How to make a room bright, attractive, fashionable and modern? Designers have an unusual solution - exotic gerbera. Large, solid flowers with absolutely pure color allow you to create unique compositions in flowerpots or decorative boxes. Most often, the plant is used for decoration landscape design, but knowing what kind of care a gerbera needs at home, you can grow it in a room, making the interior more festive and elegant.

Gerbera - a kaleidoscope of colors and shades

Gerbera is a herbaceous perennial flower, whose homeland is hot Africa. The plant belongs to the Compositae family (the second name is Asteraceae) and has up to 70 different types. However, most of them are grown in gardens and greenhouses, and for indoor floriculture Only Jameson's gerbera is suitable - miniature and uncapricious.

The height of the bush depends on the type of specimen; indoor gerberas are often quite compact, about 35 cm. The stem of the plant is thick, sometimes covered with light fibers, the leaves are large (up to 18 cm long), collected in a rosette, bright green. The peduncle is long, the flowers themselves resemble chamomile, their diameter can reach 15 cm, the color is varied: shades of red, yellow, pink, orange, cream and many other colors.

Features of caring for gerbera at home

Due to its popularity, the plant can be found in any store. It is there that the gerbera flaunts gracefully and majestically; caring for it in a trading floor contains many tricks. Therefore, you should not be surprised if a few days after purchase it loses its former attractiveness. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to find out all the whims of this flower.

Lighting

Gerbera loves open, well-lit areas, so window sills on the east and west sides can be considered great solution. For some time it can withstand the direct rays of the summer sun, but it is better to prevent this and shade the windows with a special film or a light tulle curtain. Maintenance requires at least 12 hours of daylight, so in winter it is advisable to use artificial lighting.

Fact! Gerbera flowering directly depends on the reduction in duration daylight hours. It is known that the daylight begins to noticeably decrease in August and just at this time the first buds bloom, decorating the room until the end of September.

Air temperature

The African beauty does not have a pronounced resting period, but the room temperature in winter and summer should be different:

• period from March to September - range from +20 °C to +25 °C;
• period from October to March - range from +14 °C to +16 °C.

Like any plant from hot countries, gerbera reacts poorly to sudden temperature changes and cold winds. A warm breeze will only be beneficial, preventing the appearance of pests, so frequent ventilation of the premises is recommended; the plant will withstand a light draft.

​Air humidity

Caring for gerberas at home should begin with maintaining the required level of humidity in the room. Considering that it is impossible to spray the plant with a spray bottle, the best solution Will buy a humidifier. As an alternative, you can use wide containers of water placed near the flower, or wet pebbles in a drainage pan, but, as a rule, such techniques are ineffective.

​Water gerbera

The watering procedure should be carried out carefully, avoiding water getting on the leaves and stems of the plant. Gerbera does not like dampness, so water it with a small amount of warm water only as the top layer of soil dries. During active growth and preparation for flowering, the procedure is carried out 4-5 times a week, in winter time watering is reduced.

Soil composition and choice of pot for growing gerbera

For successful cultivation flower you need to remember 3 rules:

• soil acidity should be within the pH range of 5–6;
• the soil composition is light and loose in a 1:1:1 ratio: leaf soil, peat, coarse sand, you can additionally add tree bark;
• good drainage for root aeration: expanded clay, broken brick, polystyrene foam and other materials.

When buying a pot, you should give preference to ceramic models; they allow air to pass through better, this prevents stagnation of moisture, which is the worst enemy of the African flower. As for decoration, florists recommend choosing ceramic containers, the color of which will successfully match the gerbera inflorescences. In addition, it is better to give preference to plain flower pots, which will highlight and not overshadow the beauty of the flowers.

​Applying fertilizers

High-quality care for gerberas should include frequent and varied feeding with both mineral-based fertilizers and organic matter. Liquid solutions for flowering indoor plants, such as Agricola or Bona Forte, are suitable. It is advisable to use formulations with a high content of magnesium and phosphorus; these microelements will provide bright and large inflorescences. The plant needs to be fed at least once every 10 days, but the concentration ready solution should be reduced. IN winter period, after flowering, stop feeding.

A lack of magnesium can be expressed in the appearance of light, whitish spots on the leaves, while the veins do not lose their original color. Therefore, sometimes, as additional feeding It is recommended to add magnesium sulfate at the rate of 5 g per 2.5 liters of water.

Planting and replanting gerberas

If the copy was purchased in a store, then complete care It's worth putting off the gerbera. You need to wait for the plant to bloom, overwinter, and only in the spring can you transplant it into a new container. To do this, you can use the transshipment method or completely replace the substrate.

When a flower is planted in new soil, it must be carefully examined, dry roots removed, and good roots trimmed a little, this will ensure better rooting and development. Then put drainage, a little substrate into the container and place the bush, after which the remaining soil is evenly distributed around the plant. You need to carefully ensure that the root collar is not covered with soil, but remains on the surface at least 1 cm. After planting, the soil is slightly moistened warm water and observe the plant for several days. If everything was done correctly, young leaves will soon appear.

There are no clear recommendations on how often to replant mature plant, but once every 2 years it is worth replacing the depleted substrate and disinfecting the pot. The procedure is carried out in the spring, before active growth begins. best months- March or April.

Advice! In the summer, a pot of gerbera can be taken out to the balcony; fresh air, aeration and natural temperature changes during the day and night will benefit it.

Features of gerbera propagation

Reproduction is carried out in two ways: planting seeds and dividing the rhizome. You can buy a bag of seeds in the flower department, and divide the bush during spring care behind the gerbera.

1. Propagation by seeds . For planting you will need a box with light nutritious soil and polyethylene. The seeds are planted to a depth of 3 mm, after which the top layer of soil is leveled, watered with a small amount of water and a “greenhouse” is created using polyethylene. In such conditions, within 15-20 days the first shoots will appear. When the seedlings get a little stronger, you can transplant them into separate containers with a diameter of no more than 10 cm. Favorable time for planting - from mid-January to early April.
2. Propagation by dividing rhizomes . During spring replanting, an adult gerbera (at least 3 years old) is carefully removed from the pot, the roots are freed from the substrate and the rhizome is cut into several parts, ideally 5. At least two growth points should remain on each specimen. Each new plant is planted in the usual way.

Nowadays it is not difficult to purchase one exotic flower, like gerberas, home care should contain several key points and if you do not neglect them, you can easily grow a beautiful and strong plant.

• Maintain an optimal microclimate.
• Be sure to loosen the top layer of soil and prevent the formation of a “crust” that interferes with aeration.
• Remove old, dry leaves and inflorescences in a timely manner to prevent them from rotting and the proliferation of fungal infections.
• Rejuvenate the plant every 2 years by dividing the bush.
• Do not allow the substrate to become waterlogged.
• For stable flowering, provide at least 12 hours of daylight, using backlighting if necessary.
• Take precautions when fertilizing - the accumulation of large amounts of nitrogen in the soil negatively affects flowering.
• Choose a medium-sized container for planting so that the rhizome does not grow and take over nutrients, intended for laying buds.

Diseases and pests of gerbera

Flower susceptible various diseases Therefore, regular inspection of the bush is an integral part of caring for gerberas at home. Often the cause of a plant’s poor condition is not an infection or pest, but insufficient comfortable conditions content.

• The leaves have become less bright and pale . This is how the plant reacts to excess light, so it is better to move the pot to a darker place or away from the window.
• The leaves turn pale, the stems stretch out and become thinner . There is a lack of sunlight; most likely, the pot is located far from the window or on the north side. It should be rearranged or additional lighting provided.

The most unpleasant and common diseases of gerbera are gray rot and powdery mildew. The causative agents are fungal spores, which, when the air is too humid and there is no natural ventilation, begin to multiply rapidly. To prevent fungal infections, you need to periodically prune the bush, removing old and unattractive leaves. In its structure, it is very lush and grows quickly, preventing air circulation. Treatment and care of gerbera at home can be carried out using modern chemicals, for example, Fitosporin-M has proven itself well in the fight against powdery mildew. Considering that it is not so easy to defeat the fungus, it is recommended not to limit yourself to treating only the bush, but also to remove the top layer of soil in which the spores can comfortably live for a long time.

Also, due to poor drainage, a large amount of accumulated moisture in the substrate and infection introduced into the soil, gerberas may suffer from rotting of the root collar. The causative agent is soil fungi, the damage begins from the roots and then spreads to the stems and leaves, they wither, darken and die. You can try to save the flower by treating it with fungicides, but the disease is difficult to diagnose and at a time when the symptoms are already obvious, treatment is unlikely to help. The affected plant should be destroyed immediately to prevent the infection from spreading to other indoor flowers.

Among the pests, gerbera is most susceptible to attack by spider mites, whiteflies, scale insects and aphids. Insects can be controlled folk remedies or insecticides purchased at a flower shop. The most popular drugs: “Tanrek”, “Commander”, “Biotlin” and others.

For some, caring for gerberas may seem too troublesome, but if you follow all the recommendations, growing this beautiful flower is not so difficult. The main thing is to remember that the plant is alive and requires a lot of attention, but good conditions will definitely reward bright colors, capable of enlivening any room.

Gerbera care video

Gerbera is herbaceous plant the Astrov family, which came to us from South Africa. Discovered by the Dutch scientist Jan Gronovius in 1717. Named after the German doctor Gerber. It gained particular popularity after the discovery of the species by Robert Jameson, which is now named in his honor.

Types and varieties

There are more than seventy varieties of it in nature, but they are almost never used by gardeners. The most popular are the Jameson gerbera and the green leaf gerbera.

These species form the basis of many varieties of different sizes (mostly from 4 to 15 cm) and colors (except blue) (almost all the varieties that are grown are hybrid gerberas, bred from the Jameswana and greenleaf varieties).

Rosalin and Lancaster are Pink gerberas.

Alice, Sympathy, Mirage, Rudite - Orange gerberas.

Tamara, Elegans, Gelios - Yellow gerberas.

Gerbera Revolution regarding new variety— grows quickly and blooms for a long time, bred primarily for indoor breeding. When they say indoor gebrera, they mean low-growing varieties.

Gerbera indoor care at home

Care different varieties the same, but care in general has its difficulties, so you need to know how to care for a gerbera. These flowers require bright lighting, but keep them out of direct sunlight. In spring, plants can be kept on a glassed-in balcony, and in summer they can be planted in open ground. For winter, provide additional lighting.

Flowering is directly related to lighting. Although the flower is light-loving, too much of it can interrupt flowering. These flowers need a maximum of 12 hours of daylight. That is why such abundant flowering is observed in autumn. By artificial lighting You can achieve flowering in winter. Summer is a time of calm - buds do not form, green mass is collected.

If the gerbera does not bloom, then you have gone too far with fertilizers or planted it in a larger pot than necessary and all the plant’s energy needed for flowering goes into growing large roots. The flower will grow and develop well only in warmth. Best temperature 20-24°C.

Caring for indoor gerberas after flowering involves pulling out wilted inflorescences at the root, otherwise they will begin to rot and cause infection.

How to water a gerbera in a pot

Coming to us from South Africa, this tropical guest requires constant watering. Gerbera gerberas in a pot should be watered exclusively with warm water - 20°C and no lower, otherwise disease will follow.

Be sure to spray the stems using warm water. Over-watering the soil is also harmful - the leaves below will begin to rot. Even in damp soil, harmful worms grow.

How to replant a gerbera after purchase

When purchasing a gerbera in a pot, remember that moving it from the greenhouse to the apartment is already stressful for the flower and therefore hold off on replanting. You should wait until adaptation takes place, which usually takes a couple of weeks.

Replanting a gerbera has its own nuances; you cannot replant during the flowering period - this disrupts the biorhythms of the flower. When replanting, choose a pot with a diameter 3 cm larger than the previous one. Prepare light soil. We recommend planting in the following soil: two parts of leaf soil, one part of peat, one part of sand.

Do not use compost and humus - they harm this plant.

Fertilizers for gerbera differ at different stages of development

In the first spring months and summer, during the stage of increasing green mass, you need to use fertilizers that include nitrogen, but remember that you need a weak solution, that is, it must be diluted with a larger amount of liquid than stated in the instructions. During flowering, fertilizers with potassium are used, but again, the fertilizer must be diluted more strongly.

As you can see, caring for gerberas at home requires care and some knowledge.

Propagation of gerbera by seeds at home

To grow gerbera from seeds at home, you need to sow them in March in pots with a substrate of peat and sand and cover them with glass, do not forget to ventilate them daily. The soil should remain moist and the temperature should be around 18°C.

When the seedlings grow and 2-3 leaves appear, they are plucked, and when there are 4-5 leaves, they are plucked again into large pots. But the seeds don't save varietal characteristics, and the result will be heterogeneous.

Gerbera propagation by leaf

To do this, you need to cut off part of the stem with a node and a leaf and plant it in warm ground(approximately 25°C). Within a week, the leaf takes root; it must be removed, the rhizome divided into parts and planted. This procedure is carried out between May and July.

As in the case of gerbera propagation by seeds, when using a leaf, varietal characteristics often disappear.

Reproduction of gerbera by dividing the bush

Most reliable way This is the propagation of gerbera by dividing the bush.
A three or four year old bush is divided into parts with pieces of root, and then planted.

The bushes take a long time to take root - almost six months, and begin to bloom about a year after planting. But this method certainly preserves varietal characteristics. We recommend it for propagating gerberas at home.

Gerbera indoor diseases and pests

Why do indoor gerbera leaves turn yellow?

• If yellowness appeared immediately after purchase, then perhaps the flower is simply adapting to new conditions, but if the yellowing does not go away within a week, then it is better to think about other reasons;
• Possible lack of moisture, the plant was not sprayed;
• Excessive watering during the growing season also leads to this effect;
• But most often the leaves turn yellow due to a lack or too much light. Place your plant correctly and everything will work out.

If gerbera leaves wither

• Most likely, you have upset the water balance of the plant - you either water it too little or too much. If the leaves begin to rot, cut them off immediately.

The same answer to the question “?”

• The whole point is water balance, water as the flower requires, and it will delight you with flowering for a long time.

It often happens that gerbera leaves dry .

• There may be several reasons for this: incorrect light or water conditions;
• Harmful level of soil acidity. This indicator must be in the zone from 4.7 to 5.4 pH;
• Improper feeding with fertilizers.

Often a disease of this flower, which leads to drying of the leaves, is fusarium .

To heal a flower, it is necessary to disinfect the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate, but do not overdo it, as an excess of the product will lead to depletion of ferum in the soil.

White coating on leaves

Appears quite often white coating on gerbera leaves. There may also be several explanations for this.

Powdery mildew — it is determined by wiping a piece of paper. If the white dirt has gathered into a lump, and the leaf becomes clean, this is dew.

• Treatment is carried out as follows: prepare a solution of potassium permanganate: one and a half grams per ten liters of water. It works best in the early stages of the disease.
• Mullein infusion - one part to three parts water. You need to let the medicine sit for three days. Next, it is filtered and sprayed on the plant once every seven days. But you can also use simple serum. It is diluted with water 1:7 and mixed with a teaspoon of copper sulfate.

Mold - it forms a fibrous or wool-like coating. If you do not quickly cut it off and disinfect it, you may lose the plant.

White rot - This is a mushroom that forms a white fluff of grayish color. The fluff is just the beginning, and then the plant rots. The disease is spreading quickly.

• For treatment, you can use any of the above methods.

If a gerbera is planted in open ground, it may become infected with aphids. Before transplanting it back into the house, be sure to treat it with an insecticide.

The first scientific mention of the plant appeared in the works of the Dutch botanist E. Gronovius in 1737. They began to call this plant Gerbera in honor of the German doctor and botanist T. Gerber. Modern variety Gerbera was the result of crossing two South African species - Jameson's gerbera and green-leaved gerbera. Gerbera is one of the most important floriculture crops, sold all over the world along with roses, carnations, chrysanthemums and tulips.

Gerbera is a light- and heat-loving plant that can only grow in hot countries in open ground . In conditions middle zone can only be grown in greenhouse conditions. None in Russia domestic varieties, so gerbera has not yet taken its rightful place.

Features of the flower

Gerbera flowers are similar in shape to daisies (they are collected in basket-shaped buds, arranged singly and reach 0.04-0.15 m in diameter). Can be of various colors except of blue color. There are double and semi-double forms, differing in the number of “petals”, length and width.

Growing conditions at home

The seeds of these plants can easily be found on the shelves of flower shops.. But the plant is a perennial, and in our winter it will not overwinter either with or without shelter. This plant can be planted in a pot in the garden for the summer. And be sure to take it home for the winter, because the first frost will kill the foliage of this plant.

Gerbera is sold in flower shops already in pots in bloom. Having brought it home, over time you can notice that it is losing its appearance, and the leaves become faded. The reason is that gerbera is a very demanding plant to care for.

Conditions under which a gerbera will bloom and not die:

• Bright lighting. The plant must be grown on the south side. And in winter, in order for the gerbera to grow well, it needs additional lighting even on the south window.
• Nutritional value of the earth. As soon as they brought it from the store, it’s better to immediately put it in a larger pot. After two weeks, when the plant takes root, start feeding. They feed the plant with fertilizers for roses, they contain the most nutrients.
• Regular watering. The slightest drying of the substrate causes the leaves to wither and fall off.
• Constant inspection. Gerbera has very delicate leaves that insect pests love.

Watch a video about the features of caring for gerberas at home:

Reproduction methods

Watch a video about growing gerberas from seeds:

Division

Lets do a large number of young plants from one adult. This has a beneficial effect on the adult gerbera, acquiring a second youth and continuing to grow and develop. The optimal age of a gerbera suitable for division is considered to be 4 years old.

This procedure is carried out in the summer. When the plant has finished blooming, you must carefully remove it from flower pot, shake off the soil and divide into pieces using a knife.

Each piece should consist of a couple of leaves, part of an underground shoot and part of a root. Roots that are too long are trimmed, leaving 10-15 cm in length.

Cuttings

Used very rarely due to low efficiency. A part of the stem with a leaf is cut off and planted in a separate box with soil at a temperature of at least 20 degrees.

Planting and caring for flowers at home

The plant should be located in a sunny area. You can plant gerberas in absolutely any soil, the main thing is to first fertilize it with inorganic fertilizers. Water should not stagnate. Organic soils are not recommended for planting gerberas because this plant susceptible to fungal diseases, which often develop in organic fertilizers.

Compact varieties of gerberas are planted in the same way. room conditions. Only for growing it is recommended to use perlite or a slightly acidic substrate that is not susceptible to fungal diseases. In regular feeding mineral fertilizers plants growing in pure perlite need.

Gerberas grown in substrate require feeding every two weeks. There is no need to feed plants in winter. Watering should be done sparingly as the substrate dries. For irrigation, use only soft and settled water.

During the period of active growth, gerberas are watered abundantly, but do not allow waterlogging. Faded flowers are promptly removed to stimulate the growth of new flower stalks.

Advice: For the winter, the rhizome is dug up, sprinkled with sawdust or sand and stored in a dry place at a temperature of about 5-8 degrees throughout the winter, until spring.

Diseases and pests

The immunity of any plant drops if it is . This is the reason why pests attack it.

Read more about why gerbera leaves turn yellow and how to deal with it.

Compliance with all care conditions will help you grow a gerbera at home without any problems and admire it for a long time beautiful flowers on the windowsill or in the garden.

Gerbera (Gerbera) - genus perennial herbs family Asteraceae, or Asteraceae. About 70 species of this beautiful thing are known flowering plant. IN natural conditions almost all of them are found in South Africa and Madagascar, some in tropical Asia.

Gerbera has long been familiar to everyone as beautiful flower for bouquets, various flower arrangements. Gerbera flowers are shaped like daisies. Their color can be any - yellow, red, pink, orange; gerberas are not only blue. There are double and semi-double forms, which differ in the number of “petals”, as well as their length and width.

Varieties of cultivated gerbera come from perennial species Jameson's gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii), first discovered in South Africa, where this plant grows among meadows at an altitude of 500-600 m above sea level. It blooms twice a year - in spring and autumn.

Gerbera has been known to flower growers for a long time, but previously it was grown only as a industrial plant for cutting. The problem is that she is very susceptible to fungal diseases.

Florists different countries did a great job selecting new races seed propagation, more resistant to pathogens. Recently, gerbera has become extremely popular as a indoor plant or a plant for landscaping balconies and terraces. IN indoor culture Most often, low-growing hybrids are grown. They do not grow higher than 25-30 cm.

Gerbera is used in flower beds as an annual, planted in pots for decoration patios. The plant is heat-loving and will not survive a frosty winter in the ground.

Indoor gerbera - quite a perennial beautiful flowering plant. Its leaves are collected in a small rosette. Its main advantage is the beautiful large chamomile-like flowers of various shades. Blooms from early spring to late autumn.

Indoor gerbera is short-lived; in the 3-4th year, the flowering of the bush decreases and the plant is replaced with a new one.

Kinds

Gerbera Hummingbird

Gerbera Jaguar Scharlaken

Care and conditions of detention

Caring for gerbera is not difficult. The plant is quite unpretentious; if your gerbera is light and warm enough, it will bloom all the time.

Lighting. Gerbera loves bright sunlight and can be kept on sunny windows in autumn, winter and spring. In summer, it may be too hot for an indoor gerbera on the southern windows; it is better to move it to the eastern or western window so that the sun is only in the morning or evening.

It is also useful to take it out onto the balcony. Gerberas love fresh air and are not afraid of drafts.

Temperature. Gerbera prefers warmth, but not heat. During the flowering period - 16-22°C. In winter, after flowering ends and until February, gerberas are kept at a temperature of 14-16 degrees. A sharp drop in temperature should not be allowed.

Air humidity. It does not matter significantly; spraying the leaves (but not the flowers) has a beneficial effect on the plant.

Watering. Gerbera requires regular watering and does not tolerate drying out well. It is very important to avoid flooding the plant - this can lead to the development of various fungal diseases.

It is important to know that you need to water with warm water (18-20 degrees). Cold water in the summer heat has a bad effect on it, the plant may die.

Reproduction

Indoor gerbera is a short-lived plant, designed for the fact that after a long, abundant flowering it will be replaced by a new plant. If you really like the purchased variety, then it can be propagated by seeds (all the characteristics of the mother plant are not always inherited), by cuttings or dividing the bush.

If you want to grow a flower from seeds, remember that they quickly lose their viability. The seeds need to be sown no later than 5-6 months after they ripen, preferably in early spring. Before sowing, peat is mixed with sand and steamed to avoid diseases. The seeds are soaked and sown in bowls filled with the prepared mixture. Sprinkle a thin layer of clean sand on top and spray. Cover with glass or polyethylene, place in a warm place with a temperature of +20...+22 and wait for shoots, which may appear in a week.

After another 2-3 weeks, the seedlings dive, be sure to pinch off the long root. When planting young gerberas in pots, make sure that the rosette of leaves is 1 cm above the soil level.

Propagate by dividing the bush and cuttings indoor gerbera better in summer during a period of relative peace. You can simply divide the bush into several parts and wait for rooting, but it is easier and more reliable to divide by making a cut. To do this, without removing the plant from the pot, clean the top part of the soil and cut it into two parts with a sharp knife. Cover the cuts with crushed charcoal and sprinkle with dry soil. Water carefully. When the divided parts form new roots, the division is completed and the parts of the plant are transplanted into new pots.

Previously, they were propagated by cuttings in Dutch greenhouses, but at home this method is not reliable.

Transfer

Replant as needed in early spring or at the end of summer. The pot is not too big - 1–1.5 liters is enough.

It is not advisable to replant immediately after purchase; you need to give the plant some time to adapt. After 2 weeks, you can carefully replant, without damaging the roots, into a slightly larger pot with good drainage. The substrate in which the plant is sold is not always suitable for long-term maintenance at home, so replanting is advisable.

Top dressing

Fertilize 3-4 times a month with low concentration mineral fertilizers. At the beginning of growth, during the formation of a leaf rosette, it is better to feed gerbera nitrogen fertilizers, then - complex.

The soil: leaf soil, peat, sand or sphagnum (2:1:1). Organic fertilizers It is not recommended to add.

Diseases and pests

Excessive watering can lead to the appearance of fungal diseases on the gerbera and powdery mildew. Fusarium and late blight are common. Can be damaged by aphids, thrips and spider mites. A good prevention against diseases is constant ventilation during the warm period. Rotting can be prevented by improving soil drainage and proper watering.