Gerbera room: description of varieties, cultivation and care, diseases and pests

Indoor gerberas look like colorful daisies. It is the variety of color shades that makes them especially popular. Flowers are a stunning home decoration and, with proper care, will delight with an abundance of colors when blooming. These delicate plants need careful care. Otherwise, immunity decreases, the risk of fungal diseases or pests increases.

Gerbera varieties suitable for home growing

Suitable for home breeding are specially bred dwarf varieties of the variety, supplied from Holland in special containers.Indoor gerberas are characterized by compact size, do not exceed 0.3 m in height. The following varieties of gerberas have been adapted for cultivation at home:

• Gerdera Happipot - has pink petals with a multi-layered structure, matte color, middle brown surrounded by tiny pink petals.
• Gerbera Parade - flowers have orange and yellow hues, the middle has a similar color.
• Gerbera Ilios - has flowers of different sizes and colors, the color range ranges from soft tones: orange, yellow, light red.
• Gerbera Hummingbird - has inflorescences of bright scarlet, crimson, yellow color shades.

Features of cultivation

An important condition for preventing gerbera damage by indoor diseases and pests is compliance with growing conditions:

• steam the soil to disinfect before transplanting;
• control the level of soil acidity;
• monitor the temperature regime;
• arrange adequate lighting;
• follow the rules of watering, avoid excessive moisture or drying out, which will cause the development of diseases.

Also, gerberas are rejuvenated every fourth year in a pot. Creating a cycle for the plant remains an important requirement. Flowering time is from August to October. For the next four months, the gerbera sleeps. It is necessary to reduce the number and volume of watering, reduce lighting. At the end of winter, the growth phase begins actively. It is important to resume the volume of watering and feed the flower. If you do not follow the rules of cyclicity, the plant will bloom all year, which will lead to its depletion. Gerbera may die.

What should I do after purchase?

After buying from a specialized store, the flower needs to be transplanted. To do this, it is important to wait 2-3 weeks. The plant is difficult to adapt to changing climatic conditions. Transplantation is delayed if the gerbera is in bloom.

Before the transplant process, you need to choose the right pot. It should exceed the previous one by only 20-30 mm. The pot should not be very deep and wide, otherwise the gerbera will stop blooming and will begin to develop the root system. The ideal container material is clay.

It is recommended to choose a sunny place. Gerbera does not like drafts, it is not recommended to put it on a window that is used for ventilation. Although the plant is thermophilic, it does not tolerate extreme heat and direct sunlight. In the sun, it is undesirable to place the plant on the window on the south side.

Caring for a houseplant

The flower needs careful care, because it is its absence that will cause the gerbera to be affected by diseases and pests.

Temperature and light conditions

Culture does not like temperature changes, if during the day the pot is taken out to the loggia or balcony, it must be brought in at night. The optimum temperature is from 20 to 25 ^оС. At the moment of rest, the required temperature is 12-15 ^оС. When the thermometer drops below 12 ^{oC the flower dies.}

Rationing of lighting contributes to high-quality flowering. Although the gerbera loves the light, prolonged exposure to the sun will shorten the flowering period. In summer, the duration of light wakefulness is 10-12 hours. There is an increased growth of the leaf part, the first buds will appear by the middle (end) of autumn.

Irrigation Rules

The natural habitat of the plant is the tropical zone. Accordingly, the gerbera prefers humidity in the environment: air and earth. Optimally necessary watering - twice a week. In winter, if the flower is next to the heater, and in summer the amount of watering increases. The main rule: the earth should not become dry and should not be excessively wet

During watering, it is important to ensure that the liquid does not fall on the rosette of leaves. This will cause the development of harmful organisms, mold fungi. For irrigation, use exclusively melted or separated warm water.

Humidity

If the air is dry (in winter near the battery or in summer), it is necessary to irrigate the plant, but make sure that water does not fall on the inflorescence and the base of the leaf plates. It is recommended to put a container with wet pebbles next to the pot. Evaporation will ensure sufficient water balance for the flower.

Transplant, soil and top dressing

Gerbera is unpretentious, calmly tolerates transplantation. This procedure is carried out at the end of winter, when the plant is at rest. The most optimal method is transshipment along with a root ball. Root cutting is not allowed.

The soil needs porous, light, breathable. For the substrate, it is recommended to use peat and perlite in equal parts. The following mixture is also suitable: earth (2 parts), sand and peat (one part each). The acidity of the soil is taken into account - 6 pH. You can’t add compost or rotted organic matter, they will burn the root system.

It is necessary to feed the plant throughout the spring and summer period. For full growth, it is enough to apply complex fertilizer twice a month. Organics are not recommended.

Protection from diseases and pests

This flower is prone to a variety of diseases, but they are primarily caused by improper care.

If the plant turns yellow, throws off the foliage, there is an assumption of damage to the spider mite. These parasites develop in overdried soil, with insufficient moisture. For preventive purposes, it is recommended to irrigate leaf plates and stems with non-cold water.

Often powdery mildew affects gerberas. The reason is a temperature difference, watering with cold liquid or an excess of fertilizers containing nitrogen.

If brown spots appear on the leaves, this indicates a lesion with Alternaria. Over time, they become lighter. If the flower is excessively moistened, they are covered with a velvety coating. Yellowed leaves also indicate the presence of the disease. Weak plants are most affected, with insufficient nutrition.

Flower reproduction

Flower reproduction is carried out in several ways, each of which has its own characteristics. Given this, the florist chooses a convenient and optimal way for himself.

Cutting

The process requires a special temperature regime - 24 ^{оС, and high humidity.}

Required:

• dig up the bush, wash it, cut off the leaf plate;
• rhizome to plant in a greenhouse;
• shoots will grow from the sinuses, they will become the basis of the cuttings;
• prepare cuttings from the strengthened sprouts: cut at the root with a knife, plant in loose soil, put a 2-cm layer of sand with perlite on top.

For successful rooting, it is necessary to keep the container at a temperature not lower than 24 ^{оС and high humidity. If the cuttings are treated with a growth stimulator, rooting will occur faster.}

Sowing seeds

To obtain a young plant, seeds are sown. It is recommended to purchase seed in a specialized store. Landing is done in small containers. Sowing cover with glass or film. Humidity must be high for fast and efficient germination. The optimum temperature regime is 24 ^{оС. After the appearance of sprouts, remove the glass or film.}

Dividing the bush

The home breeding method also provides for the division of the bush. Recognized as the most convenient. Produced during the summer. Required:

1. Remove the top layer of the earth. Expose the roots and make cuts, dividing the plant into two parts.
2. Sprinkle the cut with crushed coal.
3. Water should be around the edges of the pot.
4. When new roots appear, carefully remove the flower from the pot, divide into two parts, seat. Plants will bloom next year.

Mistakes to avoid

Sometimes, if the necessary requirements are met, when growing a gerbera, it does not bloom. It is worth figuring out why indoor gerbera does not produce flowers. One of the reasons is the big pot. The plant actively began to form the root system, from which the ground part suffers.

Excessive nutrition, non-compliance with the temperature regime stops flowering. Also, the gerbera does not bloom, observing the usual cycle. In winter, the plant rests. Don't break your routine. Only with careful observance of the basic requirements for the care of a gerbera will delight with an abundance of flowering.

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