Gerbera

Gerbera is a species of ornamental plants from the family of sunflower. It was named in honor of the German naturalist Traugott Gerber. It has 30 species around the world in South America and tropical Asia, Madagascar, Africa etc. It was J.D.Hooker who gave the first scientific description about this Gerbera in the magazine Curtis Botanical in the year 1889. Gerbera species bear a large capitulum with striking, 2-lipped ray florets in yellow, orange, white, pink or red colors. The capitulum appears to be a single flower but it has got hundreds of individual flowers. Thousands of cultivators exist. They vary greatly in shape and size. Colors include white, yellow, orange, red, and pink. The center of the flower is sometimes black. Often the same flower can have petals of several different colors. This flower has got great commercial values and is the most used cut flower in the world which comes next to rose. Gerbera holds the meaning of cheerfulness. It is also used as a model organism in studying flower formation. It contains naturally occurring coumarin derivatives. During the early 1920s it was considered a powerful aphrodisiac. In some of the popular legends it was held that it would arouse sentiments when boiled and mixed with regular food.

Different flower types have been developed in gerberas. Most of them are single or daisy-type flowers composed of one or two rows of long outer petals. Another type is an intermediate flower type with one or two rows of long outer ray flowers, several rows of medium-length ray flowers, and then a tight group of short disk flowers in the center. The crested flower type has many ray flowers almost covering the disk flowers, but the outer rows are longer than the inner rows so the flower head is rounded. Single or daisy-type. The seeds of Gerbera are highly expensive. They are very delicate and much sensitive to germinating conditions and take from 14 to 18 weeks from seed to flower. The plants are best purchased from a local nursery or garden center where the plants have been greenhouse grown in the case of a general gardener. Let’s take a look to the planting of Gerbera; the propagation may be achieved through seeds, basal cuttings or through dividing. Basal shoots or cuttings from the parent plant should be taken in summer. Seeds are sown or cuttings can be inserted in sandy soil until the saplings become an inch tall or the cuttings form roots. Plants which are grown from seeds can differ from the parent plant and seeds which do not germinate within about twenty days are likely not to germinate at all. Replanting is done in April. The saplings and the cuttings can be replanted in pots filled with a mixture of sand, dried organic mix, loam. When repotting ensure the crown of the plant is above the level of the soil. Until the plants settle, they should be kept in shades and sprinkled with water. After that no shading is necessary. The settled plant lasts for 3 to 4 years. After that flowers will lessen and the growth of the plant will get stunted.

For best results the plants need a liberal amount of sun and water. Half day of direct sun and half day of partial shade and remaining slightly moist at all times is ideal. High source of light can give an abundance of flowers. Healthy Gerberas are rarely bothered by pests. Fungus and stem rot is a common problem with over watered plants. Remove old leaves regularly to prevent fungus infections. We, the Blooming Britain – one of the best online florists, have a wide range of Gerberas. You can select from our exotic range of Gerberas.