There is a flower called gerbera that looks a lot like a sunflower, even though it is not a daisy. Both are in the same plant family. As with sunflowers, gerbera daisies’ large and intensely colored blooms stand out from a distance.
For the most part, the South African native plant is grown as an annual outside of USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11. In zones 12 and 13, it is usually grown as a winter annual. Gerbera daisies are hard to take care of because they like acidic soil and cool nights and are prone to crown rot. But the bright flowers are worth it.
Gerbera daisies, with their cheerful, colorful blooms, are a delight in any garden. To keep these beauties thriving and flowering their best, proper fertilization is key. But with so many fertilizer options out there, how do you choose the right one? This guide breaks down everything you need to know to pick the perfect fertilizer for robust gerbera daisies.
Gerbera Daisy Fertilizer Needs
Gerbera daisies require fertilizers that provide balanced levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK). Here’s what each nutrient contributes:
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Nitrogen (N) promotes leafy, vegetative growth. Gerberas need moderate nitrogen. Too much causes excessive foliage with few flowers.
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Phosphorus (P) fuels root growth, blooming, and overall plant vigor. Gerberas need high phosphorus to support prolific flowering.
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Potassium (K) aids flower formation, water uptake, and disease resistance. Potassium also helps gerberas develop strong, sturdy stems.
In addition to NPK, gerberas benefit from fertilizers containing secondary nutrients like iron, manganese, and magnesium. These support functions like photosynthesis and help prevent deficiencies
Fertilizer Types
Granular, liquid, and slow-release fertilizers can all effectively nourish gerbera daisies. Consider the pros and cons of each:
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Granular: Provides a slow, steady release of nutrients. Just scratch into soil around plants every 2-3 months.
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Liquid Offers a quick burst of nutrients Dilute and feed plants every 2-4 weeks
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Slow-release: Gradually releases nutrients over 2-4 months. Sprinkle on soil surface around plants.
Organic options like compost, worm castings, and fish emulsion are also suitable for gerberas Though slower to release nutrients than chemical fertilizers, they improve soil health
The Optimal NPK Ratio
Look for fertilizers with an NPK ratio skewed toward phosphorus, such as:
- 10-30-20
- 15-30-15
- 5-10-5
A higher phosphorus middle number promotes prolific flowering. Meanwhile, moderated nitrogen prevents excessive leaf growth over flowers.
For organic options lacking an NPK ratio, mix different amendments to achieve optimal nutrient levels. Pair nitrogen-rich choices like blood meal with phosphorus-heavy bone meal.
When and How Often to Fertilize
Time applications carefully:
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Spring: Fertilize every 2 weeks from the emergence of new growth until buds appear.
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Summer: Continue fertilizing every 2-4 weeks during peak blooming season.
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Fall: Reduce frequency to once a month after blooming declines.
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Winter: Do not fertilize dormant plants. Resume in spring.
Liquid fertilizers work well for potted gerberas you can easily drench. For in-ground plants, rotate between granular and slow-release fertilizers. Organic options like compost benefit all gerberas when worked into beds before planting.
Signs It’s Time to Fertilize
Watch for signals your gerberas need more nutrients:
- Yellowing or dropping leaves
- Reduced flowering
- Lackluster flower color
- Short, weak stems
Take note if growth seems stalled. Respond by fertilizing to reinvigorate your plants. But beware overdoing it, which can damage roots. When in doubt, test soil to determine actual nutrient levels.
Avoiding Fertilizer Burn
Too much fertilizer can hurt gerbera daisy roots, leading to scorched leaves, wilting, and other issues. Prevent problems with these tips:
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Use diluted liquid fertilizers and sparing amounts of granular/slow-release.
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Water deeply after applying to avoid salt buildup.
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If signs of burn appear, flush soil thoroughly.
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Let soil dry between watering to allow salts to leach out.
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Test soil pH and amend if needed. Extreme pH hampers nutrient absorption.
The Best Bloomer-Boosting Fertilizers
Here are some top-rated fertilizers for vibrant gerbera daisies:
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Espoma Organic Flower-tone: A gentle 6-3-2 ratio organic fertilizer perfect for gerberas.
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Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Bloom Booster: A 10-52-10 formula high in phosphorus to stimulate abundant blooms.
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Jobe’s Organics Flower and Vegetable: A balanced 9-4-6 organic fertilizer that also conditions soil.
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Osmocote Smart-Release Flower & Vegetable: An 8-9-12 slow-release formula that feeds for up to 6 months.
Focus on a phosphorus-rich fertilizer to fuel a profusion of cheerful blooms on your gerbera daisies all season long. With a properly nourished garden, you’ll be enjoying vivid flowers into the fall frost!
Can you grow gerbera daisies in containers?
These plants grow well in pots, too. Since clay soil is likely to make them grow worse in the ground, they will probably do better in pots with looser potting soil. Keeping gerbera daisies in pots also will make it easier to move them indoors during winter. For a gerbera daisy pot, regular potting mix should work as long as the plant crowns stay just above the mix’s surface.
There is a fine line between keeping the soil damp enough so that gerberas don’t dry out and so wet that the crowns of the plants rot when you water them. To accomplish that, water gerbera daisies when their soil is dry about 1 inch beneath the surface.
When you water plants in the morning, let them dry out before evening, and don’t pour water into the crowns. Instead, use a soaker hose or water the plants from the side by putting the watering can’s spout under the leaves.
Gerbera daisies should be fed a low-phosphorus liquid plant food like 24-8-16 or the organic 3-1-2 once every two weeks. Instead, use a granular fertilizer made for plants that like acidic soil, like 15-5-15 or the organic 4-3-4, about once a month during the growing season.
Ideally, that fertilizer also should contain iron and manganese since gerberas are prone to deficiencies of those elements. If the plants begin to yellow try applying a spray containing those micronutrients.
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To keep gerbera blooming, snip off each bloom stalk after its flower has faded. Cut the stem at its base below the leaves to keep the plant looking tidy.
Gerbera plants bloom best when plenty of light reaches their root crowns. However, those crowns often are obscured by foliage. So, it’s a good idea to cut off some leaves from the middle of each plant often so the sun can shine through. While doing that, remove any dead foliage as well.
Gerbera seeds should be plump and fresh (refrigerated since shortly after harvest) to be viable. Press those seeds into a damp seed starting mix, with their sharp ends down, but don’t cover them. Put the pot under a grow light that is set to 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit until the seeds start to grow. This could take one to three weeks.
To divide perennial gerberas that have developed multiple crowns, dig them up in spring. Separate the plants from each other, using pruning shears if necessary. Snip off about half of the gerberas’ lowest leaves before replanting them 12 to 18 inches apart.
People think gerberas are safe to eat, but gardeners still don’t want to! When grown indoors, gerbera daisies may make allergy sufferers sick.
In fact, plants with showy flowers, like gerberas, depend on bugs to move their pollen around, so they don’t put out as much of it as plants with plainer flowers might. However, those “daisies” still could be irritating to highly pollen-sensitive people and pets. Also, the plants’ somewhat fuzzy leaves gather dust easily, which could provoke sneezing, too. However, gerbera is commonly cited as a houseplant that helps keep indoor air fresh.
Recommended Gerbera Daisy Varieties
- Cartwheel series: Flowers in this series are 3 to 4 inches wide and can be single or semidouble. They grow on 15-inch plants.
- The brightly colored Flori Line Maxi has 4-inch blooms on 12-inch plants that make them look their best.
- Garvinea series: The Garvinea series is said to be more hardy than most gerberas, growing up to zone 7. It can grow anywhere from 10 to 20 inches tall and has blooms that are 2½ to 3½ inches across.
- Mega Revolution series: This gerbera flower series has big blooms that are 5 to 6 inches across on 10- to 12-inch plants, but it can only survive in zone 9.
When you’re thinking about how to grow gerbera daisies, keep in mind that they like it a little cool and that they bloom better in early summer and fall than in the middle of summer.
Gerbera Daisies : Best fertilizer for getting Bigger and More Flowers from Gerbera Plant
FAQ
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