Gerbera daisies are super easy to recognize with their brightly colored flowers in shades of pink, red, yellow, orange, and lavender. Also called Transvaal daisies or simply referred to as gerberas, theyre great for indoor growing and a genius way to add cheerful beauty among all your other stay-green houseplants. Youll usually find them for sale during the winter—just when youre probably longing for a spot of color—though theyll grow inside just fine whenever you can get your hands on them, no matter the season.
Gerbera daisies are one of the most popular flowers for home gardens and floral arrangements. Their large, vibrant blooms come in a rainbow of colors and instantly brighten any space.
To keep gerbera daisies flowering abundantly, proper care is essential. One key maintenance task is knowing how to cut gerbera daisies correctly. Proper cutting encourages new growth and blooms removes spent flowers and keeps the plants neat and healthy.
In this guide, we’ll cover when and how to cut back your gerbera daisies for maximum flowers and plant health.
When to Cut Back Gerbera Daisies
Timing is everything when it comes to pruning gerbera daisies. Here are the optimal times to give your plants a trim:
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After blooms fade: Deadhead individual spent blooms as soon as they start wilting. Don’t leave old flowers on the stems.
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Early spring: Prune back any frost-damaged foliage and shape the plant.
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Throughout summer: Deadhead regularly to encourage continuous reblooming.
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Fall: Cut back flower stalks after the final flush of blooms before winter dormancy.
Avoid heavy pruning when buds are forming. Allow them to flower fully before removing spent blooms.
How to Properly Cut Back Gerbera Daisy Flowers
Follow these simple steps to deadhead gerbera daisy blooms correctly:
Step 1: Sterilize Pruning Tools
Before cutting, use rubbing alcohol to disinfect your pruners, scissors, or knife. This prevents transmitting diseases between plants.
Step 2: Identify Old Flowers
Look for blooms that are wilted, faded, dried out or damaged. Removing spent blooms conserves the plant’s energy.
Step 3: Snip Off Dead Blooms
Use clean, sharp pruners to cut off each spent bloom just below the flower head. Be careful not to damage healthy growth.
Make the cut at an angle to prevent water-logging on the cut stem.
Step 4: Optionally Prune Old Leaves
You can also trim off damaged or dead leaves near the base of the plant. Limit leaf removal to 1/3 of foliage at a time.
Step 5: Make Additional Precutting Steps
Some additional tips before cutting:
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Avoid pruning on hot, sunny days. Opt for early morning or evening.
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Water plants a day before pruning to maximize hydration.
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Scout for and treat any pests/diseases beforehand.
How Often to Prune Gerbera Daisies
During peak growing season, deadhead plants at least 1-2 times per week. Check young plants every 2-3 days. Established plants can go 5-7 days between prunings.
After heavy rain, be vigilant about removing saturated blooms to prevent rotting. In warmer climates with year-round growth, prune more frequently.
Frequent deadheading keeps gerbera daisies looking their best! It also improves air circulation and redirects energy to new blooms.
What Tools to Use
Equip yourself with these basic tools for easy, safe gerbera pruning:
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Bypass Pruners: Make clean cuts without crushing stems.
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Scissors: Perfect for snipping off individual spent blooms.
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Garden Knife: Useful for removing old woody growth.
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Sterilizing spray: Prevent disease transfer between plants.
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Gardening gloves: Protect hands from irritants and thorns.
Quality tools like Fiskars or Corona pruners are worth the investment for longevity. Sharper blades make pruning easier!
How to Cut Back Leaves
Here are some tips for properly trimming gerbera foliage:
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Only remove damaged, diseased or dead leaves. Never cut healthy foliage.
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Use clean, sterilized, sharp pruners to avoid crushing stems.
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Cut just above leaf nodes to allow new growth.
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Remove no more than 1/3 of leaves at once to avoid stressing plants.
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Space out leaf pruning over several weeks for a gradual refresh.
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Cut on an angle to prevent water-logging on cut ends.
How to Cut Back Gerberas for Winter
Gerbera daisies need special winter care in zones with cold winters:
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In fall, cut back the entire plant to 1-2 inch stubs. Remove all foliage, stems and flowers.
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To overwinter containers indoors, trim away top growth and move pots inside before frost.
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If left in the ground, insulate the roots with a thick layer of mulch.
Severely cutting back gerberas in fall minimizes top growth so plants can conserve energy for winter dormancy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Steer clear of these common gerbera pruning errors:
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Leaving dead blooms on plants for too long.
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Cutting too close to the crown and damaging growth nodes.
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Removing more than 1/3 of foliage at once.
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Pruning off healthy stems and leaves along with dead growth.
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Failing to disinfect tools which spreads disease.
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Pruning just before winter rather than in fall.
Aftercare Following Pruning
Follow these aftercare tips for healthy recovery after cutting back gerberas:
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Water plants thoroughly immediately after pruning.
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Apply a balanced fertilizer to nourish new growth.
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Scout for pests/disease and treat any flare-ups quickly.
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Stake up droopy stems until plants regain strength.
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Move plants to partial shade if experiencing wilting.
Proper aftercare ensures your gerberas rebound quickly and reward you with an abundance of colorful blooms.
FAQs About Cutting Gerbera Daisies
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about pruning gerberas:
How short can I cut the flower stalks?
Aim to cut back to just above the second set of leaves above the crown. Cutting too short can damage future growth.
How do I encourage more blooms?
Frequent deadheading, proper watering and fertilization, and ample sunlight will maximize flowers.
Should I remove leaves when deadheading?
You can remove discolored or damaged foliage but don’t overdo it. Never remove more than 1/3 of leaves at once.
Can I cut back gerberas in containers for winter?
Yes, trim back containerized gerberas at the end of the season for overwintering indoors.
Do I need special tools for pruning gerberas?
Quality bypass pruners and a disinfectant like isopropyl alcohol is all you need for safe, effective pruning.
Conclusion
Knowing when and how to properly cut back gerbera daisies is essential for keeping these colorful blooms flowering freely in your garden. Follow this complete guide to expertly deadhead spent blooms, trim damaged growth, and prune plants for winter.
With the right technique and a bit of routine care, cutting back your gerberas will lead to bigger, better flowers and healthy, vigorous plants all season long.
How to Water Gerbera Daisies
To help avoid over-watering, wait until the top inch of soil is dry before watering. Water around the base of the plant, trying to keep the leaves and flowers as dry as possible—a practice that can help keep disease at bay. If you start to see little gnats flying around the plant, it likely means the soil is staying too moist, so youll want to cut back on watering.
How to Repot Gerbera Daisies
- Choose a pot thats no more than 1-2 inches larger than the diameter of your plant’s root ball. Make sure it has holes for drainage, too.
- Fill the pot about ⅓ full with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix, which is formulated to be less prone to pesky fungus gnats.
- Carefully remove your gerbera daisy from its current pot and set it in the new container. Make sure the top of the root ball is about an inch below the rim so therell be room for watering.
- Fill in around the root ball with more potting mix and pat gently.
- Water well, put a saucer under the pot to catch any lingering drainage, then move your gerbera daisy to its sunny new home.