Gerberas are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful flowers in the world. Similar to daisies but with brighter colors, they grow from spring to late summer, and sometimes well into fall if the weather is good for them. As they grow so little, it is very common for them to be grown in pots.
Now well, Have you ever wondered how to care for a potted gerbera? It may seem like a very easy plant to care for, but if mistakes are made, we could lose it.
Where to place the gerbera in a pot?
The gerbera is a herbaceous plant that needs two things to thrive and be really good: direct sun and heat (but not extreme). Starting from this, it is better to have it outside, either on the patio or terrace, or even on the windowsill if you have enough space. It is also perfect to have on the balcony, because as it is small it can be placed on the balcony floor or hung on the wall.
Now, during the winter, we will have to decide whether to keep it outside or put it inside the house, since it is not resistant to frost. In the event that we have to keep it indoors, we will place it in a room with plenty of natural light.
When should it be watered?
Watering the gerbera should be moderate in good weather, but rather rare in winter. This must be the case because in the warm months the substrate dries out faster than in autumn and winter. In addition, a plant that is inside the house will also be watered less than one that is outside, because the soil needs more time to dry.
The question is, how many times should you do it? Well, the answer is that it depends a lot on the weather and where it is placed. But overall, it will be watered when we see that the soil is almost dry. So that problems don’t arise, I recommend inserting a thin plastic stick and seeing if it comes out wet or not.
By the way, when you go to rehydrate your gerbera, remember this: it is necessary to pour water until it comes out through the drainage holes of the pot. And if you have a plate under it, drain it later.
What type of pot and substrate to choose?
The pot for the gerbera should be wider than tall (or roughly the same width as the height). It can be plastic or another material as long as it has holes in its base so that water can come out of it when watering, otherwise the roots will eventually rot and the plant will die.
Also, you must keep in mind that the substrate you put on it must be of quality. Avoid heavy substrates -which are the ones that are usually the cheapest-, because these do not allow the roots to grow well. In fact, I recommend using universal substrates (like this one) that contain perlite, and if they don’t have it, buy it separately (here for example) and mix it in a ratio of 7:3 (70% universal substrate + 30% perlite).
When should the pot be changed?
It is a small grass, but you will need a slightly larger pot if the roots are sticking out of the holes that you currently have. However, it should not be transplanted if it is flowering, but rather before it begins to do so, or later if the temperatures are high and there will be no frost in winter.
When to fertilize the potted gerbera?
Since it’s a plant that grows when it’s hotand to be more precise, when the temperatures stay above 15°C and below 35°C, if you want it to be even better, healthier and flower longer, it is very interesting to pay it during these months.
For that, manures or liquid fertilizers should be used like this one, or specific fertilizing nails for flowering plants like these (the latter are very easy to apply, since you just have to “push” them into the ground). Of course, always follow the instructions that you will find on the packaging because an overdose can be fatal.
How to take care of yourself in winter?
Image – Flickr/jacinta lluch valero
If during the winter there are frosts, you will have to have your gerbera potted inside the house. As well as making sure it doesn’t lack light and reducing the frequency of watering so it doesn’t rot, you’ll want to make sure you place it in an area where it isn’t exposed to air conditioning, radiators, or drafts that may enter through windows.
Moreover, You must suspend the subscriber until spring returnsbecause as long as the winter lasts, the gerbera will not grow, so it will not need this additional supply of nutrients.
I hope you enjoy your potted gerbera very much.