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Gerbera Care: Enhance the Beauty of Your Bouquets
Gerbera daisies, with their bold, cheerful blooms and dazzling array of colours, add a burst of sunshine to any bouquet or stand beautifully as single stems. Their surprisingly long vase life makes them a florist favourite. Here's a guide from KS Flowers on maximising the beauty of your gerberas, ensuring they brighten your home for as long as possible.
Choosing the Freshest Gerberas
Your gerbera care journey begins with selecting a vibrant bunch. Look for:
- Vibrant Colour: Opt for gerberas with rich, saturated colours and avoid any with faded or discoloured petals.
- Sturdy Stems: While naturally a bit fuzzy, gerbera stems should feel relatively firm and not have any noticeable bends or soft spots.
- Tightly Closed Buds: Choose gerberas with mostly closed buds that are just starting to show their colour. This ensures a long-lasting display as they open.
Gerbera Care at Home
- Clean Vase: Thoroughly wash your vase with warm, soapy water to eliminate bacteria that can shorten flower lifespan.
- Shallow Water: Gerberas are surprisingly sensitive to deep water. Fill your vase with only an inch or two of cool, clean water.
- Flower Food: Add flower food to the water to provide essential nutrients and help your gerberas last longer.
- Cool Location: Keep your gerbera bouquet away from direct sunlight, drafts, and heat sources. They prefer a cool, slightly shaded spot.
Additional Tips for Long-Lasting Gerberas
- Change the Water Frequently: Replace the vase water every couple of days to prevent bacteria build-up.
- Support for Large Blooms: If the gerbera heads are very large, provide support with floral wire gently inserted into the stem, or lean them against the vase edge.
- Enjoy the Transformation: Gerbera blooms gradually unfurl, offering a lovely visual transformation.
Enjoy Your Beautiful Gerberas!
With proper care, your gerbera bouquet can bring its sunny colours and cheerful presence into your home for a week or sometimes even two!
Delivery Options for Your Perfect Bouquet
Whether you're in the Northampton area or across the UK, KS Flowers has you covered. We offer local Northampton delivery to ensure your chrysanthemums arrive at their freshest. Need your bouquet shipped nationwide? We provide reliable and careful delivery options across the country.
The KS Flowers Difference
At KS Flowers, we're passionate about bringing the beauty and optimism of chrysanthemums into your life. Our experienced florists hand-select the freshest blooms and expertly craft them into stunning bouquets. We pride ourselves on personalized service, attention to detail, and a commitment to exceeding your expectations.
History of Gerbera Daisies
- South African Origins: Gerbera daisies hail from South Africa, with a natural range extending into parts of Asia and South America as well.
- Name Meaning: Gerbera daisies are named in honor of Traugott Gerber, a German botanist and naturalist who was a friend of Carl Linnaeus (the father of modern biological classification).
- European Discovery & Breeding: While known to Europeans since the 18th century, serious breeding of gerberas for the modern cut flower trade began in the late 19th century.
- Symbolism: Gerberas carry cheerful symbolism, primarily representing innocence, purity, and joy.
Did You Know? Fun Facts About Gerbera Daisies
- Colour Explosion: Gerberas come in a truly spectacular array of colours, including vibrant reds, oranges, pinks, yellows, and pastels like peach and cream. Bicolours and varieties with unique eye colours also exist!
- Daisy Cousins: Gerbera daisies are members of the Asteraceae family, the same family as sunflowers, daisies, and many other familiar flowers. This explains their classic daisy-like form.
- Delicate Stems: Gerbera stems are somewhat fuzzy and can bend easily. Handle them gently to avoid damage.
- Surprisingly Long Vase Life: With proper care, many gerbera varieties boast an exceptionally long vase life, often lasting a week or even two!
