Gerbera daisies can bloom and rebloom, and all you need to know is the knowledge of how to keep Gerbera daisies blooming to enjoy their luscious and fabulous flowers for a long time. Among the plants that produce beautiful blooms today is Gerbera Daisies. Many people think that gerbera daisies are one-time bloomers, but UK garden experts say otherwise.
If you haven’t done it yet, you should know that there is a lot of reasons why you should consider growing your Gerbera daisies in your British garden. One, their red, orange, pink, and yellow flowers are just a great addition to your garden in the UK. Second, it’s much more fulfilling to look at or give daisies that you grew yourself.
Tips to Keep Your Gerbera Daisies Blooming
When growing Gerbera daisies, there is a lot of things that you should look out for. Primary growing factors like heat, humidity, soil and sunlight all play a role in the plant’s role in producing beautiful flowers. Let’s check out some tips on how you can keep your Gerbera daisies flowering successfully.
Tip #1. Start with a Strong Plant
If you’re buying your daisies from the store, be sure to pick the one that is the strongest in the group. The stronger your plant is, the more flowers it will produce in the future. Here are more guidelines on how you can pick out a great daisy to grow:
- Instead of buying your daisies from florists, consider purchasing your plant from a UK garden centre. It’s more likely grown from cultivars and have a higher chance of surviving the conditions outdoors.
- Check the foliage of the daisy. As much as possible, choose the one with deep green foliage.
- Check the roots, as well. They should be white, not brown.
- If a flower has already bloomed, it will give you an idea of the colour of the flowers it will produce. Check the plant for more buds, as well.
Tip #2. Grow Under Filtered Sunlight
Gerberas love sunlight, but they don’t tolerate a lot of it. To preserve your daisies, make sure to place them in an area in your British garden where they receive filtered sunlight – meaning, under a shade of trees or in a polytunnel where one can control the sunlight, especially if the temperature is above 80ºF. If you’re growing your Gerbera indoors, place it in a windowsill that allows it to receive as much sun as possible to encourage blooming.
Tip #3. Water Once a Week
Gerbera daisies only need watering once a week. But when you water, be sure to water it deeply. To do it, you have to soak your daisies at least 8 inches below its soil surface to ensure that water will reach into the roots, which can grow deep into the soil surface.
However, when the weather is warmer, you may need to water your daisies twice a week to ensure that they don’t lose hydration.
Tip #4. Grow Gerberas Daisies Under Ideal Temperatures
Gerbera daisies grow best in temperatures between 40ºF and 70ºF. However, it can still grow in temperatures under 30ºF, and exposure to frost – no matter how little – can cause considerable damage to the daisies’ roots.
Tip #5. Don’t Forget to Fertilize
Gerbera daisies bloom best when there is supplemental feeding. Be sure to fertilise them at least once every two weeks. For best results, use a fertiliser that has a low, middle number like 15-7-15 or 24-8-16 fertilisers.
Tip #6. Clip Spent Blooms and Crowded Foliage
Clipping spent bloom and leaves is vital to avoid pest infestations. When the leaves and flowers start drooping, be sure to cut just below the leaves as this will encourage the growth of new leaves or the blooming of new flowers. It’s also essential to thin out crowded foliage to allow more sunlight to reach the plant’s crown, where the buds locate.
Growing Gerbera Daisies in Semi-Pro Greenhouses
Semi-pro greenhouses are essential in UK gardening, significantly if you’re growing Gerbera daisies, which requires an optimal environment to grow. Temperature, water, and sunlight are the most critical factors that will affect its ability to bloom. With that, you have to make sure that all their requirements met to ensure survival.
Here are the significant benefits of growing your Gerbera daisies inside a semi-pro greenhouse:
Minimise Plant Problems
One of the most significant benefits of greenhouses is that it protects your plants from a wide range of problems, including pest infestation and weather problems. While you won’t prevent these pests completely (because vents and windows can still offer some access to insects), a polytunnel will minimise the problem. With lesser pests, you can enjoy healthy Gerbera blooms.
Protection from Extreme Cold
As mentioned, Gerbera daisies don’t tolerate frost. When winter comes in your UK area, you will ensure that your Gerbera grown in the polytunnel is protected from extreme cold since you will be able to control the temperature and humidity inside. Besides that, having better control of the polytunnel temperature also allows you to extend the plant’s growing and blooming period.
How to Keep Gerbera Daisies Blooming All Year Long
Keeping the tips mentioned above in mind (fertilise, water, sun exposure, etc.) will guarantee beautiful blooms that you can harvest. Now that you know how to keep Gerbera daisies blooming, you can apply this to your UK gardening practice and enjoy healthy flowers all year long.