Gerbera Daisy / Transvaal Daisy
Gerbera jamesonii
description
Gerbera Daisy is a cheerful flowering plant with large daisy-like blooms in vivid colours.
benefits
- Pet-friendly, non-toxic to animals
- Flowering
- Suitable for containers
How to care for Gerbera Daisy
sunlight
Native to sunny South African grasslands, gerbera daisies flower best with plenty of direct light. Give an indoor plant the brightest window you have.
Bright indirect light - tolerated
It can stay healthy near a bright east or west window, but expect fewer flowers and leggier growth if it never receives direct sun.
Full sun
A south-facing window is ideal indoors. Aim for about 4-6 hours of direct sun daily, introducing stronger sun gradually after low-light conditions.
watering
Keep Gerbera Daisy soil lightly and evenly moist, but never waterlog it. Let the top 1 inch (2-3 cm) dry before watering thoroughly, then empty the saucer.
Spring - summer
In bright, warm conditions, water about every 3-7 days. Check the soil first: it should feel dry at the surface but still slightly moist below. Small pots, strong sun, and free-draining mixes dry faster.
Autumn - winter
With lower light and slower growth, water roughly every 7-14 days. Let a little more of the mix dry, and use the pot's lighter weight as a second check. Cool rooms, larger pots, and dense soil stay wet longer.
humidity
Preferred humidity
Gerbera daisies come from sunny South African grasslands, so they enjoy moderate humidity with fresh air around the leaves. Average home humidity is usually suitable. Try not to let it stay below about 40%, especially near heating or air conditioning.
How to raise humidity
- Move the pot away from radiators and drying vents.
- Group plants nearby or use a small humidifier in very dry rooms.
- Keep air moving and avoid misting the flowers or soaking the crown, as persistently damp foliage can encourage fungal problems.
temperature
Preferred range
Winter minimum
Native to the cool, sunny uplands of South Africa, Gerbera Daisy flowers best with bright light and moderate warmth. Keep it in a stable room away from heat vents, which can dry the soil and shorten blooms.
nutrition
March - August
Feed every 2-4 weeks while the plant is producing new leaves or blooms, using a balanced liquid fertilizer for flowering plants at about half strength. Stop feeding in winter, or when growth slows in low light.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus supports bud formation and flowering. A balanced fertilizer made for flowering plants supplies enough without pushing leafy growth at the expense of blooms.
Potassium
Potassium helps support strong stems and lasting flowers. Regular light feeding during the growing season is usually sufficient.
soil
Rich, airy, fast-draining soil
Gerberas need moisture around their fine roots but quickly rot in dense, soggy compost. Use a quality potting mix loosened with perlite or coarse grit, and choose a pot with drainage holes.
pH 5,5 - 6,5
This is slightly acidic soil, which helps the plant take up nutrients for healthy leaves and flowers. Most peat- or coir-based houseplant mixes fall close to this range; avoid strongly limed or alkaline garden soil.