Transvaal daisy

 

From-pixabay 

Gerbera is also referred to as African daisy, Bar Berton daisy, and Transvaal daisy.It is a significant commercial crop for cut flowers. Gerbera flowers come in a variety of colours, such as yellow, orange, cream-white, pink, brick red, red, terracotta, and several additional gradations of these hues. Bicolor flowers are additionally offered in double variants. The long, slender, green, and gerbera flower stalks give a long vase life.Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra are the top producing states in India.

Kingdom-Plantae

Order-Asterales

Family-Asteraceae

Genus-Gerbera L.

Description

Gerbera species are perennial, tufted, caulescent herbs that can grow up to 80 cm tall and frequently have woolly crowns. All of the leaves in a rosette are elliptic, lobed, with an entire or serrated border, petiolate or with a petaloid base, pinnately veined, and frequently leathery and felted below. Each rosette has one or more flowering stems that are bracteate or ebracteate and have a single, uncomplicated inflorescence-capitulum. With multiple rows of bracts, capitula are radiating. Female, two-lipped, and with a large, strap-shaped outer lip, ray florets have a white, pink, red, or rarely yellow inner lip that has two tiny, thread-like lobes. Fertile disc florets have five lobes, an atypical 2-lipped shape, and petals that are curled.

Species

Chaptalia, Leibnitzia, Mairia, Perdicium, Trichocline, and Oreoseris are among the previously mentioned several species that were earlier thought to belong to the Gerbera genus but are now seen as more suited to other genera.The International Plant Names Index lists 22 recognised species under the genus Gerbera.

Plantating

Three months of age at the latest is required for the plant. The plant should have a minimum of four to five leaves when the tissue culture is planted. In two-row patterns, gerberas are planted in elevated beds. Most people choose the zigzag plantation layout. In order to improve air circulation in the root zones, 65% of the root ball should be planted below ground level and 35% above ground level.

Soil

The pH of the soil must range from 5.5 to 6.5.The soil should be very porous and well-drained in order to promote better root growth and penetration. The soil salinity level should not be higher than 1 cm.Red lateritic soils are suitable for growing Gerberas since they possess all the necessary components of a perfect soil.To control Phytophthora infestation, soil sterilising is necessary prior to gerbera plantation.The main approaches of soil sterilisation are

Steam-Not appropriate for the climate in India.

Solar-For 6 to 8 weeks, a plastic sheet is placed over the soil in this method. The earth will warm up around daybreak, killing most fungus.

Chemical-This is the most sophisticated and effective technique. Silver and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are used to sterilise soil.

Climate

Climate Bright sunlight promotes flower growth and quality; however, in the summer, this flower requires diffused sunlight. Gerbera plants grown in low-light conditions will not bloom well.

Harvesting

After 75 to 90 days, the first flowers can be harvested. Most single-type flowers are ready to pick when 2 - 3 whorls of stamens have completely developed. Some varieties, particularly double varieties, are picked slightly riper. The good flower has a stalk length of 45-55cm and a flower diameter of 10 - 12cm.

Gerbera flower harvesting is best done in the morning or evening. Gerbera cut flowers require skilled labour to harvest. After harvesting, the flowers should be stored in a bucket of clean water. Flowers are very delicate, so they must be handled with care or they will be damaged and their quality will suffer.

Uses

It is widely used as a decorative garden plant and as cut flowers. Coumarin derivatives are found naturally in Gerbera. It attracts bees, butterflies, and birds while repelling deer.