Flower library · Vase and office
Gerbera
Gerbera is a large, flat daisy on a single leafless stem, sold in almost every colour except blue. It is one of the most grown polyhouse flowers in India and a regular in office arrangements because the colours are clear and the heads face forward. Its one weakness is a soft stem that bends if it sits in too much water or goes thirsty.
Gerbera jamesonii hybrids · Gerbera daisy · Transvaal daisy
Season
Year round from polyhouses; best quality in the cooler months from October to March.
Vase life
5–10 days in a vase
Colours
Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink, White, Cream, Peach, Bicolour
Grown in
Most of India's gerberas come from polyhouses, a large share of them around Pune and Talegaon in Maharashtra, and around Bengaluru and Hosur. Smaller polyhouse clusters in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the North-East also supply regional markets.
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How to pick fresh
Family Asteraceae
- aEach stem carries one round flower head 8–12 cm across on a hairy, leafless stem of 40–60 cm. Some types have a dark centre and others a green or yellow one.
- bFresh heads are flat and firm, with petals standing straight out. Petals that curl backward or feel limp mean the stem is old.
- cThe central disc should be tight, with only the outer one or two rings of tiny florets showing pollen. A centre covered in pollen has been open for several days.
- dStems should be straight and firm along their whole length, with no bend or soft patch just below the head.
- eGerberas are often sold with a plastic sleeve or cap over each head, which protects petals in transit. Remove it once the stems are in water.
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Keeping it fresh
- Keep only 5–8 cm of water in the vase. Gerbera stems are hairy and soft, and deep water makes them rot and bend.
- Recut 2–3 cm off each stem at an angle before putting it in the vase, and again every two days when you change the water.
- Use a very clean vase. Gerberas are more sensitive to bacteria in water than most flowers, and dirty water is the main cause of bending.
- Florists often run a thin wire up the stem or support heads in a grid of tape across the vase mouth. A tall, narrow vase also helps hold stems upright.
- If a stem bends, recut it, wrap the group tightly in newspaper so the stems are straight, and stand them in shallow water for a couple of hours.
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Where it is used
- Gerberas are a staple of office reception and desk arrangements because the colours read well from across a room.
- They are used in birthday bouquets and children's events for their bright, simple shape.
- Event decorators use them in table centres and stage backdrops, often in single-colour blocks.
- A single gerbera in a bud vase works well on a work desk or dining table.
- The home Weekly Flower Subscription carries gerbera in rotation with tuberose and sunflower.
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Gerbera in your city
Pune is close to many gerbera polyhouses, so stems reach homes fresh and last well in the mild weather.
In Delhi's dry heat, gerbera stems soften faster; change the shallow water daily and keep them away from sun and heaters.
Indore's dry summers call for daily water changes, keeping the water shallow so stems do not rot.
Chandigarh's cool winters suit gerberas well, but in summer they need daily fresh water and a shaded spot.
Mumbai's humidity makes gerbera stems prone to rot, so keep the water shallow, the vase spotless and change water daily.
Bangalore's mild weather and nearby growers give gerberas one of the longest vase lives of any city.
Hyderabad's summer heat shortens gerbera life; recut stems every second day and avoid sunny windowsills.
Ahmedabad's heat dries petals and softens stems, so keep gerberas in a cool room with shallow, clean water.
Kolkata's humid months make stems soften quickly; use shallow water, change it daily and keep the room airy.
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Get it delivered
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Questions
How long do gerberas last in a vase?
Usually five to ten days. Shallow, clean water changed every one to two days and a fresh cut on each stem make the biggest difference.
Why are my gerberas bending?
Bent gerbera necks are nearly always caused by bacteria blocking the stem or by the stems sitting in water that is too deep. Recut the stems, clean the vase, use only a few centimetres of water, and wrap the stems in paper for a few hours to straighten them.
Should I remove the plastic caps on gerbera heads?
Yes. The caps protect petals during transport. Take them off once the flowers are in water so the heads can open fully and air can reach the petals.
Do gerberas have a fragrance?
No, gerberas have almost no scent. This makes them a good choice for offices, hospitals and dining tables where a strong fragrance would be unwelcome.
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