Winter-care for Gerbera...

I would have thought it would be difficult to overwinter outside as does not like temperature to drop below 10˚C, so you will need to move into a greenhouse and keep warm.

I thought that too Moon G....but as it was labled 'hardy' i wondered...i googled it and it also claims it to be hardy....I dont think I'll take any chances...thanks...:>)

Gerberas do not like damp cool conditions and have a habit of rotting off if not kept dry and a lot warmer than our winters are! I had a trough of them and brought them inside my greenhouse and even there they did not come through last winter....OK it was a bad winter but Gerberas come from South Africa originally - so that tells you what they really like and in this country I think they are best regarded as an annual.

Thanks Alzheimer...I'll take it in to my sun-room and see how it does...

Good show! They are lovely things and well worth a try!

They are a lovely plant; the one I got last year did not survive....As already said they do not like cold wet conditions. I know a few friends managed to over winter them. I sucumbed to an offer recently and am the proud owner of 6 of these dainty daisies....I am going to overwinter them in pots and hopefully put them in tubs next summer...

Mine DID survive that cold winter - outside - they are 'Everlast Rose' and flowered again this summer. I've bought a white one this year, and hope that'll survive, as well.

The temperature dropped to -8 degrees at its lowest, and we had a number of nights at -5.

Oh...good news Spritz....mine is Everlast Carmine', the Everlast ones are supposed to be hardy...i was told this at the garden centre where i bought it..do you how to increase them Spritz?....

Not a clue, I'm afraid - but my pink ones did produce what looked like fluffy seedheads - I chopped them off to try to get more flowers! I'll take a look when the white one's finished flowering. Maybe we could try planting them??

Oh, and Angie's also came through the winter! She's in Essex.

Thanks again Spritz....:>)

My white and carmine ones came through okay aswell.

Maybe if you're in the southern parts of the UK you're more likely to overwinter them safely outside than further north though, seems logical :)

Mine are in a south facing position and in fairly thin alkaline soil.

Motinot, I meant to say to you to be warned - they do disappear for the winter, so mark where they are!

Yup...methinks we ARE really too chilly up here on the NE coast of Scotland.
I have tried both in and out (duly snuggled up with ferns - against the frost) but each time the rot won!

Shame. They are lovely plants!

Ah but we can grow plants up here you can't grow down south as it is too hot for them :-)

Thanks to everyone for the very helpful comments....If i fail with this plant....it wont be your fault..lolol

Yes, MG - like my complete and utter failure with beautiful Tropaeolum speciosum! :-))

Although, having said that - it grows well at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent!

Ah Spritz...and i have no problems with it here...i dont even mulch it....I supply my brother with pieces of root every spring and now he has a great show....:>)

I was sure I'd replied to your comment Spritzhenry but it has disappeared!

...and it practically grows wild here ...once into your garden..it goes mad...which is great...it sure cheers up any solid green hedge...as that pic I added today shows.
Even those gorgeous bright blue berries are worth having..very eye-catching...:~))

Don't rub it in, will you! LOL.

MG - what did you say to me in your vaniching comment??

Haven't got a clue now :-)

lol

Interesting reading.....I have 2 Gerberas that I rescued from the bin at work. I am going to try overwintering them indoors in the basement. One of them is still flowering at the moment. Lovely peachy cream colour.

Good luck Gilli - hope they survive

The one in the pic is still flowering too Gilli, outside and its quite cold here ....:>)

Thanks MG
It's dropping below freezing at night now over here Motinot so mine have come inside. The one that is flowering seems to have 2 different coloured flowers on it. 2 are creamy yellow and the other is a pinky peach....Not sure if the pinky peach will age to the creamy yellow or not.??
Yours look to be a lovely colour Motinot. One of my favourite colours. :o)

Thanks Gilli...Im fond of this plant..wouldn't want to lose it through the winter...I'll take mine in too....trying to find somewhere indoors thats cool enough will be the problem.....

I know what you mean. I'm hoping the basement will be cool enough. I have my plants in a seperate room down there and I can close the heat off a bit in just that one room. Hope it works. :o)

Good idea Gilli....My bedroom is the only room that never has the heat swiched on in it...i'll put mine in there....:>)