Gerbera daisies (Gerbera jamesonii), with their cheerful, vibrant, and perfectly symmetrical blooms, are a favorite among gardeners and flower enthusiasts worldwide. Their bold colors—ranging from fiery reds and oranges to soft pinks, yellows, and whites—and long-lasting cut flowers make them a popular choice for garden beds, containers, and floral arrangements. While you can easily purchase established Gerbera plants, growing them from seed offers a deeply rewarding experience, often yielding a wider variety of colors and forms, and providing a sense of accomplishment from nurturing a plant from its very beginning.
Growing Gerbera daisies from seed does require a bit of patience and attention to detail, as their seeds have specific germination requirements. However, by understanding these needs and following a few key steps, you can successfully cultivate these stunning flowers and enjoy their vibrant display in your garden or home. This guide will walk you through the process of propagating Gerbera daisies from seed, offering essential tips for successful germination and care.
Propagating Gerbera Daisies
Gerbera daisies can be propagated by division, cuttings (though less common), or seed. Growing from seed is an excellent option for several reasons:
- Cost-Effective: Seeds are significantly cheaper than purchasing established plants, especially if you want a large number of plants.
- Variety: Seed packets often contain a mix of colors and flower types, leading to exciting surprises as your plants bloom.
- Challenge and Reward: There’s a unique satisfaction in growing plants from scratch.
However, it’s important to note that Gerbera daisy seeds from hybrid varieties may not “come true to type,” meaning the resulting plants might not be identical to the parent plant. This can be a delightful surprise or a factor to consider if you’re aiming for a specific color or form.
How To Plant and Grow Gerbera Daisy Seeds
Successfully germinating Gerbera daisy seeds depends heavily on freshness and precise planting techniques.
1. Seed Collection and Preparation:
- Freshness is Crucial: Gerbera daisy seeds have a very short viability period. Their germination rate drops significantly after just a few weeks. Use the freshest seeds possible. If collecting your own, sow them immediately after harvesting. If buying, ensure they are from a reputable supplier known for fresh seeds.
- Handling: Gerbera daisy seeds are somewhat unique. Each “seed” you collect from a spent flower head is actually an achene, a small fruit containing the true seed. It has a tiny plume (a “parachute” similar to a dandelion seed) that helps with wind dispersal.
- Some gardeners gently remove this feathery plume before planting, as it can sometimes hinder proper soil contact. Others plant it as is.
- Do not soak Gerbera seeds before planting; they do not require it and can be prone to rot.
2. Timing for Planting:
- Indoors: Start seeds indoors 12-18 weeks before your last expected frost date. This gives the plants enough time to mature before being transplanted outdoors.
- Outdoors: If you live in a frost-free climate, you can sow seeds directly outdoors in early spring or autumn. However, starting indoors generally yields better results due to controlled conditions.
3. Planting Medium and Containers:
- Medium: Use a high-quality, sterile seed-starting mix that is light, airy, and well-draining. A mix of peat moss (or coco coir) and perlite or vermiculite works well. Avoid heavy garden soil, which can compact and impede germination.
- Containers: Use shallow seed-starting trays or individual cell packs with excellent drainage holes.
4. Sowing the Seeds:
- Surface Sow: Gerbera daisy seeds need light to germinate. Do not bury them deeply.
- Gently press each seed onto the surface of the moist potting mix.
- Lightly cover them with a very thin layer of vermiculite, fine sand, or just lightly sprinkle a tiny bit of the seed-starting mix. The goal is to provide just enough contact with the soil to keep them moist while still allowing light to reach them.
- Spacing: If using trays, space seeds about 2.5-5 cm (1-2 inches) apart.
5. Watering and Humidity:
- Consistent Moisture: After sowing, gently water the soil until it is evenly moist but not waterlogged. A spray bottle or bottom watering (placing the tray in a shallow pan of water) works well to avoid disturbing the tiny seeds.
- Maintain Humidity: Cover the trays with a clear plastic dome or plastic wrap to create a mini-greenhouse effect and maintain high humidity. Ensure some ventilation (e.g., poke a few holes or lift the cover daily) to prevent fungal growth.
6. Temperature and Light for Germination:
- Warmth: Gerbera daisy seeds require warm temperatures for germination. Maintain a consistent soil temperature of $21^\circ C$ to $24^\circ C$ ($70^\circ F$ to $75^\circ F$). A heating mat is highly recommended for best results.
- Light: As mentioned, they need light to germinate. Place trays in a brightly lit area (e.g., under grow lights for 12-16 hours a day or in a bright window, avoiding direct scorching sun).
7. Germination:
- Patience: Germination usually occurs within 7-21 days, but it can be erratic. Be patient and maintain consistent conditions.
8. Care After Germination:
- Light: Once seedlings emerge, ensure they receive plenty of bright light to prevent them from becoming leggy. Keep grow lights a few inches above the seedlings.
- Watering: Continue to keep the soil consistently moist, but allow the very top layer to dry slightly between waterings to prevent damping-off disease.
- Air Circulation: Increase air circulation by gradually removing the plastic dome for longer periods each day. A small fan can help strengthen stems.
- Thinning: If you planted multiple seeds per cell or too closely in a tray, thin them out once they develop their first true leaves (the second set of leaves), leaving the strongest seedling.
- Feeding: Once seedlings have developed 2-3 sets of true leaves, you can begin feeding them with a very dilute liquid fertilizer (e.g., quarter strength).
9. Transplanting Seedlings:
- Timing: When seedlings are large enough to handle (typically 7-10 cm / 3-4 inches tall with several true leaves) transplant them into individual larger pots (e.g., 10 cm / 4 inch diameter).
- Potting Mix: Use a well-draining general-purpose potting mix.
- Gentle Handling: Gerbera roots can be delicate. Handle seedlings by their leaves or root ball, not the stem.
- Crucial Tip - Crown Height: When transplanting, ensure the crown of the plant (where the leaves emerge from the stem) is at or slightly above the soil line. Burying the crown too deeply is a common cause of rot and plant failure for Gerbera daisies.
10. Hardening Off and Outdoor Planting:
- Hardening Off: Before transplanting outdoors, gradually acclimate your Gerbera seedlings to outdoor conditions for 1-2 weeks. Start with a few hours in a sheltered, shaded spot and gradually increase their exposure to sun, wind, and outdoor temperatures.
- Outdoor Planting: Choose a location with full sun (at least 6 hours) in cooler climates or partial shade (afternoon shade) in hotter climates. Ensure excellent drainage. Plant at the same depth as they were in their pots, keeping the crown slightly above the soil level.
Where Can You Get Gerbera Daisy Seeds?
- Specialized Seed Companies: Reputable online or local seed companies that specialize in flowers are your best bet. They often have a wider selection of colors and may offer specific series (e.g., ‘Jamestown,’ ‘Revolution’) bred for vigor and bloom size.
- Garden Centers: Some garden centers will carry Gerbera daisy seeds, especially during the spring season.
- Online Marketplaces: While available, exercise caution and check seller reviews to ensure seed quality and freshness.
- Collecting Your Own: If you have existing Gerbera plants and they produce viable seeds, you can collect them. After a flower fades, allow the head to dry on the plant. Once completely dry and fluffy (like a dandelion seed head), gently pull out the feathery seeds. Plant immediately for best results.
How Often Should You Water Gerbera Daisies?
Gerbera daisies are particular about water.
- Consistent Moisture, Not Soggy: They prefer consistently moist soil but absolutely cannot tolerate waterlogged conditions, which lead to root rot.
- Check Soil: The best method is to check the soil moisture. Water when the top 2.5-5 cm (1-2 inches) of soil feels dry to the touch.
- Deep Watering: When you do water, water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom of the pot (for containers) or until the soil is moist to a good depth (for in-ground plants).
- Crown Dryness: Avoid getting water directly into the crown of the plant, as this can lead to crown rot. Water around the base of the plant.
- Reduce in Winter: Reduce watering during cooler, dormant periods.
Do Gerbera Daisies Live in All Climates?
No, Gerbera daisies are not hardy in all climates.
- Climate Preference: They are warm-weather perennials, native to South Africa. They thrive in climates with mild winters and warm (but not excessively hot) summers.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: Gerbera daisies are typically hardy in USDA Zones 8-11. In these zones, they can be grown as perennials, often blooming for multiple years.
- Colder Climates (Zone 7 and below): In colder regions, Gerbera daisies are most often grown as annuals, planted fresh each spring and succumbing to the first hard frost.
- Overwintering Indoors: If you want to keep your Gerbera plants alive in colder zones, you can pot them up from the garden in autumn before the first frost and bring them indoors. Provide them with a bright, cool (but not cold) location and reduce watering during their dormant period. They can then be moved back outdoors in spring after all danger of frost has passed.
- In Kenya: Gerbera daisies would thrive as perennials in many parts of Kenya, particularly in the highland areas with moderate temperatures and good rainfall, such as Nairobi, Limuru, or parts of the Rift Valley. In hotter, more arid regions, they would need more shade and consistent irrigation to perform well.
Final Thoughts
Growing Gerbera daisies from seed is a rewarding journey that allows you to witness the development of these cheerful blooms from their very beginning. While requiring attention to seed freshness, proper surface sowing, and consistent warmth, the effort is well worth it when you’re greeted with a profusion of vibrant colors. Whether you’re aiming to fill your garden beds, brighten your containers, or simply enjoy the process of cultivation, growing Gerbera daisies from seed offers a delightful and satisfying horticultural experience that brings a burst of sunshine to any space.