| This spring, I planted three Gerbera daisies in my front yard. Now its September, and I dug up the daisies and planted flowering cabbage in their places. I am wondering if the Gerbera daisies will do well as houseplants. If I use them strictly as houseplants, how many years will they live and produce flowers? |
| Gerbera jamesonii or Transvaal daisy is native to South Africa so it won't survive your winter weather. Gerbera's thrive in full sun and rich soil with excellent drainage. They prefer a thorough watering and then dry soil, followed by a flooding again. The plants need frequent feeding during the growing season and will produce new leaves and flowers if the old leaves and flowers are pinched off regularly. Most Gerbera's are discarded at the end of the season, or potted up and taken into a bright room or a cool greenhouse. Provide average household warmth, bright light and moist soil throughout the winter. Many gardeners opt for collecting seeds in the autumn, sowing them indoors and having a full-grown plant ready for transplanting outdoors in the late spring. If you've potted yours up to take indoors, bring it in at night and take it back out during the day as long as the temperatures remain above 60F, leaving it out for shorter and shorter periods of time each day. This acclimation period will make the transition from outdoors to indoors less stressful on your plant. Once indoors, provide average household temperatures and lots of bright light. Keep the soil moist but not soggy wet. If all conditions are perfect, your plant will bloom in spring. Good luck with your Gerbera! |
