Cut Flower Care and Handling: Gerbera
At the Flower Care and Handling section of our website, Floralife offers a bunch of useful tips for the postharvest processing of many different varieties of cut flowers. Grower, wholesaler, retailer, enthusiast – there’s something for everybody. Let’s go down the list! Today’s star is the Gerbera!
The Gerbera is a member of the daisy family, and is also known as the Gerbera, African or Transvaal daisy. First encountered in South Africa, the Gerbera is also native to tropical regions in Asia and South America. Gerbera comes in a variety of colors including red, pink, yellow, orange, purple, blue and white.
As always, Floralife has some practical Gerbera care and handling tips for the grower, the wholesaler and the retailer. Here is a preview.
Gerbera Grower Recommendations: After cutting, be sure to hydrate Gerbera right away with Hydraflor® 100 hydrating treatment, and then transfer to one of our storage and transport solutions such as Floralife® 200. More details at the original article.
Gerbera Wholesaler and Retailers: Ask the name of the variety; Gerbera varieties have different flower qualities. Learn the varieties that work best in your region. Look for flowers with firm, straight stems and firm petals. Avoid flowers with soft, limp stems and/or petals, brown stem tips and brown centers, as well as flowers with more than half pollen shed in the center.
Unpack your Gerberas immediately. Remove foliage below solution level, and recut the stems.
Hydrate with Floralife’s Hydraflor® 100 to promote water uptake. Or, try Floralife® Quick Dip 100 instant hydrating treatment. Using one of Floralife’s hydration pretreatments can help increase bud opening, decrease flower wilting and keep stems free flowing. For more info on selecting the right hydrating solution, read the original article.
Holding Solution: Nourish your Gerberas with the proper mixture of fresh flower food such as PRG 100 (specially formulated for Gerbera!), Flower Food 300, Floralife® 200 or Floralife® Clear 200, Floralife® Clear ULTRA 200 or Special Blend 300 storage treatment solutions.
That’s a quick preview of Floralife’s Gerbera Care and Handling article. There is a lot more at the original piece, including discussions on storage temperature, water quality and the benefits of a clean workspace, so take a look! Are you a fan of the Gerbera, as a professional or an enthusiast? Let us know in the comments section!