Gorgeous gerbera is loved by designers and florists. This plant is able to bring a bright accent to any flower arrangement. Today, breeders have bred many varieties and hybrids of this exquisite flower, not ignoring indoor floriculture. Houseplant lovers can now grow the Jameson Gerbera from seed.
A bit of history
The first description of the genus of gerberas appeared in 1737. This was done by the Dutch botanist and explorer Jan Gronovius (1690–1762). The scientist thus immortalized the name of his colleague and friend, who is known for many works in the field of botany - Traugott Gerber - a German naturalist and physician. For some time he served as director of the Aptekarsky Ogorod botanical garden in Moscow. In addition, Gerber has been researching the flora of the Volga region for a long time.
But in some sources you can find another version of the origin of the name. In Latin, the word "grass" is translated as herba, which is why the flower got its name. In the UK at the botanicalliterature, you can find another name for gerbera - "Transvaal daisy" or "Transvaal daisy". But be that as it may, today we will tell you about one of the most common representatives of this numerous genus - the Jameson gerbera.
Description
Gerbera Jameson belongs to the Astrov family. The genus Gerber is more than seventy species of flowering plants. This flower was first discovered in South Africa by the Scottish explorer Robert Jemson. And the species was named after him. It is called Transvaal chamomile after its place of origin - in honor of the Transvaal province in South Africa.
Gerbera Jameson laid the foundation for many varieties and hybrids that are extremely popular among flower growers today. Large, bright and very spectacular flowers outwardly resemble a chamomile, however, much larger - they reach fifteen centimeters in diameter. Breeders today give us the opportunity to admire white, orange, pink, yellow, red, cream and other shades of flowers.
There are terry, simple, and also needle-shaped varieties. In indoor floriculture, undersized varieties of Jameson 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 Jamson: growing from seeds
When there is no way to get an adultplant, you can grow it yourself. When buying Jameson gerbera seeds in the store, pay attention to their expiration date. You need to know that the seeds of this flower remain viable only for eight months after harvest.
If you have a potted specimen of this plant in your home collection, seeds can be obtained by pollinating it. But in this case, you can get a plant of unpredictable color. However, remember that self-collected seeds should be used within three months, then they will lose their germination.
Experienced flower growers recommend sowing a flower in the spring, although you can do this at other times of the year. In this case, you will need artificial lighting.
Soil preparation
Gerbera Jameson from seed is grown in a light and loose potting mix of equal parts peat, perlite, sand and leafy soil. You can also use a simplified version - mix peat and sand in equal proportions. The earth must be shed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or frozen. Then you should prepare a container with drainage holes. Lay expanded clay on their bottom with a layer of about three centimeters and fill the container with soil mixture, lightly tamping it.
Seeds are sown superficially in moist soil, without deepening. From above they should be sprinkled with a thin layer of sand.
Seed greenhouse
Place the container with the planted seeds under the film, creating a greenhouse inwhich the temperature must be maintained within +20 °C. Do not forget to air the seeds twice a day and, as necessary (when the top layer dries), moisten it.
In twelve days the first shoots will appear. From now on, plants can develop naturally.
Transfers
When real leaves appear, the seedlings must be dived into a large container so that the distance between the seedlings is at least eight centimeters. After the appearance of five leaves on each plant, they are seated in separate containers with a diameter of no more than ten centimeters.
When the young Jamson gerberas grow a little more and get stronger, they are transplanted into pots with a diameter of about twenty centimeters. Plant flowering usually occurs after nine months.
Placement and lighting
Gerbera Jameson (you can see her photo in this article) needs good lighting, but shading from the active rays of the sun is a must. The best option for arranging flowers is a western or eastern window. For the maintenance of gerberas, regular airing is extremely important. Fresh air is vital for the plant, but drafts should not be allowed.
In summer, the flower can be taken out to the balcony. At this time, he will feel quite comfortable at temperatures from +20 to +25 ° C, and in winter, the air in the room should not cool below +12 ° C. The plant is extremely negative about sudden changes in day and night temperatures. If grown by you from seedsgerbera jamson at home spends summer on the balcony, do not forget to bring it indoors at night.
How to water and feed a gerbera?
This beautiful indoor plant equally dislikes both drought and waterlogging of the soil. It is watered twice a week, and even more often in the summer heat. Make sure that water does not fall on the leaf rosette of the flower when watering to avoid root rot or fungus. Water the gerbera through a drip tray. To do this, pour water into it and after a while (about 30 minutes) pour the remaining liquid.
Water used for irrigation is soft and settled, but not cold. A native of hot subtropics needs high humidity. Therefore, it is recommended to humidify the air with a sprayer over the plant, but you can also put the pot on a pallet, into which you should pour wet filler.
Three to four times a month it is necessary to fertilize the soil. Nitrogen fertilizers should be used when leaves are forming, and full mineral complexes should be preferred when flowering.
Features of flowering
Gerber Jameson has an interesting feature. In order for the plant to bloom profusely, it needs no more than twelve hours of bright light per day. Therefore, it blooms from early August to mid-November, when daylight becomes insufficient.
During flowering, remove wilted flowers from the plant, as they can inhibit the development of new flower stalks. Another important nuance is that gerbera flowers are not cut, butbreak out. The remains of the peduncle after cutting often rot and infect the entire plant with rot.
Resting period
After flowering, the plant enters a dormant period that lasts until February. At this time, watering the plant is reduced, and top dressing stops completely - the plant is gaining strength for the next flowering and growth. During the dormant period, the soil in the pot should not dry out. Even at this time, the plant needs moisture.
Dry air is detrimental to gerberas. From mid-February, the amount of fertilizing and watering gradually increases. From this moment begins the stage of active growth. Gerbera is preparing for flowering, increasing its green mass. After four years, the plant is rejuvenated. Gerbera can prolong its flowering and deprive it of a dormant period by using additional lighting. But in this case, we must not forget that the plant will be depleted very quickly and will live no more than two years.
Pests and diseases
When purchasing seeds for planting a Jameson gerbera, it is necessary to take into account the varieties of this plant. Some of them are quite difficult to tolerate sudden changes in temperature and often get sick. Today, varieties have been bred that tolerate pest attacks well, but at the same time have some other weaknesses, the presence of which should also be taken into account.
If small wet spots appear on the leaves that resemble dew, remove them very carefully, and cut off the dead leaves. The death of the plant can provoke infection by small insects, for example, mites andwhiteflies. To protect the flower, it is necessary to periodically spray it with pesticides, as well as disinfect the soil well.
Many negative consequences can be delivered to a plant by a spider mite. It is impossible to see it with the naked eye, so even experienced flower growers sometimes fail to detect the appearance of this pest in the early stages. To protect your gerbera from mites, spray the leaves with an insecticidal solution, then cover it with gauze for half an hour.
If after such treatment it was not possible to get rid of the tick, re-treatment is carried out after seven to ten days.
Interesting Gerbera Facts
Gerbera leaves and stem contain coumarin derivatives. This substance is successfully used as a flavoring agent in the tobacco and perfume industries. In medicine, it is used for the production of indirect anticoagulants. In addition, coumarin is needed in electroplating, to give products a strong shine.
A bouquet of gerberas can stand in a vase for up to twenty days. But this is not the limit. If you want to keep it even longer, then pour very little water into the vase so that the stems do not rot.
There is a legend about a gerbera, which says that a nymph with that name once lived on earth. Her beauty did not leave indifferent either women or men. Everyone admired her, and this attention so tired the nymph that she decided to turn into a simple wild flower. This is how the gerbera appeared, which some people call a symbol of innocence and modesty.
