Garden Care Guide

Gerbera Daisy Care

Gerbera jamesonii

A popular cut flower and ornamental plant grown for its large, daisy-like flowers. It loves sunny, well-drained and rich soils; overwatering and wetting the leaves should be avoided to prevent crown (root collar) rot.

Half-hardy · -5 °C / 23 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Almost never needed; if the soil dries out completely, water lightly once a month (0.5 L/plant).
  • Pruning: Remove only yellowed, rotted leaves.
  • General care: Keep the root collar dry.
  • Pests & diseases: Watch for the risk of crown rot.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -5 °C.
February
  • Watering: 1-2 times a month, lightly (0.5 L per plant).
  • Pruning: Remove leaves damaged in winter.
  • General care: Clear weeds and aerate the soil.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the waking plant for pests. Watch out for the risk of late frost.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -5 °C.
March
  • Watering: Once a week, 1-2 L per plant, as the topsoil dries.
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer as the plant emerges from dormancy.
  • Pruning: Remove old leaves.
  • Plant protection: For aphids and whiteflies, apply neem oil or a suitable insecticide.
  • General care: If needed, repot or propagate by division.
  • Pests & diseases: Check fresh shoots for aphids and whiteflies.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Fertilizing: Feed twice a month at full strength with a liquid bloom fertilizer high in phosphorus.
  • Pruning: Regularly cut off spent flowers and yellowing leaves.
  • Plant protection: Check the leaves for leaf miner trails and pick off the affected leaves.
  • General care: Aerate the soil.
  • Pests & diseases: If there are signs of powdery mildew (white powdery patches), apply sulfur or a suitable fungicide.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: Feed twice a month with a liquid bloom fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: Check the undersides of the leaves for spider mites; apply a miticide if necessary.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk. Drainage is vital for this plant. In heavy soil that holds water, plant it on a raised mound or berm 20-30 cm high so that the root collar stays above the surrounding soil level.
  • Pests & diseases: Continue checking for spider mites and powdery mildew.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Apply the second fertilizer dose during the growing season. Do not fertilize after August; late growth will not survive winter.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: Monitor for whiteflies and thrips.
  • General care: Take care to water at the base without wetting the root collar.
  • Pests & diseases: Be careful with watering to prevent crown rot.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Because of heat stress, reduce fertilizing to once a month or stop.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: The risk of spider mites is at its highest; check regularly and spray if necessary.
  • General care: Light shading can be helpful to protect it from the midday sun.
  • Pests & diseases: Yellowing of the leaves with webbing is a sign of spider mites.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Do not fertilize, or give a very dilute dose once a month.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: Continue checking for spider mites and whiteflies.
  • General care: Watch for signs of stress (shriveling).
  • Pests & diseases: Be alert to heat stress and pests.
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: When the weather cools, return to the flower-promoting liquid fertilizer twice a month.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: Powdery mildew risk may arise with increasing humidity; take precautions if necessary.
  • General care: Hoe around the plant to revitalize it.
  • Pests & diseases: Check for powdery mildew and aphids.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Fertilizing: Once a month, give a low dose to end fertilizing.
  • Pruning: Remove spent flowers and yellowing leaves.
  • General care: Clear the area around the plant to prepare it for winter.
  • Pests & diseases: Watch for fungal diseases (Botrytis, gray mold) that can increase with the autumn rains.
November
  • Watering: Once a week, 1 L per plant or less; cut watering back severely.
  • Fertilizing: Stop fertilizing completely.
  • Pruning: Remove only dry/diseased leaves.
  • General care: In winter rains, make sure water does not pool in the root zone; for this plant, drainage is more critical than irrigation.
  • Pests & diseases: Against the risk of root rot, make sure the soil does not stay wet.
December
  • Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient. If the soil dries out completely, water lightly once a month.
  • Pruning: Not required; only remove rotting parts.
  • General care: Observe the plant so it can get through winter in good health.
  • Pests & diseases: Check for crown rot. Keep frost protection measures ready against the risk of frost.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -5 °C.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

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