How to plant African daisies
The editor will tell you about how to plant African daisies and the maintenance precautions of green plants. Here, the editor will provide you with a detailed explanation.
Many flower enthusiasts say that African daisies are unlucky, but this is actually a misunderstanding of African daisies. African daisies are also known as Gerbera, and their flower language includes mutual respect, dedication, and love. Each stem produces one flower, which stands upright and comes in red, yellow, orange, pink, etc., with rich colors and a blooming period from November to the following April, making them great cut flower materials.
Methods and Precautions for Maintaining African Daisies
African daisies are perennial herbaceous plants that thrive in environments with abundant sunlight and have strong reproductive capabilities. When caring for them in pots, the following points should be focused on.
1. Slightly acidic soil
African daisies prefer loose, breathable, and fertile slightly acidic soil. When potting them, it is recommended to mix one part peat soil, one part decomposed leaf soil, and one part perlite evenly. Avoid heavy soil, as waterlogging can cause the African daisies to wither. When choosing a pot, it is advisable to choose one with multiple drainage holes for better aeration, preventing waterlogging and root rot after watering.
2. Sufficient sunlight
African daisies enjoy a sunny environment. During the winter, they should be placed on the south-facing balcony to receive ample sunlight. In spring, autumn, and winter, they should ideally receive full sunlight, while in summer, some shading is necessary. Insufficient sunlight can lead to weak growth and reduced flowering.
3. Suitable temperature
African daisies are semi-hardy flowers that are sensitive to temperature, not tolerant to high heat or severe cold. The optimal growing temperature is between 20-25 degrees Celsius. They can tolerate short periods of 0-degree低温. It is generally recommended to maintain temperatures above 10 degrees in winter for continuous growth and flowering. If the temperature drops below 5 degrees in winter or exceeds 35 degrees in summer, the African daisies will stop growing.
4. Watering and fertilizing
African daisies have many large leaves with high water evaporation. During their growing period, it is important to maintain sufficient water and fertilizer. Watering should follow the principle of watering when dry, avoiding excessive watering that can cause root rot. Before each watering, you can lift the pot to feel its weight. If it feels light, it's time to water; if it still feels heavy, wait a bit longer.
During the growing period, it is recommended to apply fertilizer every 10 days or so. Before the flower buds appear, you can use growth water-soluble fertilizers like "Flower More No. 1." After flower buds appear, apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote bud growth.
Note that fertilization should be stopped during the hot summer, and if the temperature drops below 10 degrees in winter, water-soluble fertilizers should also be stopped. You can scatter a bit of slow-release fertilizer, as African daisies grow slowly at lower temperatures, and slow-release or fermented organic fertilizers are sufficient.
5. Pruning and propagation
During the growth of African daisies, metabolic yellow leaves may appear and should be promptly pruned and removed. Each flower's blooming period lasts about 15 days. When the flowers fade, they should be pruned promptly, or else they may produce seeds and consume nutrients.
African daisies can be propagated by seeds or division. For home propagation, division is generally used. After each flowering, a new small plant will grow from the root. After a period of cultivation, many small plants will split, and they can be transplanted by division. However, it is recommended not to divide when there are not many seedlings. When there are many seedlings in one pot, they will produce more flowers and are easier to bloom profusely.
The above is a detailed introduction to how to plant African daisies and the precautions for their maintenance. I hope you will like it!