All About Indoor Plants - Gerber Jameson: Propagation Features and Useful Tips for Proper Care
Gerber Jameson is one of the most compact, relative to other representatives of his kind. It is a perennial indoor plant with such a beautiful flowering that it easily captivates anyone.
This gerbera also belongs to the Asteraceae family, and due to the fact that it is grown as a pot culture, caring for it is pretty simple, that is, it will be an ideal option for a beginner grower. In height, it can reach 25-30 centimeters, however, this flower does not grow higher. Inflorescences are large, sometimes reaching a length of 5 centimeters.
Botanical description, features of appearance
Gerber Jameson belongs to the family of asters, or, as mentioned above, are Asteraceae. The homeland is considered South Africa, where in fact it was bred by breeders. The dimensions of 30 centimeters are record, therefore, most often there are specimens of 20-25 centimeters, which against the background of huge inflorescences looks extremely impressive.
The leaves have a light green color, the edges are wavy, with notched edges. All leaves form a basal rosette. Propagated in several ways, namely: dividing the bush, or grafting. In nature, propagated by seeds.
Important! Lighting should be bright, but the rays of this light should be scattered. Watering should be carried out, but the main thing is not to overdo it.As for the features of this species, perhaps the main one is that, due to the length of daylight at 12-14 hours in the homeland, the flowering of gerbera at home lasts from late August to November. Many will agree that this is quite a long time. The leaves are terry to the touch.
Photo
Below you can see a photo of a wonderful flower - Gerber Jameson:
How to plant?
The most common method of propagation is seed cultivation. The easiest way to get seeds is to buy.
Reference. When buying seeds, pay attention to the date. They retain viability for a maximum of 8 months.About the very same planting and subsequent cultivation will be described below.
Lighting
Lighting should be plentiful, however the sun's rays should be scattered. The optimal location in the house is the east or west window. Also, ventilation is considered an important point, since the gerbera is very fond of fresh air.
The soil
Here the main thing is to observe the correct composition of the components of the soil itselfnamely: 2 parts of clay soil mixture, 1 part of peat, and 1 part of sand.
Care
It’s worth starting with the fact that taking care of Jameson’s gerbera is not difficult, especially if certain conditions are met. The first thing a flower grower needs to do is to place the plant on the sunny windowsill so that the sun's rays are scattered, but at the same time quite bright. As mentioned above, the ideal place is the windows on the west and east sides.
If it is not possible to place the flower on the west or east side, then when installing near the north and south windows, it is necessary to install additional illumination in the form of a lamp.
In summer, you can safely put a gerbera on the balcony, due to constant drafts, the plant will bloom perfectly. In winter, lighting is increased by installing lamps, and it is also worth observing a temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius. When taking these measures, you can increase the flowering time.
Given that Africa is considered the birthplace of the plant, the temperatures should be high, but you should not exceed the threshold of 22 degrees Celsius, and in the winter 14-16 degrees. With an excess of temperature, the plant will begin to wither.
It is also important to avoid sudden changes in temperature, as they, again, they can weaken the gerbera. Watering should be plentiful, and the appearance of dry lumps of earth should never be allowed. Although, waterlogging is also not worth it. This can lead to fungal infections.
Attention! Do not allow water to enter the outlet of the rhizome, as this can provoke decay of the roots.Watering should be done through a pan, and excess water must be drained. Water should be about 20 degrees Celsius, and watering with cold water should be avoided, as this harms the root system.
Disease
Jameson's gerbera, as well as other gerberas, in fact, despite its unpretentiousness, has a tendency to certain diseases. For example: Alternariosis, Mosaic, Sclerotinosis. Often they are associated with improper care. The most observed diseases: leaves turn yellow or dry, buds fade, the appearance of plaque of various colors.
There are a number of diseases that gerbera is prone to. Here are the most common:
- "Alternariosis" - spots of bright brown color appear on the leaves and petioles. With the further development of the disease, the leaves begin to lighten, gradually acquiring a yellow color. The optimal environment for the development of this disease is humid, moderately warm weather.
- “Mosaic of Gerbera” - spots of sharp limited form appear on the leaves, and also have a yellow-green color. Next, the deformation of the sheet plate occurs. It can ultimately lead to necrosis.
- "Late blight". With this disease, one of the signs is the drying of the leaf from the outside. With the further development of the disease, the inner side of the leaves and flowers begin to dry out, which soon soon leads to the death of the plant. Rotting of the roots occurs. The disease persists in the soil for a long time. The spread of the disease mainly occurs through contaminated soil, or through the air.
The most susceptible to this disease are plants that are kept at excessively high temperatures, as well as in violation of technology for the use of agricultural technology. The disease develops most at a temperature in the range of 6 to 8 degrees Celsius. The causative agent is the Phytophthora fungus.
- "Sclerotinosis." The plant quickly fades. Indented spots appear on the leaves and peduncles, which in the process of intensifying the disease acquire a white or gray-white color. The causative agent of the disease is the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) De Bary.
- Powdery Mildew. This disease is most susceptible to young plants. The first manifestations on the petioles. It can be recognized by white, and later on gray-white plaque. As a result, the whole plant is covered by this coating, which leads to drying and death of the plant. If a disease occurs, it is necessary to carry out treatment with fungicides.
- "Gray rot." there is a defeat of the base of the leaf, peduncle and flowers. All affected parts are overgrown with gray. The disease can persist in the soil for 1-2 years. It is transmitted with contaminated soil, as well as through the air. The disease gains strength with excessive moisture in the soil and with increased humidity.
Propagation Features
Although the gerbera of Jameson and is perennial, but still it is not durable. Often it is necessary to change it every 3-4 years. Let's talk about certain features of reproduction. To begin with, it is worth mentioning the methods of reproduction, namely: cuttings, dividing the bush and seeds.
The main thing when reproducing is observing a temperature regime of 20-25 degrees, as well as moist soil. Sprouts can be sprayed with a spray gun. When grown with seeds, the first seedlings appear 7-10 days after planting.
Summing up, we can safely say that Jameson's gerbera is an ideal option for both a beginner grower and experienced gardeners.
The care is pretty simple, so even a child can grow it, which, incidentally, can be considered an analogue of a hamster or fish in the animal world, that is, with which you should start your path of floriculture. No less interesting is the appearance of the plant. Lush leaves, large sizes of inflorescences in relation to foliage - a bewitching sight.