Gerbera cultivation

Krishna S.Tomar
Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture
College of Horticulture
Banda University of Agriculture and Technology

Introduction:
 Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) is commonly known
as Transvaal Daisy, Barberton Daisy , Gerbera
Daisy or African Daisy.
 It is an important commercial flower crop grown
throughout the world in a wide range of climatic
conditions.
 It is ideal for beds, borders, pots and rock gardens.
 The flowers available in a wide range of colors and
lend themselves beautifully to different floral
arrangements.
 Used as cut flowers and the cut blooms have long vase
life.

 Internationally gerbera ranks fifth among top ten
cut flowers with market trade of 134 million Euros
with 570 million flower sticks (2012).
 US and China are the major producers of Gerbera cut
flowers.
 Currently, in India gerbera is cultivated in 2250 acres.
 Being a three-year crop with 30,000 plant density in
an acre, the annual demand of this crop is 23 million
plants costing Rs. 57.5 crores (price per plant is Rs. 25
/-).

Morphology
 A plant is stem less and tender perennial herbs, leaves
radical, petiole, lanceolate, deeply lobed, sometimes
leathery, narrower at the base and wider at toe and are
arranged in a rosette at the base.
 The foliage in some species has a light under surface.
 The daisy-like flowers grow in a wide range of colors
including yellow, orange, cream-white, pink,
brick red, scarlet, maroon, terracotta and various
other intermediate shades.

 The double cultivars sometimes have bicolour
flowers, which are very attractive.
 The flower stalks are long, thin and leafless.
 Flower heads solitary, many flowered.

Origin and History:
 The genus Gerbera was named in honour of a German naturalist, Traugott
Gerber.
 jamesonii has derived its name from Dr. L. S. Jameson, a British colonial
statesman in South Africa .
 This is native to South Africa and Asiatic regions.
 In India they are distributed in the temperate Himalayas from Kashmir to
Nepal at an altitude of 1300 to 3200 meters.
 Gerbera jamesonii is native to Natal and Transvaal and Gerbera viridifolia
from Cape.
 Gerbera species of Indian origin are
 Gerbera anandria
 G. kunzeana
 G.languinosa
 G. macrophylla
 G. nivea,
 G. ovalifolia and
 G. piloselloides
 Gerbera belongs to the family “Asteraceae”.
 45 species, native to tropical Asia and Africa.

Species and Cultivars:
 The genus Gerbera consists of about 40 species.
 Gerbera jamesonii is the only cultivated species.
 Gerbera asplenifolia
 Gerbera aurantiaca
 Gerbera kunzeana
 Gerbera viridifolia

Important Cultivars
Dusty, Flemingo, Fradaisy, Fredeking, Fredorella,
Maron Clementine, Nadja, Terraqueen, Uranus,
Valentine, Vesta, Alexis, Amber, Anke, Apple blossom,
Belitis, Caprice, Hildegard, Ibiza, Joyee, Kabada,
Marleen, Pascal, Romilda, Rozamunde, Salmorosa,
Sympathic, Easter Star, Eastelle, Nena, Terra Parade,
Terra Son, Aruba, Asheley, Flora, Goldspot, Nevada.
Rosabella, White Sun. Vino, Venturi, Sunset,
Sundance, Sangriana, Siby, Sissy, North Star Ornella,
Tropical, Cocktail, Panorama, Mirage, Pink Sensation,
Tara, Thallasa, Diablo, Lyonella, Twiggy, etc.

Colour wise varieties
Colour Variety
Bicolour Popov, Sunway
Cream Dalma, Mammut, Dana Ellen
Yellow Cabana, Deliana, Heatwave,Skyline, Piton
Lilac Banesa, Malibu
Orange Golden Serena, Samson, Amaretto
Red Debora, Eco, Opium, Red Bull, Zinagaro, Yanara
Pink Esmara, Finola, Marmara, Primrose, Woman
White Winter Queen

Indian Varieties:
Institute Variety
ICAR-IIHR Arka Krishika (Yellow colour)
Arka Ashwa (Red Purple)
Arka Nesera (Red)
CSIR-IHBT Him Saumya (light yellow colour)
Him Gaurav (pink colour)
Him Aabha (yellow orange colour)
Him Apoorva (Red bicolour)
Him Keerti (bright yellow colour)
Him Peace (white colour)
Him Glow (yellow orange colour)
TNAU YCD-1 (cherry red colour)
YCD-2 (rosy pink colour)

Him Saumya
Him Aabha
Him Apoorva
Him Keerti
Him Gaurav

CLASSIFICATION
 There are single and double types of gerbera.
 One or two rows of ray florets on the periphery of the
disc and the rest are disc florets in the single types.
 In the double type, more than two rows of florets are
present
 They are further divided into
 Standard,
 Spider and
 Mini depending on the size and shape of the flowers.

PROPAGATION
 SEEDS
 Gerbera is propagated by seed, by cuttings of side
shoots and suckers.
 Seed is set if cross-pollinated.
 Sowing of seed may be done in almost any season.
 Seeds germinate in 15 to 20 degree C within two
weeks; otherwise it may take up to 30 days.
 Plants from seeds will bloom in the second year and
produce good flowers from the third year onwards.

Vegetative Propagation:
 Side shoots, with some amount of heel, is utilized.
 Divisions/ suckers, cuttings are also used.
MICRO-PROPAGATION:
Following are the plant parts used as explants for micro
propagation.
 Shoot tips,
 Leaf mid-rib,
 Capitulum,
 Flower heads,
 Inflorescence and
 Buds
Murashige and Skoog (MS) media with modification is
successfully used as culture media.

Climate:
 The average temperature is 18-21°C and the ideal
temperature for initiation of flowering is 23° C and of leaf
unfolding is 25-27°C respectively.
 Sunny or semi-shady locations are good for gerbera
cultivation.
 Initiation of flowering is affected below 12°C and above
35°C .
 Humidity: 70-75 percent
 shade net of 50-70 percent

Soil:
 Soil pH should be between 5.5 to 6.5 or it should
be maintained at this level to get maximum efficiency
in absorption of nutrients.
 The salinity level of soil should not be more than
1 ms/cm. Therefore, as soon as you select the site, get
the soil analyzed to decide its further reclamation.
 Gerbera are deep rooted plants and the roots go as
deep as 50 to 70 cm.
 The soil should be highly porous and well drained to
have better root growth and better penetration of
roots.

Disinfection of Soil
 Before plantation of Gerbera, soil disinfection is absolutely
necessary. In particular, the fungus Phytophthora is a menace to
Gerbera.
 The various methods of sterilization are;
 1. Steam: Not economically feasible for Indian conditions.
 2. Sun: Cover the soil with plastic for 6-8 weeks. Sunrays will
heat up the soil, which will kill most fungi.
 3. Chemical sterilization:
 Use of formalin @ 7.5-10 lit/100 sq m.
 This pure chemical should be diluted 10 times in water and then
 sprayed/drenched on beds.
 Cover the beds with plastic sheets for 7 days.
 Then flush the soil approximately with 100 liters of water per
sqm to drain the traces

 After sterilizing, subsequent washing out of the soil.
 It is advised to wait for 2 weeks before plantation.
 Other chemicals that can be used are,
 Methyl Bromide : @ 25 – 30g/sq m
 Basamid (Dazomet) : @ 30 – 40g/sq m

Bed Preparation:
The dimensions of the bed should be as follows:
 Bed height : 1.5 ft (45 cm)
 Bed Width : 2 ft (60 cm)
 Pathways between beds : 1 ft (30 cm)
 The beds for planting should be highly porous, well
drained and airy.
 Gravel/sand can be added at the bottom for better
drainage.
 The soil should not be very compact after watering.
 While bed preparation, add Single Super Phosphate
(0:16:0) @ 2.5 kg per 100 sq ft for better root
establishment and Magnesium Sulphate @ 0.5 kg per
100 sq ft to take care of deficiency of Mg

Greenhouse/Shade House for Commercial
Cultivation:
 The height of the greenhouse/shade house should be minimum
5-6.5 m; so there is proper air circulation.
 Sufficient ventilation space is required on top and sides.
 To protect the plants in the monsoons provision for covering the
top with polythene or plastic sheet is advised.
 To control light intensity and solar radiation, while shade net
(50-70%) is used. Approximately 400w/sq m light intensity is
required on the plant level.
 The ideal temperature for Gerbera flower bud initiation is 23
o C and for leaf unfolding is 25-27 o C. The flowering of
Gerbera is harmed at below 12 o C and above 35 o C.
 The optimum humidity inside the greenhouse/shade house
should be 70-75%, which will maintain the health of the plants.

Planting:
 While planting Gerbera plants, the crown of plants
should be 1-2 cm above soil level.
 As the root system establishes the plants are pulled
down.
 Therefore, the crown must be above the ground level
at planting and also throughout the life cycle.
 Plant the seedlings without disturbing the root-ball.
 Generally, two- three rows may be planted on one
bed at 37.5 to 40 cm distance between the rows
and 30 cm distance between the plants in one row.
 Row – Row = 37.5- 40 cm
 Plant – Plant = 30.0cm

 6 to 7 plants can be accommodated per sq m.
 Rake the soil surrounding the plant every fortnight for
aeration.
 After plantation, maintain the humidity at 80 –
90% for 4 -6 weeks to avoid desiccation of plants.
 Gerbera can also be cultivated in pots as bench system
of planting.

Planting time
 Throughout the year but preferably during Sep-Oct.
 North India: Feb-Nov.

Irrigation:
 Water quality should be as follows
 pH – 6.5 – 7.0
 EC – 0.5 – 1 ms/cm
 Avoid excessive watering to gerbera
 To lower the pH of water, add acids in the water tank and
then irrigate the plants.
 Immediately after plantation, irrigate the plant with
overhead irrigation for four weeks to enable uniform root
development. Thereafter gradually change to drip
irrigation.
 water requirement of Gerbera plant may be approximately
700 ml per plant per day.
 Always water the plants before 12 noon.

Fertilization:
 25-75 t/ha of well decomposed organic manure is required.
 150:137:190 g NPK/sq m (40:40:40 g, three months at monthly
interval)
 For the first three months after planting, application of
20:20:20:N:P:K @ 1.5 g/l of water every two days during the
vegetative stage encourages better foliage.
 Once flowering commences.
 N:P:K 15:8:35 at the rate of 1.5 g/l water/day.
 Boron deficiency causes base of young leaves to turn black
coloured.
 Zinc deficiency symptoms can be identified with the C-shaped
leaf structure caused by chlorosis on one half of the leaf blade
which ceases to expand, while the other half of the leaf is
normal.

Cropping Pattern and Harvesting of Flowers:
 Gerbera is a 24-30 months crop.
 The first flowers are produced 7-8 weeks after plantation.
 Harvesting is done when the two outer rows of the
disc florets are fully expanded and perpendicular to
the stalk.
 The average yield is 240 flowers per sq m (6-7 plants/sq
m).
 The flowers are harvested when 2 – 3 whorls of
stamens have entirely been developed; this will decide
the vase life of flowers.
 Pluck the flowers in the morning or late in the evening or
during the day when temperature is low.
 Pluck the flower from the plant rather than cutting them.

Post Harvest Handling of Flowers
 Cut the heel of the stem by giving an angular cut.
 Pack the flowers in a box with following dimensions.
 Immediately after harvesting, flowers put in water and kept
for four hours at 7 to 8 degree C
 The cut flowers can be stored dry at 2 degree C in moisture
– proof retentive boxes for two days If stored wet at 4 to 5
degree C, the flowers can be kept for 5 to 7 days.
 Always add 7–10 ml commercial bleach/Sodium
Hypochlorite solutions in one litre water i.e. 1% solution.
 It has a maximum vase life of 7 to 8 days.
 Frequent re-cutting of stem ends is suggested.
 The flowers are relatively insensitive to ethylene.
 A good flower has stalk length of 45 – 55cm, and diameter
of flower is 10 – 12 cm.

Grading
Grade code in
Dutch auctions
Minimum flower diameter
(cm)
08 8
09 9
10 10
11 11
12 12

Diseases/ Pests:
 Aphids: Causes deformed leaves, excrete some substance on which
fungus develops.
 Greenhouse Whitefly: Occurs when climate is hot and dry, cause
damage to leaves.
 Leaf Miner: White specks on leaves caused by files. White tunnels in
leaves caused by larvae, which stays in soil.
 Mites: Older leaves are curled up. Younger ones being deformed and
leathery, deformed flowers or if petals are missing.
 Thrips: Cause white specks or stripes on ray florets; flower heads may
be deformed. Silvery, grayish spots on the leaves; Brown spots on leaf
petioles/midvein.
 Crown Rot: Caused by Phytophthora cryptogea results in wilting
disease of Gerbera, Crown of the plant becomes black.
 Root knot Nematode: Yellowing of leaves; nodules on roots.
 Botrytis: Occurs especially when the relative humidity of the air is
more than 92% for two hours in the morning – gray spots on the flower
petals – rot in the heart of flower

Disorders
 Flower bent- Loss of cell turgidity and under nutrition
(lack of Calcium)
 Pre-harvest stem break- High root pressure and high
humidity in the air.
 Premature wilting of Gerbera flower- Cloudy weather
followed by bright sun or carbohydrate depletion.
 Double-faced Gerbera flower- A physiological disorder
caused by imbalance of nutrients. Too much growth too
little flower buds.
 Non-uniform flower blooming- Physical injury to flower
stem / pest damage / phytotoxicity.
 Short stem length- High salinity level, moisture stress,
low soil temp.

Gerbera cultivation

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