How to Grow Gerbera Daisies From Seed: 15 Pro Tips

Gerbera daisies are colorful and adorable. They’re also relatively easy to grow. With a little shade and sandy, well-drained soil, they’ll produce big, radiant blooms. 

If you live in a warm climate, zones 8 to 10, they’ll thrive as tender perennials. In colder climates, you can grow them as annuals. 

While many nurseries sell starters, growing them by seed is incredibly easy and cost effective. Below are X pro tips on growing healthy gerbera daisies from seed and how to let them thrive. 

Epic 4-Cell Seed Starting Trays

Ditch flimsy plastic plant trays that crack and crumble! Epic 4-Cell seed starter trays are crafted from recycled, UV-treated American plastic, making them super strong and endlessly reusable. Save money and reduce waste – these trays will be your seed-starting companions for years to come.

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Buy High Quality Seeds

The first step to growing gerbera daisies is finding healthy, quality seeds. Always purchase your seeds from a reputable company. Look for brands with great public reviews and praise from fellow gardeners. You can purchase seeds online or in person at your local nursery. 

Try to find organic products that are sold on the package date. Seed packets should list the growing season year that they were packed for. If you see they were stored improperly or they’re damaged, don’t buy them. 

Finally, gerbera daisies shouldn’t be too expensive. Shop around and find the best deals. You may even find seed specials to take advantage of. 

Choose Where to Grow Them

These captivating flowers are easy to grow as long as they have some shade. They’ll thrive in pretty much any location, from containers to raised beds. Make sure the area gets plenty of morning sunshine and afternoon shade. 

Grow them directly in the soil as a border crop between your garden beds or landscape elements. They make excellent focal points for entryways or front yards. You can also grow them along with other daisy varieties for a diverse outdoor bouquet.

If you have special ceramic pots or containers you want to use, these beautiful flowers will work magically. If you’re using containers, make sure they’re at least 12 inches deep to support the daisies’ long roots. 

Get a Head Start Indoors

Start your flowers indoors instead of directly seeding them. This gives you a head start on the season and will produce longer-lasting blooms. Preparing the growing medium in trays is the first step in starting gerbera daisies from seeds. 

Gerbera daisies are susceptible to root rot, especially when they’re young seedlings. That’s why many gardeners choose to ditch the potting soil and start with coconut coir or sphagnum moss. 

Use containers such as the Epic 4-Cell Trays. You can also start them in 4 to 6-inch pots. Whatever you use, make sure it has large drainage holes. 

Sow Your Seeds on Time

Sow your healthy seeds in the medium a couple of weeks before the last frost date in your area. Check the Old Farmer’s Almanac website to find your projected last frost date.

Gently place a few seeds in each cell. Water them until the medium absorbs the moisture but isn’t too soggy. Water each cell evenly. 

Use the Right Amount of Light

During the germination phase, these perennial flowers need at least 6 hours of indirect sunlight or indoor light. Use grow lights if you live in an area with long, cold winters. Otherwise, keep the trays near a bright window and wrap them in plastic to seal in the moisture. 

Without enough light, gerbera daisy seeds won’t germinate. Avoid exposing your trays to direct sunlight or they will dry out quickly. Too much light may also harm the young seedlings when they emerge. 

Keep the Medium Moist Enough

The only tedious part of planting gerbera daisies from seed is keeping the growing medium moist. The trick is not letting it dry out, but also keeping it from becoming soggy. 

I like to use a mister. Simply open the plastic wrap and gently mist your seedlings. Let the moisture soak into the soil and cover them up again. 

Prepare the Right Soil

Prepare your soil for your transplants in your outdoor garden bed or containers. Wait until the outside air temperature is safely above 41°F (4°C). Your young plants will succumb to the cold easily. 

Use sandy soil with great drainage. If you’re transplanting your seedlings directly into the ground, choose a site that’s gently sloped. As mentioned before, gerbera daisies are prone to root rot from overly soggy soil. 

Your soil should have a slightly acidic pH of around 5.5 to 6.5. Add a healthy amount of organic compost to boost the nutrients. These daisies are heavy feeders and thrive in rich soils. 

Transplant Your Seedlings on Time

Once your gerbera daisy seeds emerge, let the seedlings grow some foliage before transplanting them. They will be ready when they have 2 or 3 leaves and are over 3 inches tall. 

Give your young plants plenty of water before transplanting them to loosen their soil. Gently remove them from the trays and loosen any roots stuck in the container. 

Dig a hole in your soil deep enough for the root balls. Gently plant them in the ground up to their crowns and cover with soil. Water the young seedlings evenly. 

Try Mulching

Adding a layer of mulch around your young seedlings will help protect them from late-season low temperatures. It also helps to keep moisture in the soil while keeping it warmer than the ambient air. 

There are many types of mulch to choose from. Find a cost-effective mulch that works for your garden. Spread it out evenly, no more than 1 inch deep. 

Water Consistently But Not Too Much

As your seedlings grow, stick to a consistent watering schedule. Gerbera daisies need a lot of water, as long as their soil never gets soggy. 

Set up soaker hoses or drip irrigation around your beds. These systems will water your plants directly at their roots, instead of overhead. This will help prevent moisture buildup near the surface and make watering more even. 

If you prefer watering from overhead, do it in the morning so the leaves can dry out. If your flowers and foliage have too much water on them, it could lead to mildew problems. 

Stick to a Feeding Schedule

These colorful perennials are heavy feeders and benefit from a consistent feeding schedule. Use organic balanced fertilizers like liquid kelp or slow-release granular fertilizers. 

If you use liquid fertilizer, apply it twice a month. You’ll only need to use granular fertilizers two or three times each season. 

Be careful not to overfeed your flowers or they’ll show signs of shock. If you see yellow leaves, it may be a sign your plants need more micronutrients such as iron and manganese. 

Watch for Pests 

These flowers are susceptible to pests, including aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and thrips. If left untreated, these insects can destroy your beautiful flowers and spread throughout your garden. 

Signs of these sap-sucking insects include honeydew, yellowing, and wilted leaves. Use neem oil sprays or high-pressure water sprays to remove them. 

Other pests to look out for are leafminers and caterpillars. Neem oil works for these larger pests. Or, you can remove them by hand. The best way to prevent these pests is by encouraging beneficial insects such as ladybugs and wasps to live in your garden. 

Keep an Eye Out for Diseases

Gerbera daisies can succumb to several diseases. The most common are root rot, bacterial leaf spot, and anthracnose. 

The best way to prevent these harmful infections is by controlling your watering. Avoid overwatering and always grow your flowers in well-drained soil. 

If you have diseased plants in your garden, isolate them from the rest. Copper sprays and neem oil work for some diseases, such as bacterial leaf spot. However, once your flowers have a root rot infection, there’s nothing you can do to save them. 

Deadhead Spent Flowers

After your blooms finish their shows of color, get in with clean pruners and remove them. This process is called deadheading and is a good way of extending the growing season. 

Cut the stems at the base evenly. When you do so, your plants will divert nutrients and water to producing new foliage growth and strengthening their roots. 

Always disinfect your pruners thoroughly before and after deadheading. This prevents the spread of diseases or pests to your daisies and other garden plants. 

Save Your Seeds

Before deadheading, choose a few flowers to go to seed. Keep in mind that many seed varieties are hybrids. The seeds you collect won’t necessarily be the same as the parent plants. 

To collect them, let your daisy flowers bloom, form seed pods, and dry naturally. They should have a white fuzzy substance on their flower heads. 

Take out the seeds from the flower head and place them on a dry cloth. Put them under direct sun to dry them out further. Keep them in an airtight container or jar after they’ve completely dried out. They’ll be ready for planting the following season.