The Essential Guide To The Gerbera
Botanical Name: Gerbera jamesonii
Common name: Gerbera
General Knowledge: The Gerbera, with its bright and large flowering heads, originates from South Africa and comes in a vibrant palette of colours. In Australia, gerberas are widely used in bouquets and floral arrangements, their cheerful appearance bringing light and joy to any occasion. A fun fact about the gerbera is that they are known to produce high levels of oxygen at night while purifying the air of toxins, such as benzene and trichloroethylene, making them not only visually appealing but also beneficial for indoor air quality.
Colour range: The Gerbera showcases an impressive spectrum of colours, including creamy white, gold, terracotta, orange, apricot, pumpkin, reds, pinks, magenta, burgundy, lime/green, and even purples. Notably, almost every colour is represented except blue. Gerberas also come in bi-colours and variations with different coloured centres such as black, green, or yellow.
Australian seasonal availability: While gerberas naturally bloom from spring to summer, modern horticulture has pushed these boundaries. Thanks to commercial climate-controlled greenhouses, fresh-cut Gerberas are available year-round in Australia.
Australian wedding and event season availability: Due to their year-round availability, Gerberas can be used in weddings and events in any season in Australia.
If commercially grown in Australia: Yes, Gerberas are cultivated in commercial greenhouses throughout Australia.
Buying tips: Choose gerberas whose outer petals have fully expanded but before they start shedding pollen, as blooms don't further open post-harvest. It's crucial to ensure hygiene when purchasing due to the flower's sensitivity to unhygienic conditions.
Design tips and advice: Gerberas act as focal points in floral compositions, captivating onlookers with their vivid hues. Their size can categorise them as either mini or standard, with subtle variations in each category. Ideally, they should be placed in freshwater vase arrangements to optimize their vase life. Their bloom diameters can range from 7 cm (mini) to a generous 12 cm.
Flower maturity: Purchase gerberas when the outer petals have fully expanded, but before pollen shedding begins, ensuring optimal freshness and longevity.
Expected vase life: Gerberas, when properly cared for will last 7 to 12 days.
Typical stem length: The stems of Gerberas can range between 40 to 80 cm in length.
Typical bunch size: A bunch typically comprises 5 to 10 stems.
Floral preservatives to use: Gerberas do not benefit from floral preservatives.
Ethylene sensitivity: Gerberas are not particularly sensitive to ethylene.
Temperature requirements: For storage, maintain a cool environment between 2–4 °C.
How to avoid potential problems: Gerberas have unique care requirements. Their stems, being hollow, are fragile and can break easily. The petals can also bruise with rough handling. It's best to place them in fresh, preferably tank or filtered water as they react adversely to fluoride. To maintain stem health, keep water levels under 10 cm deep, avoiding stem surface deterioration. Regular water changes and stem trimming can prevent bacterial blockages and Botrytis infection.
Cooling and cool rooms: Store gerberas between 2–4 °C to maintain freshness.
Hydration and vase solutions: Change the water every second day, and although they don’t require floral preservatives, ensure the water is fresh. As their furry stems can rot quickly in deep water, maintain a water level just sufficient to prevent the vase from tipping over.
Care of ethylene sensitive products: While gerberas aren't especially ethylene-sensitive, it's always a good practice to keep them away from ethylene sources like ripening fruits.