Gerbera Jameson: growing from seeds at home

Designers and florists like gerberas. This plant can make a bright accent in any floral composition. Today, the breeders have brought out many varieties and hybrids of this exquisite flower, not missing the attention and indoor floriculture. Now lovers of indoor plants can grow Giemsona gerberas from seeds.

A bit of history

For the first time the description of the genus gerber appeared in 1737. This was done by botanist and researcher from Holland Jan Gronowius (1690-1762). The scientist thus immortalized the name of his colleague and friend, who is known for many works in the field of botany, Traugotta Gerber, a German natural scientist and physician. For some time he served as director of the Botanical Garden "Aptekarsky Garden" in Moscow. In addition, Gerber for a long time engaged in research on the flora of the Volga region.

But in some sources one can find another version of the origin of the name. In Latin, the word "grass" is translated as herba, so the flower also received that name. In the UK in the botanical literature, you can find another name of gerbera - "transvaal daisy" or "transvaal chamomile". But anyway, today we will tell you about one of the most common representatives of this numerous genus - the Gerbera Jameson.

Description

Gerbera Jameson belongs to the family of the Astrope. The genus Gerber is more than seventy species of beautiful flowering plants. This flower was first discovered in South Africa by the Scottish explorer Robert Jameson. And the species was named in his honor. Transvaal chamomile it is called by place of origin - in honor of the Transvaal province in South Africa.

Gerbera Jameson laid the foundation for many varieties and hybrids, which today are extremely popular among florists. Large, bright and very spectacular flowers look like chamomile, though much larger - in diameter they reach fifteen centimeters. Breeders today give us the opportunity to admire the white, orange, pink, yellow, red, cream and other shades of flowers.

There are double, simple, and needle-like varieties. In indoor floriculture, the shortest varieties of Djemson Gerbera are most common: Gerbera Ilios, Gerbera Hummingbird and others. Peduncles of these plants at home do not grow more than 30 cm in height. They practically do not differ from each other in appearance, and care for them is the same.

Gerbera Jameson: growing out of seeds

When there is no opportunity to purchase an adult plant, it can be grown on its own. Buying in the store seeds of Gerbera Gemson, pay attention to their shelf life. It is necessary to know that the seeds of this flower retain their germination only for eight months after collection.

If in your home collection there is a potted plant copy of this plant, then seeds can be obtained by dusting it. But in this case you can get the plant unpredictable coloring. Remember that self-harvested seeds should be used within three months, then they will lose germination.

Experienced growers recommend that you plant a flower in the spring, although you can do it in other seasons. In this case, you will need artificial lighting.

Soil preparation

Gerbera Jameson from seeds is grown in a light and loose soil mixture consisting of equal parts of peat, perlite, sand and leaf land. You can use a simplified version - mix peat and sand in equal proportions. The earth needs to be shed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or freeze it. Then prepare the container with drain holes. On their bottom lay a claydite layer of about three centimeters and fill the tank with a soil mixture, tinting it lightly.

Seeds are sown superficially in moist soil, without deepening. From above they should be sprinkled with a thin layer of sand.

Greenhouse for seeds

Place the container with seeded seeds under the film, creating a greenhouse in which the temperature should be kept within +20 ° C. Do not forget to air the seeds twice a day and, if necessary (with the drying of the top layer), moisten it.

In twelve days, the first shoots will appear. From this point on, plants can develop under natural conditions.

Transplantations

When these leaves appear, the seedlings must be dived into a large container in such a way that the spacing between the seedlings is not less than eight centimeters. After the appearance of five leaves on each plant, they are planted in separate containers with a diameter of not more than ten centimeters.

When the young Giemson gerberas grow up a little and get stronger, they are transplanted into pots with a diameter of about twenty centimeters. Flowering plants usually comes in nine months.

Accommodation and lighting

Gerbera Jameson (photo of her you can see in this article) needs good lighting, but shading from active sun rays is mandatory. The best option for arranging flowers is the western or eastern window. For the maintenance of gerberas are extremely important and regular airing. The plant is vitally necessary for fresh air, but drafts should not be allowed.

In summer, the flower can be carried to the balcony. At this time, he will feel comfortable at a temperature of +20 to +25 ° C, and in winter, the air in the room should not cool below +12 ° C. The plant is extremely negative about the sharp changes in daytime and night temperatures. If you are growing from the seeds of Gerbera Jameson at home, spend the summer on the balcony, do not forget to bring it overnight into the room.

How to water and feed the gerbera?

This beautiful houseplant equally does not like drought, and waterlogging of the soil. It is watered twice a week, and in the summer heat, even more often. Make sure that the water does not fall on the leaf outlet of the flower when watering to avoid root rot or fungus. Water the gerbera through the pallet. To do this, it needs to be poured in water and after a while (about 30 minutes), pour out the remaining liquid.

For watering, the water is soft and damp, but not cold. A native of the hot subtropics needs high humidity. Therefore, it is recommended to humidify the air with a sprayer above the plant, but you can also put the pot on the pallet, which should be filled with a damp filler.

Three to four times a month, it is necessary to add fertilizing to the soil. When leaves are formed, nitrogenous fertilizers should be used, while blossoming, give preference to full mineral complexes.

Features of flowering

Gerbera Jameson has an interesting feature. To the plant bloom abundantly, it needs no more than twelve hours of bright illumination per day. Therefore, it blooms from the beginning of August to the middle of November, when daylight is not enough.

During flowering, remove faded flowers from the plant, as they can inhibit the development of new flower stalks. Another important nuance is that gerbera flowers are not cut off, but are broken. Remnants of the peduncle after cutting are often rotten and infect the whole plant with rot.

The rest period

After the flowering, the plant enters a period of rest, which lasts until February. At this time, watering the plant is reduced, and the top-dressing stops completely - the plant is gaining strength for the next flowering and growth. In the period of rest, the soil in the pot should not dry out. Even at this time, the plant needs moisture.

For gerbera, dry air is pernicious. Since mid-February, the number of fertilizing and watering is gradually increasing. From this moment the stage of active growth begins. Gerbera prepares for flowering, increases the green mass. After four years, the plant is rejuvenated. Gerbera can prolong its flowering and deprive it of its rest period, using additional illumination. But in this case, we must not forget that the plant will be very quickly depleted and will not last more than two years.

Pests and diseases

Buying seeds for planting Gerbera Dzhemsona, it is necessary to take into account the varieties of this plant. Some of them quite hard suffer sharp temperature changes and often get sick. Today, varieties are well tolerated, which tolerate pest attacks, but they have some other weaknesses, the presence of which should also be taken into account.

If the leaves have small moist spots that resemble dew, remove them very carefully, and cut off the dead leaves. The death of a plant can provoke infection by small insects, for example, mites and whiteflies. To protect the flower, it is necessary to periodically spray it with pesticides, and also to disinfect the soil well.

A lot of negative consequences to the plant can be delivered by a spider mite. With the naked eye it is impossible to see, so even experienced florists sometimes fail to identify the appearance of this pest at an early stage. To protect the gerbera from the tick, sprinkle the leaves with insecticide solution, then cover it with gauze for half an hour.

If after such treatment the mite could not be disposed of, the re-treatment is carried out in seven to ten days.

Interesting facts about the gerbera

The composition of the leaves and stems of gerbera includes coumarin derivatives. This substance is successfully used as a flavoring in the tobacco and perfume industry. In medicine, it is used for the production of anticoagulants of indirect action. In addition, coumarin is needed in the electroplating, to give products a strong shine.

A bouquet of gerberas can stay in the vase for up to twenty days. But this is not the limit. If you want to keep it even longer, then in the vase pour very little water, so that the stems do not rot.

There is a legend about the gerbera, which says that once on earth lived a nymph with this name. Her beauty did not leave either women or men indifferent. Everyone admired her, and this attention exhausted the nymph so much that she decided to turn into a simple wild flower. So there was a gerbera, which some people call a symbol of innocence and modesty.