HOW TO PROPAGATE GERBERA DAISY PLANTS BY DIVIDING THEM.
It is very important to divide your gerbera plants at least once every year, for best growth and maintenance. Rot bound plants stop flowering and attract diseases eventually dying off. To prevent it, follow these simple tips.
Follow these 7 easy steps for success:
- WATER BEFORE YOU BEGIN – Drench the soil thoroughly at least 15-30 mins before you begin to divide. This will soften the soil and roots for easy removal. Hydrated roots are also very important so that they don’t dry out while you are replanting them.
- UPTURN ENTIRE POT – Try to turn the pot around and remove the entire plant instead of pulling it out. This minimises damage to roots. If you cannot turn around a heavy pot, then loosen soil from all sides and lift gently. Gerbera daisy is a delicate plant and roots can get damaged easily.
- PULL APART GENTLY – The number of plants you can divide into is clearly visible. Shake off as much soil as possible. Pull apart the each section gently from the crown area. If it’s too tight, wash in water and it will divide easily.
- PLANT BACK IMMEDIATELY – Do not keep the roots exposed for too long. Choose a good-weather day to do this. Make sure no direct sunlight falls on the plants while you are dividing them.
- USE EPSOM SALT – Half fill the new pot and add Epsom salt where the roots will go. 1 tsp. is enough for one plant but it creates magic. Epsom salt helps the gerbera daisy plant settle without dying, pick up quickly and promotes flowering.
- PLACE THE CROWN CORRECTLY – This is the most important step while dividing gerbera daisies. The crown should never be under soil. It is the part where the leaves and buds sprout. Place it directly above soil level and make sure it never stays too wet. Compact the soil around it and add more if needed. You can water it once to check the soil level after some time and adjust accordingly.
- KEEP IN SHADE – Never place the new plants in direct sunlight. Keep them outdoors but under the shade till they pick up.
If you follow these tricks, your GERBERA DAISIES will thrive and never die. You will be rewarded with lots of flowers throughout the year.
