How to Grow and Care for Your Transvaal Daisy
Gerbera jamesonii
![This plant grows best with full sun for most of the day This plant grows best with full sun for most of the day](/graphic2/sun.gif) ![This plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic watering This plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic watering](/graphic2/medwater.gif) ![This plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions This plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditions](/graphic2/highwater.gif) ![This plant produces white flowers White flowering plant](/graphic2/icon_white.gif) ![Plants, shrubs and trees that have red flowers Red flowering plant](/graphic2/icon_red.gif) ![This plant produces pink flowers Pink flowering plant](/graphic2/icon_pink.gif) ![This plant produces yellow flowers Yellow flowering plant](/graphic2/icon_yellow.gif) ![Plants, shrubs and trees that have orange flowers orange flowering plant](/graphic2/icon_orange.gif) ![A photograph of a Transvaal Daisy is available A photograph of a Transvaal Daisy is available](/graphic2/camera.png) ![How to Use the Plant Care Icons at The Garden Helper How to Use the Plant Care Icons at The Garden Helper](psd/help.gif)
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Gerbera plants have dark green, deeply cut leaves with fuzzy undersides.
The foliage may grow to 10"
The large, brightly colored, Daisy-like flowers stand above the foliage on stiff,
leafless stems all summer.
Growing Requirements for Gerberas and Transvaal Daisy Plants
Unfortunately, the Transvaal Daisy is only hardy in USDA zones 8-11.
In cooler zones, your Gerbera Plant will need to be grown in a container,
and moved indoors for the winter months.
Transvaal Daisies should be grown in full sun except for hotter regions where they will need to be planted where they will receive light shade.
Plant Gerberas 12"-18" apart in well draining, compost rich, slightly acidic soil.
Feed your Transvaal Daisies twice a month with a balanced fertilizer while they are actively growing, but stop feeding and cut back on watering when growth stops in the fall.
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If you are growing your Gerbera as a house plant,
give it a little protection from the sun during the hottest days in the summer.
Grow at 60°-65° nights and 70°-75° days.
Short days are required for Gerberas to set their flower buds.
Growing Gerbera Plants from Seed
Sow FRESH Transvaal Daisy seeds indoors in early spring for flowers in the first year.
The seeds must be set onto the seed bed with the pointed end down, but they can not be covered because they require light for germination.
Keep the soil temperature at 70°-75° until germination, which takes 15-25 days.
Keep the crown of the plants above the soil line to prevent crown rot!
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Transvaal Daisy Gerbera jamesonii |
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