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Annuals/gerbera daisy

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Expert: - 8/19/2011


Question
i bought 6 gerbera daisy plants some are in pots and some are in the ground.  it takes anywhere from two to three quarts of water every day to keep them from wilting, and sometimes even that is not enough.  am i doing some thing wrong or is that just the way this flower is?  thank you in advance for your help.

Answer
I don't know what's in those pots you're using, but if the growing medium is well drained, and your humidity is high, and they're in full sun, the pots will need to be watered a lot more frequently than if you had high clay content, or it was raining all the time, and you grow them in shade. But you knew that.

However, you might take it easy with that watering can.  Gerbera roots are a little more susceptible to excess moisture than some other potted plants.  If the Soil is dry, but the Gerbera growing in it isn't wilted, give it a few hours of R&R to make sure it needs more H2O.  Touch the soil to be certain.

You should understand that Gerberas are not the easiest flowers in the world to grow, either.  Overwintering them in zones where they can't survive the weather -- like Missouri -- is not a cakewalk, unless you're blessed with a greenhouse to protect everything.

I do have to say however these are very pretty plants.  It takes a green thumb to keep them happy.  Sounds like you're on the right track there.  Keep up the good work.

L.I.G.

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Decisions, decisions... If you can't make up your mind which Annuals to grow, you're not alone. Problem with your new flowering Annuals flats? I`ve been there, done that. Petunias, Sweet Alyssum, Larkspur, Marine Blue Lobelia -- they all grow here at my house on Garden Street on Long Island, N.Y.. Cutting and Cottage Gardens, Sun and Shade Gardens, White Gardens and Night Gardens, I`ve done them all. Annuals are the perfect summer flower, bursting with color June through fall's first frost. I can`t speak on Cactus or tender Tropical Plants -- they don`t grow outside in my Zone 7. I`m no Farmer, so I cannot guide you on Fruits and Vegetables. But whether it`s an Annual you want to start from seed, mail-order or pick up at your local garden center, I can help you grow amazing blooms this Summer. Yes, together, we can turn your neighbors green with envy.

Experience

I have a lifetime of gardening behind me here on the North Shore of Long Island. While I have degrees in related fields, there's nothing like hands-on work to build real knowledge. I stay on top of current science -- there's a boom in research, and Kingdom Plantae is filled with surprises. By the way, I really do live on Garden Street.

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Gannett newspapers, The New York Times, and hundreds of others - but not on Annuals.

Education/Credentials
B.A., botany; graduate credits in European Intellectual History and Political Science; minor coursework in related fields, docent training at our local botanical gardens (required for volunteers). I'm currently working on an advanced biochemistry degree.

Awards and Honors
I could tell you, but then you'd know who I am.

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