Gerberos

Gerberas are perennial plants native to southern Africa and Asia, also known as African daisies. Gerberas come in a wide variety of colours. There are more than 80 species of gerbera in the wild. Hybrid forms of gerbera are more common as houseplants.

Gerbera care

Gerbera likes to be in a sunny and well-ventilated environment. During the winter, it is advisable to keep the gerbera in a warm place (+14° C – +16° C, minimum +12° C) and to provide it with additional light. In summer, the gerbera needs an air temperature of +22° C – +24° C. At night, the air temperature should drop to +18°C to +20°C.

This flower is watered moderately often in summer and less frequently in winter. If grown in a pot, the soil should always be slightly moist. When watering, care should be taken to prevent water from getting into the rosette and onto the leaves of the plant. The water used for watering the gerbera is at room temperature. This houseplant likes moist air but does not like to be sprayed. It is best to place the gerbera pot on a tray of wet expanded clay.

Picking

Gerberas can be harvested when the anthers of at least 3 circles of tubular flowers have matured. They are yellow when ripe. Mature gerberas can be kept in water for a long time as the stems are already quite strong. When picking gerberas, the stalk should not be cut off, but should be pulled out of the rosette by turning it sideways. Gerberas are picked by hand, with one hand holding the inflorescence at the base and the other tilting it to the side and gently pulling it out of the rosette.

Gerberas are picked in the morning and immediately soaked and stored in a warm room at 3-5°C. To prevent the florets from becoming crooked and to ensure a good water absorption, the gerbera florets are placed on a special net so that the stems do not touch the bottom. After the gerberas have been soaked for 5-6 hours, they are sorted. To prevent damage to the flowers during transport, nets are placed on the flowers.

The survival of harvested gerberas depends on the variety. Wide yellow flowers last longer in the water than narrow, red or pink flowers. Smaller gerbera flowers last better when soaked in water.

How to care for cut gerberas?

Gerberas should be cut 3-4 cm short immediately after harvesting. Daily stem shortening lasts 5-12 days. Gerberas kept in clean vases with clean water and a low temperature (4°C) also last longer. Draughts and temperature fluctuations are detrimental to gerbera bouquets.

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