristic of gerbera flowers in nature is blue.

Application in landscape design

Due to the long flowering period and attractive appearance gerberas are often used for decoration personal plots. Shrubs look great as borders and borders for flower beds. The plant is versatile and combines with almost any plant, becomes an excellent center of flower arrangements.

Given the African origin of the perennial and the peculiarities of care, you should not try to plant a flower in city flower beds and parks - most likely, the plant will quickly die there.

Despite the fact that a native of Africa (gerbera) is a capricious plant, it is quite possible to grow beautiful flowers in a temperate climate. It is necessary to strictly observe the basic methods of agricultural technology and carefully monitor the condition of the perennial. If you make an effort and be patient, then bright large Transvaal daisies will become a real decoration. personal plot and gardener's pride.

Information on how to properly grow seedlings from gerbera seeds for subsequent planting in the garden, as well as tips and nuances of caring for a flower, are collected in a short educational video:

Gerbera or Transvaal daisy is an incredibly beautiful and exotic plant, blooming large variegated flowers different colours. Planting a gerbera is a painstaking process, but the following guidelines will help you turn the process into a pleasure. Next, we will consider the features of reproduction and care for garden and indoor gerbera.

Gerbera is presented as a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the aster family. AT natural conditions several dozen species of this crop grow in Madagascar and South Africa; in tropical Asia, the population is slightly smaller. All over the world, this flower is grown not only in greenhouses to form beautiful bouquets, but also at home as a houseplant in a pot. similarity to chamomile this plant simply amazing, but the flowers are larger and the color is simply amazing with its spectrum. Shades can be anything except blue.

Planting garden gerbera

Flowers are presented in the form of inflorescences-baskets on a single peduncle without leaves, its height reaches 60 cm. garden varieties and 25-30 cm for indoor ones. The diameter of the flower reaches 12 cm. The leaves form a basal rosette with short stems. The culture in question prefers light and warmth, and compliance with these requirements already makes up half of the care recommendations. Most good way for planting garden gerbera - growing from seeds.

How to grow from seeds - step by step

1. In March-April it is necessary to start preparatory work. Choose the time of sowing so as to give the plant 10-11 months for maturation and the beginning of flowering.
2. Pour the soil prepared in advance with a hot solution of potassium permanganate.
3. Prepare a seedling box, sow the seeds and lay a moistened substrate on top, sprinkle everything with earth or peat.
4. Cover the box with glass, creating the conditions of a mini greenhouse.
5. Air the box daily and moisten the soil.
6. After germination (10 days after sowing), choose a well-lit place for the box, but there should be no direct sunlight.
7. When growing in winter, provide additional lighting by using fluorescent lamps. Daylight hours should be 10-12 hours.
8. After another 2 weeks, formed leaves will appear.
9. When each bush has 3-4 leaves, you can plant them in different containers. You can try to dive seedlings and in the presence of 2 true leaves.
10. Avoid deepening the root collar during transplantation, ensure the temperature regime is in the range of + 18-20 degrees.
11. After night frosts, when the threat of their appearance has passed completely, move the seedlings to open ground.

With a favorable climate and the presence of healthy seedlings, flowering will occur 7 months after sowing the seeds.

Garden Gerbera Care

Growing a garden gerbera outdoors requires appropriate care. The summer period should be hot, and the climate is mild and warm.

1. For the winter, cover the flower with dry leaves or straw. If the frosts are too strong, dig up the plant annually and transfer it to the house. If such manipulations are too burdensome for you, you can grow the crop in question as an annual.
2. When choosing a landing site, it is necessary to ensure solar lighting half a day minimum. Compliance with this requirement will ensure the optimal development of the gerbera to the size provided varietal features. Also, the light prevents excessive stretching of the flower.
3. The soil should be well-drained and warm. A flower bed or garden bed will do.
4. Water the crop abundantly during the period active growth, but should not be allowed to overmoisten. There should be no water on the leaf plate and in the rosette of leaves, otherwise the plant will rot. The water temperature should be at room temperature.
5. Mineral fertilizers as top dressing are a prerequisite for active growth. It must be applied once every two weeks. Start reducing feeding in the fall and stop feeding completely in the winter.

indoor gerbera

Indoor gerbera is more miniature when compared with a garden crop and its height reaches 30 cm. The leaves are pubescent, elongated, pinnately dissected, form a compact basal rosette. On single peduncles, flowers up to 5 cm in diameter are formed, the baskets of inflorescences are bright, they can be semi-double, double or simple. The core is dark or yellow, while the color of the petals can be anything. Flowering is observed from late August to November, followed by a period of rest and accumulation of strength for the next period of active development, which begins in mid-February. In May, a dormant period begins again due to an increase in light intensity. Such a development cycle is the most natural for room culture, since natural conditions in the homeland of flowers suggest a short daylight hours lasting 12-14 hours.

This rhythm ensures the development of gerbera at home for 3-4 years, then there is a decrease in the intensity of flowering. To prolong further rapid growth and flowering, it is necessary to divide the bush or replace it with a new one. If your plant blooms continuously and there are no dormant periods, the flower must be replaced after 2 years, since intense depletion negatively affects the quality of development and flowering.

Ways to grow indoor varieties

Indoor gerbera varieties are not very durable, and if you like the variety, you need to take care of its reproduction in advance. There are three methods of propagation - cuttings, root division or seeds.

1. The use of seeds allows you to get many young plants for a short time. You should adhere to the seedling growing technology described earlier. After planting the bushes in separate containers, you must choose for them permanent place on the windowsill. The disadvantage of this method is that young plants do not always acquire the characteristics of the parent variety - the height, shape of the inflorescences and their colors may differ. For propagation, it is better to buy hay in a store, and even in this case, the probability of a 100% result is not very high. The traits of the parent plant are best preserved by Parade. When buying or harvesting seeds, keep in mind that their germination lasts no longer than 8-10 months.
2. The division of the bush allows you to more reliably preserve varietal characteristics. Divide the plant you like so that 2-3 growth points remain on each division. There should be no flowers on the divided plants, the roots must be cut, the cut point must be disinfected with crushed coal and make sure that the growing point remains on the surface during transplantation. Within a month, the plant will take root.

   The division of the bush can be carried out by incision, without digging it out of the pot. Part of the earth is previously removed from the surface. And the rhizome is cut with a sharp knife into two parts. Next, the cut must be disinfected, covered with dry earth and watered. As soon as the delenki begin to grow and form new roots, they must be planted. This method provides faster rooting.

3. Cuttings, as a propagation method, are more laborious and not very reliable compared to the previously mentioned methods. Pieces of rhizomes must be taken from mother plant, leave 1-2 leaves on the handle. It is necessary to plant the cuttings immediately in separate containers, to ensure the air temperature in the range of + 20-25 degrees and high humidity.

To ensure optimal development of the gerbera and lush bloom, it is necessary to take into account the tips for caring for this crop when growing it on the windowsill. First of all, you should know how to water the plant, how often to fertilize, what temperature conditions create and how to choose a permanent place for a flower.

• the pot must be chosen clay to ensure optimal mode air circulation;
• as a soil, slightly acidic soil is used from leafy soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1.
• provide moderate watering, but make sure that the soil does not dry out;
• use settled, soft water for irrigation, the temperature should be at room temperature;
• it is necessary to direct a stream of water to the edge of the pot, watering into the pan is also suitable, in this way it is necessary to drain the rest of the water after half an hour;
• stagnation of moisture in the outlet or in the soil leads to the formation of powdery mildew and fungal diseases;
• the plant loves spraying, you need to do this once a day, but do not direct moisture to the flowers;
• it is necessary to feed the plant once a week with mineral complex fertilizers, refuse to use organic fertilizers;
• indoor varieties do not need to be cut, but you should not leave flower stalks without flowers, otherwise they will take too much strength on the culture (faded stems must be broken off, but not cut off).

Garden gerbera is gentle and beautiful plant, which will decorate the flower garden throughout the summer bright colors. The main task is to provide them with proper care. This is a tedious task, but a rewarding one.

Gerbera belongs to the Compositae family. Her flowers are collected in the center of the rosette and represent a single whole. They come in different sizes, but mostly they are ten to twelve centimeters in diameter. There are undersized plants and tall ones, the size reaches up to a meter in height. In the garden, flowers up to thirty centimeters high are mainly grown. Gerberas differ long flowering, the flowering time of one flower is about thirty days, which then replaces the next one and this continues all summer.

At home, gerberas can be grown not only in open ground, but also in flower pots. For indoor cultivation, a variety of dwarf gerbera is suitable.

Growing gerberas in the garden has its own characteristics. In winter, plants should be covered with a well-ventilated layer of rags or dug up and transplanted into pots that are brought into the house during the cold season.

Many flower growers practice annual cultivation flowers of this species. But in any case, before planting a heat-loving plant, it is necessary to choose the right location. And so, the flower garden with gerberas should be well lit sunlight, the shadow is contraindicated for him. Sun rays favorably affect the plant and contribute to its proper formation and long flowering.

Flowers are planted in open ground in the spring, after preparing the soil and providing it with good drainage.

Water the plants as needed with water at room temperature. Once every two weeks, houseplants should be fed with mineral fertilizers.

cultivation

Garden gerbera is propagated by seeds, from which seedlings are first germinated and only after it is planted in open ground.

Planting seeds is a process that should start as early as March, although you can do it at any time of the year to get it by January. flowering plants. First, prepare the soil and special boxes for growing seedlings. The land in which the seeds will germinate before planting must be treated with a hot solution of potassium permanganate. Then seeds are sown in moist soil and sprinkled on top with ordinary earth or peat (layer thickness 0.3-0.5 cm). Then the box must be covered with glass or polyethylene. Every day you need to open the crop and monitor the soil moisture. Around the tenth day, the first shoots appear. Now the seedlings definitely need to organize good lighting, but it must be remembered that the direct rays of the sun are contraindicated. In winter, when daylight hours are short, you need to provide additional lighting for seedlings using fluorescent lamps. The duration of illumination must be at least twelve hours.

Flower sprout.

When the first leaves (3-4 pieces) appear, the seedlings are picked. Each plant is planted in an individual pot. Landing in the ground should not be very deep.

Growing gerbera seedlings requires a constant air temperature in the range of + 18- + 20 degrees.

When feeding seedlings, one should take into account the nuance that chlorine prevents the development of a flower, therefore, when choosing a fertilizer, preference should be given to products without it.

It can be recommended to use peat pots for growing seedlings, then young plant can be planted in open ground without damage to the root system, along with a pot. This will ensure the speedy adaptation of gerberas in the open field.

Planting seedlings in open ground begins with the onset of heat, closer to the middle or end of May. At this time, the probability of night frosts is minimal. Only mature and healthy seedlings are planted. Weak plants are left in pots and continue to care for them.

Gerberas are also successfully propagated by dividing the bush and cuttings. For these methods, an adult plant that has grown well and has a strong root system is suitable.

Cuttings are carried out as follows. The bush is dug up and the root is washed well from the ground, the outlet is removed. Then the prepared rhizome is planted in specially prepared soil and greenhouse conditions are created, observing a constant temperature and humidity. After two weeks, shoots from the axillary buds appear, after another ten days, when the shoots gain strength, cuttings are prepared from them for planting. You can plant them directly in open ground or in a pot. At the same time, caring for the cuttings is quite simple, and they take root well and form a young plant.

The division of the bush is carried out in early spring. A large strong plant is chosen and small shoots with leaves are separated from it. The resulting young bush is planted in the ground in compliance with all the rules for growing adult gerberas.

Planting gerbera in the garden, basic requirements

Garden gerbera loves warmth and moisture. Therefore, when planting seedlings in open ground, it is necessary to ensure these conditions.

The flower loves light, but wind and draft harm it. Therefore, choosing a place in the flower garden, you need to consider these points.

And so, landing begins with the choice of a place. It is better if it is next to a hedge, trees, other tall plants that can protect from wind and draft, while not interfering with the illumination of the place.

Excessive moisture and waterlogging of the soil should be avoided. Land for gerberas should be rich in:

• nitrogen;
• phosphorus;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• manganese.

The lack of minerals in the soil is replenished by feeding the plants once every two weeks with special fertilizers. With a deficiency of these elements, the plant has rather small flowers, the flowering period is short or does not begin at all. Therefore, you need to take care of the nutrition of the soil for good growth and development of gerberas.

So the soil in which the planting is carried out must be well-drained beforehand. As mentioned above, excessive moisture and stagnant water harm the plant. Also, you need to water the flowers only under the root, avoiding water on the leaves and the outlet.

When preparing the soil for planting seedlings, it is best to use forest soil rich in organic matter(decaying leaves and needles).

Care

Garden gerbera is a beautiful plant, massively grown on an industrial scale. A little tricky, but proper care and the desires of the grower, allow you to grow this beauty in home flower beds.

If we take into account the moment that seedlings have already been obtained from seeds and planted in open ground, then we will dwell on what care should be taken for an adult plant.

The first point is the rules of watering. Water should be warm and soft. It is necessary to carry out watering from a special watering can so that the flow is scattered and does not expose the root system, directly under the root. Quite often and a lot, the flowers are watered until the first flowers appear, then the amount of water is reduced to a minimum.

Care in winter period. Gerbera is perennial, grown from seeds and planted in the ground with seedlings, can delight with its abundant flowering for several years. If the winters are not too frosty, then the dried stems are cut at a level of ten centimeters from the ground, and the bush is covered with dry leaves or straw. However, you need to monitor such a shelter, since during warm winters the bush may be warmed up. At severe frosts, flowers should be dug out of the ground and planted in pots and allowed to overwinter at room conditions.

Dig up the flowers along with some earth to minimize damage to the roots. Bushes are stored in a bright room, where constant ventilation is carried out. The air temperature should not be lower than six degrees Celsius, but not higher than ten.

When transplanting a bush into a pot for storage, the root neck is left uncovered with earth, this protects it from rot.

Illumination of the place. For gerberas, a well-lit part of the garden or flower garden is suitable. In the shade, the plant stretches and produces not very large inflorescences.

Caring for flowers at home requires regular plant nutrition. Saturated soil, rich in minerals, will allow you to achieve maximum results in growing large beautiful flowers throughout the summer. For feeding use not only purchased funds, but also a self-prepared solution of cow manure and mineral fertilizers. To do this, the manure is preliminarily kept in water for seven days, then it is mixed with mineral fertilizers. Thus, a concentrated mixture is obtained. Water the flowers with this remedy in the proportion: 1 part of the mixture and 5 parts of water, no more than once a month.

Flower diseases and how to deal with them

All rooms and garden plants suffer from pests and various diseases. This largely contributes improper care, but there are also objective factors.

The most common problem is root collar rot. It occurs as a result of an excess of moisture and when the plant is damaged by fungal diseases. Warn this disease It is possible with the help of moderate watering and high-quality soil drainage.

Also common is the disease root rot and gray mold. For treatment, treatment with special preparations is required.

In summer, at high temperatures, the flower strikes powdery mildew. They fight it by treating plants with fungicides.

Among pests, bushes and flowers actively harm:

• spider mites;
• thrips;

They take a fancy to the plant and “squeeze” all the juices out of it, after which it turns yellow, fades and dries out. If these pests are found, the flowers are treated with insecticides.

Constant monitoring and proper care will allow you to notice violations in the development of the plant in time and take all necessary measures to restore it.

As you can see, growing gerberas at home is troublesome, requires some effort, but is not impossible. Knowing the rules, grow beautiful flower in the garden, even a novice grower can do it.

Its flowers are painted in the most different shades white, pink, yellow and red.

Growing a gerbera in the garden is not easy. Difficulties will arise even at the stage of searching for seeds. Apparently, the reason is that the vast majority of gerberas are grown in special nurseries in millions of lots for sale, pumped up, after which this amazing flower lives for a very short time.

Despite this, it is possible, albeit problematic, to grow a gerbera in a garden in the middle lane. In more southern areas in gardens, it blooms on sunny places from April to October, grows without shelter for the winter. And in the central regions of Russia, flowering will be less abundant. And for the winter it will have to be dug out in the same way and stored in a cool, dry place, without clearing the lump from the ground, it can be in sawdust.

Gerbera with straw, spruce branches or a layer of dry foliage for the winter is acceptable in areas where the summer is quite hot and the climate is warm and mild. But in the middle lane winter temperatures too low, so the flower is grown as an annual with autumn digging and storage in the basement or glazed terrace with optimum temperature+7...+8°C.

Planting and transplanting gerbera

Seeds are sown for seedlings in January-March.

• The soil is made up of a mixture of turf and leaf soil with the addition of humus (2: 1: 1) and sand.
• Seeds are planted to a depth of 0.2-0.3 cm. The first shoots will appear in a couple of weeks.
• When 2-3 true leaves appear, the seedlings dive into boxes, and with 4-5 leaves - into separate pots.

Gerbera blooms in 10-11 months from the moment of sowing. Seed-derived plants may lose the properties of the parent specimen.

Transplantation is usually carried out in early spring.

The most popular method of reproduction is the division of the bush. This is especially true for valuable varieties. It is better to share a 3-4-year-old bush.

Gerbera Care

A place for a gerbera must be chosen so that it is well lit by the sun for a good half of the day. The soil for cultivation should be fertilized with inorganic fertilizers. Under such conditions, the peduncles will not stretch and retain their color and size, corresponding to a particular variety.

During the period of active growth, the gerbera is watered abundantly, after flowering - more than moderately, preventing the roots from drying out. When watering, water should not fall on the leaves and drain into the outlet, provoking decay. Watered with water at room temperature.

As long as the gerbera grows and develops, it needs regular feeding. mineral fertilizer low concentration. It is best to do it every two weeks until autumn. In autumn, feeding is reduced, and in winter it is stopped altogether.

Types of gerbera

Gerbera green leaf(Gerbera viridifolia) native to South Africa.

It was she, along with the Jameson gerbera, that became the ancestor of all modern varieties.

Diseases and pests of gerbera

Garden gerbera is very sensitive to various and. Therefore, the soil must be cultivated before planting to avoid fungal diseases of the root system. In a flower bed with a gerbera, water should not stagnate.

• You can prevent the appearance of regular treatment with special preparations. You just need to make sure that the chemical does not fall on the inflorescences.

• In the summer heat, treatment or sulfur-containing preparations will help.
• It is better not to cut the gerbera flowers, but to break them out of the nest - if a piece of the peduncle remains on the bush, it will cause the whole plant to rot.
• From pests (aphids, thrips, spider mites) the plant will be saved by processing.

As you can see, you will have to tinker with gerbera to grow it in the garden. But everyone who loves this amazing flower, and wants to "make friends" with him, may well master this activity.


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