Gerbera — care at home
Gardenia indoor plant of the Asteraceae family, which came from Africa, Asia, and South America.
Her leaves are oval, covered with soft hairs, and small flowers of different shades collected in inflorescence on long peduncles.
The cultivation of gerbera
Location and lighting
This light-loving plant requires a large amount of light in the morning and evening — day, especially in summer, from direct sunlight to protect it.
In winter it is desirable to provide artificial lighting. It is important that the flowers were regularly ventilated, as fresh air is very important to them.
Gerber refers to heat-loving plants, in summer it is desirable to maintain the temperature of +22-24°C, night in the warm seasons it was lowered to 18-20°C. In winter the comfort temperature +14-16°C, but not less than 12°C.
Watering and humidity
Summer watering should be moderate enough that the soil was always damp. During irrigation it is impossible to prevent the ingress of moisture on the leaves and the socket.
Reduce watering in winter, it is important to keep soil ball has dried up and not with excessive. Watered only a distance not cold water.
To maintain the humidity at a high level, a pot with a plant put on the tray of wet pebbles. Spray it it is impossible.
In the flowering period required feeding, they are held every 2 weeks using a fertilizer for flowering plants. After flowering, feeding is stopped.
Transplantation and propagation
As a rule, transplanted gerbera every spring in March-April. Be very careful in this appeal is with roots, so as not to damage them.
For handling select a spacious flowerpot on the bottom be sure to put drainage. A suitable substrate is composed of leaf, peat soil, sand and pine bark (1 part). Desirable the soil is slightly acidic. After the transplant, it is important to abundantly water the plant.
The plant is propagated by dividing the Bush or seeds. The first method is more simple: in the spring the root ball separated, and each separated fragment are transplanted into different pots.
When using seed propagation is carried out in January-March. Seeds are sown in pots and kept under glass at a temperature of 16-18°C, by maintaining high soil moisture. After germination, the seedlings are seated one in small pots, gradually increasing their volume.
Pests and fight with them
Normal growth of plants can threaten aphids, spider mites, thrips. Their activity leads to yellowing and leaf drop, sometimes to the death of the flower.
The best way to get rid of solution aktellika (use about 20 drops of this product in 1 liter of water).