How to Deadhead Gerbera Daisies
Gerbera daisies sport large, colorful blooms with bright centers. Bright pink, purple and yellow are just some of the color varieties available. Grown as a perennial outdoors in the southern United States or as a potted or bedding annual in the north, prolonging the blooms of the Gerbera daisy adds color indoors or out for much longer than just letting them go to seed. Once a plant produces seeds, it stops flowering. Arresting seed development encourages further blooming.
Inspect the flower during blooming for spent flower heads. Look for browning and withering of the petals.
- Gerbera daisies sport large, colorful blooms with bright centers.
- Grown as a perennial outdoors in the southern United States or as a potted or bedding annual in the north, prolonging the blooms of the Gerbera daisy adds color indoors or out for much longer than just letting them go to seed.
Cut off the stem supporting the spent bloom near the base of the plant, using sharp and clean scissors. Avoid cutting into the leaves emerging in the area.
Check the plant for seed heads forming where blooms have already withered away. These form on the top of the stem once the petals fall off. Snip the stems with seed heads off at the base.
Remove all petals that have fallen into the pot or onto the garden bed to clean up the appearance and prevent fungal diseases from breeding in them.
Continue checking and removing spent flower heads until all blooming has stopped. Cut off the last of the stems but allow the foliage to die back naturally if you are growing Gerbera as perennials. Dig up and dispose of the plant if growing as an annual.
- Cut off the stem supporting the spent bloom near the base of the plant, using sharp and clean scissors.
- Remove all petals that have fallen into the pot or onto the garden bed to clean up the appearance and prevent fungal diseases from breeding in them.
Tip
Remove dead and damaged leaves by cutting them off at soil level or where they emerge from the crown of the plant. This improves appearance and stops disease.
Pinch off the flower heads with your fingers at a point ΒΌ inch beneath them instead of cutting if desired. The stems will wilt on their own.
Warning
Do not try and pull up the entire stem, as this will uproot the daisy or damage the crown.
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References
Tips
- Remove dead and damaged leaves by cutting them off at soil level or where they emerge from the crown of the plant. This improves appearance and stops disease.
- Pinch off the flower heads with your fingers at a point ¼ inch beneath them instead of cutting if desired. The stems will wilt on their own.
Warnings
- Do not try and pull up the entire stem, as this will uproot the daisy or damage the crown.
Writer Bio
Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. Harrington's specialties include small business information, crafting, decorating and gardening.
