How to plant and care for a garden gerbera

For gardeners who prefer to have luxurious flowers on their site without spending colossal efforts to care for them, this specimen is a real find, since growing a gerbera does not take much effort and does not require unique skills and knowledge. The plant is really unpretentious, you need to follow just a few rules to enjoy its flowering for many months. Gerbera care may vary slightly depending on its variety, but in general, the requirements are identical and not burdensome.

It should be noted that this flower is grown not only in the garden, but also at home. Moreover, at home, it is even more willing, since the gerbera feels better in a pot on the windowsill, is less capricious, reaches a larger size, etc. It also grows and develops very successfully in the greenhouse. In the open field, however, it is not difficult to grow it either. Perhaps, in this case, it is worth preferring specially bred gerbera varieties that are best adapted to the conditions of the street. They can differ modest in relation to home specimens in size, require a little more attention, but they will remain the same gerberas - bright, spectacular, unusually decorative.

Features of planting in open ground

For the successful cultivation of gerbera in the garden, you need to choose the most suitable variety. Some varieties of this plant were specially bred for outdoor cultivation, respectively, they are better adapted to these conditions, they have a more developed, strong root system, a relatively low stem and relatively small flowers. The most important point in gerbera breeding is getting good seeds. Quality seeds are essential for growing any crop. However, the situation here is aggravated by the fact that large quantities of gerbera are grown for sale. This means that nurseries are set up for a one-time result, having received it, they sell flowers and plant new ones, using unwanted stimulants when growing.

If you manage to get quality seeds, the result is likely to justify the effort. Planting garden gerbera includes two main stages - sowing seeds for seedlings in a closed ground, then planting grown flowers in a prepared bed, flower bed or flower garden. It is advisable to start this activity in early spring. This will allow you to correlate the flowering period with the time of planting in open ground and not to miss it. The arithmetic in this case is simple: gerbera grown from seeds will bloom in about 11 months.

The composition of the soil for seedlings should consist of sod and leafy soil, as well as humus and sand. On this moist soil, located in special boxes for seedlings, it is necessary to pour out the seeds, practically without burying them. Then sprinkle everything with earth or just peat. Place the box in a warm, sufficiently lit place, cover with glass. Caring for gerbera seedlings consists in its regular moistening and airing, as well as observing the lighting regime. The fact is that these flowers come from southern latitudes, love light and warmth. Planting seeds in early spring does not provide enough natural light for the seedlings. Therefore, it is necessary to illuminate it with a fluorescent lamp so as to simulate a twelve hour daylight.

When seedlings appear, it will be necessary to ensure that they are not exposed to direct sunlight. When the sprouts release the first three true leaves, they should be transplanted into separate pots.Landing in open ground will be possible only after the above zero temperature is established during the day, without night frosts. In this case, it is necessary to choose a place suitable for the gerbera. Given her love for warmth and light, the place should be open, well-lit, while protected from drafts. With an abundance of sun, the flowers will bloom on time and will delight you with bright colors until autumn.

Planting gerberas on the site requires soil preparation. It is necessary to dig a small hole in the chosen place, mark the drainage on its bottom. Then lower the root there and cover it with earth. You can use a special soil for gerberas - this is a win-win option, because its composition is optimally balanced. If you use self-prepared soil, you should mix peat, sod and sand in equal parts.

The garden gerbera loves light, nutritious soils. Do not deepen the root collar of the plant too much. Planting ends with watering. It should be abundant, but not excessive. Care must be taken to ensure that the water does not stagnate. Actually, this is the planting of the garden gerbera.

Gerbera care rules

Garden gerbera is unpretentious, and if the planting was carried out on time and according to all the rules, caring for the plant will not require much effort.
We list the main points that include care.

1. Watering - abundant during growth, but without flooding of roots and stagnation of moisture. In autumn, when the flowers wilt, scanty, sufficient to moisturize the roots.
2. Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers once every two weeks throughout the spring and summer period. Less often in autumn, closer to winter, feeding should be stopped.
3. Application of inorganic fertilizers into the ground. It is necessary to ensure that the flowers correspond to all varietal characteristics.
4. Covering plants for the winter in a relatively warm climate. In places with cold winters, it is recommended to keep the plant indoors.

This is the care of the garden gerbera. Of course, there are some additions and nuances. For example, this plant should be watered only with warm water at room temperature. When watering, make sure that drops do not fall on flowers and leaves. garden gerbera is very susceptible to decay. Moreover, both the aboveground parts of the plant, for example, with careless watering, and the roots, in the event of excessive flooding and stagnation of water, can suffer. Therefore, you cannot plant gerberas in lowlands, depressions and thick shade. In such places, after rain, moisture stagnates, which will certainly lead to rotting of the plant.

Advice

When caring for a gerbera, do not overdo it with organic fertilizers - the plant can get sick, and the flowers will be much smaller than they should be.

Additional care will be required during flowering. This period is quite long. At this time, it is necessary to remove dried flowers, cutting them as low as possible so that the remainder of the stem does not rot. This will allow new buds to appear and bloom more actively. The greatest impact on flowers is still the amount of sun and heat. With their excess, the garden gerbera feels great, blooms profusely and for a long time.

The care of the plant does not end there. As mentioned earlier, the gerbera must be covered for the winter. Moreover, it makes sense to do this only if the winter in this region is not too cold. In other cases, it is better for the plant to winter indoors. To do this, you need to remove the rhizome along with a lump of earth, place it in a pot and bring it to a cool place. If possible, it is best to place the pots in the basement. At the same time, you should make sure that the room is dry enough and the root does not rot. Periodically, you need to moisten the earthen lump so that it does not dry out. In fact, all gerbera care is about maintaining the balance of moisture, light and heat.

With the onset of spring, when all frosts have passed, the plant should be planted in its usual place.Gardeners who are faced with the cultivation of various ornamental plants will notice that caring for a gerbera is not at all difficult, and the plant is quite unpretentious. At the same time, the beauty and variety of flowers, the duration of flowering - all these are undeniable advantages that make the gerbera very attractive for breeding. The flower beds, decorated with her help, look so luxurious that it is difficult to believe in her unpretentiousness and modest care, which is quite enough for a gerbera.