Gerbera daisies are not only one of the most popular cut flowers, but also are excellent potted plants, for both indoors and outside. While they are not winter hardy below zone 8, they are well suited to growing indoors in winter for a reliable show of blooms.
Potted Gerbera daisies will last for 3 years. When grown from seed, they take 18 to 24 weeks to bloom, and the blooms last for 2 months or so before fading. Gerbera daisies grown indoors may flower off and on all year when provided with ideal conditions.
How to Care for Potted Gerbera Daisies?
1. Plant in a deep pot with good drainage holes in a rich, well-draining soil mixture.
2. Keep in a location with bright, indirect light and temperatures between 40°F – 70°F (4°C – 21°C).
3. Water thoroughly whenever the top inch of the soil has dried out. Never let the pot sit in water, as that will rot the roots.
4. Fertilize once a month with a water-soluble fertilizer.
5. If grown outdoors, bring in the pots before the first frost.
Can Gerbera Daisies Survive the Winter in Pots?
Unless you live in growing zones 8 to 10, your Gerbera daisies will not survive the winter outdoors. These natives of South Africa are sub-tropical plants that cannot handle freezing temperatures.
If you want to overwinter your Gerbera daisies in regions with cold winters, you will have to bring them inside.
Cut back on watering and feeding and keep them in a cool location with bright, indirect light as they become dormant for the winter. Take them back outside after the danger of frost has passed next spring.
Potted Gerbera Daisies Temperature Tolerance?
Because they evolved in the subtropics, potted Gerbera daisies prefer moderate temperatures. They will do best between 40°F – 70°F (4°C – 21°C). In really hot weather they should be kept in a cool, shady spot, and when temperatures start to plummet in fall, it’s time to bring them indoors for the winter.
Do Potted Gerbera Daisies Come Back Each Year?
If they are not exposed to freezing temperatures, either by being grown in zones 8 to 10, or by being brought indoors for the winter, potted Gerbera daisies will bloom year after year.
However, you may find that after a few years your Gerbera daisy plant has outgrown its pot, and transplanting them is difficult because of its long taproot. You might be able to remove the offsets that form around the mother plant and repot those successfully.
Otherwise, you will have to start anew with fresh plants grown from seed or purchased from a nursery.
When Should You Plant Gerbera Daisies in a Pot?
The best time to repot Gerbera daisies is in early spring, just as the new growing season is starting. Move up to a slightly larger pot, unless you are potting up the smaller offsets from around the mother plant.
Use a rich, well-draining soil mix in a clay or plastic pot with good drainage holes.
How Long Do Potted Gerbera Daisies Take to Grow?
When grown from seed, potted Gerbera daisies can take from 4 to 6 months to bloom. For faster blooms, buy a plant from a florist or greenhouse to get things off to a good start in your first year.
Divided offsets will bloom much faster and will be identical to their mother plant.
How Long Will Potted Gerbera Daisies Last Inside?
If you buy a potted Gerbera daisy, you can expect it to bloom for about 2 months before the flowers taper off. Encourage reblooming by trimming off individual flowers as they fade. It may then rebloom after a brief period of rest.
The plant itself will last a couple of years in its original pot. You can then try repotting the mother plant in a larger pot, and also gently remove the offsets, or baby plants, that will have grown around the original Gerbera daisy, and pot them up individually.
Final Thoughts
While many people grow Gerbera daisies as one-season annuals, these tender perennials can be kept alive to bloom another year when grown in pots and either kept indoors as houseplants, or brought in to avoid the freezing temperatures of a northern winter.
Either way, these colourful flowers are easy to grow as potted plants so that you can enjoy their blooms for many years!
Read my related potted plants articles:
- How Long Do Potted Easter Lilies Last?
- How Long Do Potted Hydrangeas Last?
- How Long Do Potted Geraniums Last?
- How Long Do Potted Daffodils Last?
- How Long Do Potted Azaleas Last?
- What to Do with Potted Plants at End of Season?
Janice is a retired High School teacher who is spending her leisure years keeping busy with all sorts of projects. Aside from freelance writing, she’s an enthusiastic amateur chef, home wine maker, and tends a large raised-bed vegetable garden, while at the same time running a Bed & Breakfast.