Magnificent gerbera is loved by designers and florists. This plant is able to make a bright accent in any floral arrangement. Today, breeders have bred many varieties and hybrids of this exquisite flower, without ignoring indoor floriculture. Houseplant lovers can now grow Jameson's gerbera from seeds.
A bit of history
The first description of the genus gerberas appeared in 1737. This was done by a botanist and researcher from Holland Jan Gronovius (1690-1762). In this way, the scientist 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 doctor. For some time he served as director of the Pharmaceutical Garden Botanical Garden in Moscow. In addition, Gerber spent a long time researching the Volga flora.
But in some sources you can find another version of the origin of the name. In Latin, the word "grass" is translated as herba, so the flower got its name. In the UK in botanical literature you can find another name for the gerbera - "transvaal daisy" or "transvaal chamomile." But be that as it may, today we will tell you about one of the most common representatives of this numerous genus - Jameson's gerbera.
Description
Gerber 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 researcher Robert Jameson. And the view was named after him. It is called the Transvaal daisy at the place of origin - in honor of the Transvaal province in South Africa.
Gerber Jameson laid the foundation for many varieties and hybrids, which today are extremely popular among gardeners. Large, bright and very spectacular flowers look like a chamomile, however, much larger - in diameter they reach fifteen centimeters. Breeders today give us the opportunity to admire white, orange, pink, yellow, red, cream and other shades of flowers.
Terry, simple, and also needle varieties are found. In indoor floriculture, the most common are the undersized varieties of Jameson's gerbera: 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.
Gerber Jameson: Seed Growing
When it is not possible to acquire an adult plant, it can be grown independently. When buying Jameson gerbera seeds in a store, pay attention to their expiration date. You need to know that the seeds of this flower retain germination only for eight months after collection.
If your home collection has a potted specimen of this plant, then the seeds can be obtained by pollinating it. But in this case, you can get a plant of unpredictable color. At the same time, remember that self-collected seeds should be used within three months, then they will lose germination.
Experienced gardeners recommend sowing a flower in the spring, although you can do this at other times of the year. In this case, you need artificial lighting.
Soil preparation
Germs Jameson from seeds is grown in a light and loose soil mixture, consisting of equal proportions of peat, perlite, sand and sheet land. You can use a simplified version - mix peat and sand in equal proportions. The earth must be shed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or freeze it. 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, slightly tamping it.
Seeds are sown superficially in moist soil without deepening. Top them should be sprinkled with a thin layer of sand.
Greenhouse for seeds
Place the container with planted 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 moisturize it as necessary (when the top layer dries).
After twelve days, the first shoots will appear. From this moment, plants can develop in vivo.
Transplantation
When the true leaves appear, the seedlings must be dived into a large container so that the distances between the seedlings are at least 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 young Jameson's gerberas grow a little more and get stronger, they are transplanted into pots with a diameter of about twenty centimeters. Flowering plants usually occurs after nine months.
Placement and lighting
Gerber Jameson (a photo of her you can see in this article) needs good lighting, but shading from the active rays of the sun is necessary. The best option for arranging flowers is a western or eastern window. For the maintenance of gerbera, regular ventilation 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 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 sharp changes in day and night temperatures. If the summer you grown from Germs Jameson seeds spends at home on the balcony at home, do not forget to bring it into the room overnight.
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 summer heat even more often. Make sure that water during irrigation does not fall on the leafy outlet of the flower to avoid root rot or fungus. Water the gerbera through the pan. To do this, pour water into it and after a while (about 30 minutes) pour the remaining liquid.
For irrigation, soft and settled water is used, but not cold. Native hot subtropics need high humidity. Therefore, it is recommended to humidify the air with a sprayer above the plant, but you can also put the pot on a pallet into which to moisten the filler.
Three to four times a month, fertilizing is necessary. When leaves are formed, nitrogenous fertilizers should be used; during flowering, give preference to complete mineral complexes.
Flowering features
Gerber Jameson has an interesting feature. In order for the plant to bloom profusely, it needs no more than twelve hours of bright lighting 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 peduncles. Another important nuance is that gerbera flowers are not cut, but broken out. The remains of the peduncle after cutting often rot and infect the entire plant with rot.
Rest period
After flowering is complete, the plant enters a dormant period, which lasts until February. At this time, watering the plant is reduced, and feeding is stopped completely - the plant is gaining strength for the next flowering and growth. During dormancy, the soil in the pot should not dry out. Even at this time, the plant needs moisture.
Dry air is harmful to gerbera. Since mid-February, the amount of fertilizing and watering has been gradually increasing. From this moment begins the stage of active growth. Gerbera is preparing for flowering, increasing green mass. Four years later, the plant is rejuvenated. Gerbera can extend its flowering and deprive of its dormant period, using additional illumination. But in this case, we must not forget that the plant will very quickly deplete and will live no more than two years.
Pests and diseases
When purchasing seeds for planting Jameson's gerbera, you must consider the varieties of this plant. Some of them are quite difficult to tolerate sudden changes in temperature and often get sick. Today, varieties are developed that tolerate pest attacks, but at the same time have some other weaknesses, the presence of which should also be considered.
If small moist spots appear on the leaves that resemble dew, remove them very carefully and cut off the dead leaves. The death of a plant can provoke infection with small insects, for example, ticks and whiteflies. To protect the flower, it is necessary to periodically spray it with pesticides, as well as disinfect the soil well.
A spider mite can deliver many negative effects to the plant. It is impossible to see it with the naked eye, so even experienced gardeners sometimes fail to detect the appearance of this pest in the early stages. To protect the gerbera from the tick, 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
The composition of the leaves and stem of the gerbera includes coumarin derivatives. This substance is successfully used as a flavoring in the tobacco and perfumery industries. In medicine, it is used for the production of indirect anticoagulants. In addition, coumarin is necessary 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 quite a bit of water into the vase so that the stems do not rot.
There is a legend about a gerbera that says that a nymph with that name once lived on earth. Her beauty did not leave indifferent neither women nor men. Everyone admired her, and this attention was so tired of the nymph that she decided to turn into a simple wild flower. So there was a gerbera, which some peoples call a symbol of innocence and modesty.