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Care for African Daisy – Ultimate Guide

The flower known as African Daisy is a very representative plant, which within the symbolism of delivery or gift that refers to new events. Which are full of prosperity and joy. Learn all about care for african daisy in this article.

This is how these beautiful flowers are delivered as a determination to show not to give up, and to continue forward to achieve life’s goals.

Characteristics of African Daisy

To begin the wide world in which the African Daisy is located, this beautiful plant has unique characteristics that allow it to be distinguished from the rest. It is a solitary type flower, whose shape is called marigold, which has about 14” (35 cm) in volume and about its height. They grow upright in about 4” (10 cm), approximately from the stem.

Particularly, the plant is ideal to be grown in a pot or pot. Also, its flowers are so diverse in color that they are extremely attractive in decorations. In this sense, the gerbera is recognized in the field of science under the scientific names of gerbera kunzeana, gerbera jamesoni, gerbera asplenifolia and gerbera viridifolia. The common name is gerbera or African daisy.

Care for African Daisy

The techniques to sustain the life of the African Daisy as a plant and flower must be respected because it is very delicate and more if it is handled directly. Therefore, strict techniques are executed, so that there is the maximum precaution from the moment of its reproduction, until the moment of its collection and later location as an ornament.

African Daisy needs to coexist at a temperature similar to that of its native Africa. In this sense, it is recommended to be located at a temperature of 64.4°F (18°C) to 75.2°F (24°C), preventing it from ever being below 55.4°F (13°C). It should be located where there is light, but not where direct solar radiation is strong. Also, it should avoid sharing space with other heat sources such as a radiator.

Likewise, it is a plant that needs humidity and should also receive free air in a space where it shares the sun and shade, always well sheltered. However, watering the African Daisy should be both regular and moderate. Keeping the soil moist, with liquid fertilizer to maintain the maximum flowering of the African Daisy.

african daisy bloom

Care for African Daisy: Soil

The soil where African Daisy should be located should have net characteristics in terms of the substrate. It is a plant that keeps a close preference for light and deep soils, also must have a richness in terms of organic matter. That is why the soil substrates must be well fermented, so as not to generate diseases in the plant and much fewer burns in their stems and roots.

Likewise, soils must have good drainage possibilities, as well as an air system that allows water to escape and prevents waterlogging. As for the salinity or pH of gerbera soils, it should be located between an average of 5.5 to 6.5 pH so that the micronutrients are assimilated perfectly.

Recalling then the importance of salinity in the soil, since if it is above 7 it causes problems in the absorption and assimilation of both magnesium and iron. On the other hand, if the soil pH is low or below 5pH, it will cause the soil structure to change radically.

Care for African Daisy: Fertilization

Considering that the fertilizer must be nitrogenous, the fertilization of your soil is essential for the optimal development of the gerbera to be satisfactory. Therefore, during the growth phase, the fertilizer must necessarily be balanced.

This will result in a favorable effect on the development of the plant’s radicle. Nitrogen nutrition also affects the life span of African Daisy flowers. If it were to go to extremes, i.e. too much or too little, it would cause the plants to wilt.

It is therefore recommended for fertile soil to be applied to young plants, soils that are both loamy and sandy, and supplemented with manure-filled fertilizers. However, there may be a case of both excess and deficiency of phosphorus in the gerbera. This particular fact allows the leaves to be small, their color to be green, blue, or with violet edges. It is also possible that the excess of phosphorus may lead to iron deficiency.

Potassium also comes into play for the development of the flower, causing the leaves to discolor and become weaker in their flowering, while the flowers lose quality and even lose the length of their peduncle. If there is an excess of this, the diameter of the gerbera stem will increase. The frequency with which mulching is carried out can vary according to the time of year.

In this way, the water and its irrigation system are brought together so that it is carried out every week whenever the solar radiation is more significant. This being possible, the amount of fertilizer in the gerbera’s cover should be taken into account. Since the plant is extremely sensitive

to saline extremes, it is recommended to avoid exceeding one kilogram of fertilizer per liter of natural water.

gerbera in the garden

Pruning Gerbera

African Daisy needs the pruning maintenance technique to eliminate the flowers that are withered, as well as those leaves that have a yellow color, those that are sick, or those that are visibly dead. This pruning is only of the maintenance type, so it is suggested to treat the plant with delicacy, eliminating the leaves in bad condition. As well as other parts of the gerbera that may prevent the plant from developing correctly.

To perform this technique it is suggested that it is done manually and with great care when removing both the leaves and flowers that are dry. Remembering then that the gerbera is such a beautiful flower that requires a subtle treatment, which allows sustaining its durability as well as its beauty.

Watering Gerbera

As for irrigation for African Daisy, it is carried out taking into account the sprinkling method, as well as the technique of drip or drip irrigation. However, the quality of the precious liquid must be of the finest, considering that the conditions of calcium and other soluble salts should be of reduced content. This would be detrimental to every aspect of the plant.

However, once the planting is done, the roots will be unable to spread out and explore every volume of soil. This results in an element called water stress, which allows the gerbera’s growth to slow down somewhat. To avoid this, irrigation is essential as long as it is accompanied by both shading and ventilation. In this way, the soil will not heat up so much and the gerbera will be able to vegetate positively.

For this, it is recommended to pour 15 to 20 cubic liters of water into the area after the planting is done. Then, the frequency with which it has to be repeated will be between 2 to 3 irrigations per day until the plant is settled.

In this way, the soil where the African Daisy is located will be kept both humid and aerated, without allowing puddling or rotting of the gerbera’s planted collars. Therefore, once the plant has taken root, the watering system should be less frequent and with less intensity.

Learn more about African Daisy from Seed.

african daisy potted

About Henry Morgan

Henry Morgan is an agronomist horticulture founder of The Garden Style Company and The Garden Style Website. He previously worked for Mondelēz International as an Agronomist Engineer specializing in agricultural products management in highly populated areas. In 2000, Henry started working with farmer-producers in agricultural businesses selling wholesale fresh produce and retail plants in Van Buren, Arkansas. Nowadays, Henry lives in California, where he offers expert consulting services for organic vegetable gardening. As a science writer working with his wife, Julia, Henry shares his passion for gardening and farming, trying to reach and teach as many folks as possible.

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