Gerbera – one of the most well-loved by flower growers of houseplants. The variety of shades and kind of flowers it will captivate the most exacting judge fine. It decorates with itself greenhouses and winter gardens where they are parted on cut. It is possible to grow up gerbera in house conditions too, only it will be a few other grade – undersized or dwarfish.
Soil and change
For gerbera the easy and nutritious soil with neutral acidity (5-6 pH) is necessary. If you prefer to buy ready flower soil, soil for roses will be ideal. For independent preparation of the soil take by the 1st part of the sheet earth, peat and coarse bank sand. Well to add a little crushed pine bark to this mix. The device of good drainage at the bottom of pot from haydite or pebble is obligatory.
The house gerbera demands annual change in more spacious pot. At the same time it is necessary to watch that the earth has not got to the plant socket and that this socket has not been too buried.
Location and lighting
The gerbera adores light and with ease transfers even direct sunshine which are disliked by the majority of window plants. Of course, it does not say that it is necessary "to roast" gerbera on the southern windowsill the whole day in the stuffy room, it can not take out it, but she will spend one or two hours under the sun with pleasure. However, after all it has more on temper east and western windows. In the summer the gerbera can be taken out on balcony, loggia or in general to take away to the dacha and to land to the open ground (in the protected from strong winds and not boggy place). With the first cold weather it is necessary to return gerbera home. In the fall and it is desirable to provide it additional illumination in the winter.
Watering
During vegetation observe moderate watering (in process of drying of earth lump). Water for watering has to be the soft, filtered, room temperature. Overwetting of the soil can cause growth of fungus, and then the flower will get sick, will become sickly and will cease to blossom. It is impossible to allow water ingress in the socket of leaves at all. It is better to water gerbera from watering can with narrow nose and to pour water on internal rim of pot. During dormant period the watering should be reduced and just not to overdry the soil.
Air humidity
At the high level of air humidity the gerbera takes healthy form – leaves become elastic, flowers – bright. Therefore installation in close proximity of humidifier or the container with water will be not so superfluous. You can also put pot with flower on pallet with pebble, haydite or moss and to watch that in it constantly there was water. At the same time the contact of roots with water in pallet is inadmissible, otherwise they can quickly decay. You can make spraying from spray near gerbera, but on flower it is not necessary to spray water.
Fertilizing
Gerber should feed up during vegetation of 1 times in 10-15 days. For fertilizing complex fertilizer well is suitable for the blossoming plants.
Reproduction
You can multiply gerbera division of bush or seeds. Keep in mind that at division of bush young plants maternal signs completely remain while at reproduction the loss or modification of these signs happens seeds usually. That is the gerbera can grow below or above, flowers will have not necessarily the same coloring, terry can develop into simple, etc. You make division of maternal gerbera at the age of 3-4 years in the spring. Look after young plants the same as adults, and expect them blossoming in year. If you have decided to multiply gerbera seeds, sow them to the soil of the same structure what you prepared for change of flower. After emergence of 3-4 leaflets hold sword-play, with the advent of the 5th leaf replace sprouts separate pots of the small sizes. In 1 month feed up.