Don't waste your money on gerbera daises unless you can give them some
special care. The old time gerbera with the tall flower stalks and
single blooms were rather easy to grow but the new double flowered
hybrids appear to have problems.
Gerbera
(Click to Enlarge)
Photo by Tom MacCubbin
Sure, they are mighty tempting in the stores in full bloom but how are
they going to look a few weeks later in your garden? As one grower once
told me the modern gerberas are made for containers.
I have grown the old fashion gerbera from seed and added them to the
perennial garden. Here they grew fine for several years. But If I put
one of the newer selections in the same spot they are going to die. I
guess there could be lots of reasons. Maybe I did not get the watering
right or maybe they were planted too deep. Just maybe they are
susceptible to too many soil born organisms. In any case I agree they do
much better in containers.
Even in the attractive containers it's not always easy. Make sure the
crown of the plants are situated so they are at or above the soil line.
Otherwise they are going to rot. Also make sure you have a good lose
soil mixture or they are going to rot. Make sure you don't over water or
over feed the plants or as you guessed it -- they are going to rot.
Gerbera should also be kept in full sun to lightly shaded areas. They
also need good air movement. They are certainly pretty but they are
definitely not carefree plants.
