Multiply Your Garden Joy: A Comprehensive Guide to Dividing Gerbera Daisies

Gerbera daisies, with their vibrant, cheerful blooms, are a beloved addition to any garden. Their daisy-like flowers come in a rainbow of colors, bringing a touch of sunshine to borders, containers, and even indoor spaces. While these perennials are relatively low-maintenance, they do benefit from division every few years. Dividing gerbera daisies not only allows you to propagate new plants but also rejuvenates the parent plant, ensuring it remains vigorous and floriferous. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring success in multiplying your garden joy.

Why Divide Gerbera Daisies?

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s understand why dividing gerbera daisies is beneficial:

• Rejuvenation: Over time, gerbera daisy plants can become overcrowded, with their central crown becoming congested. This can lead to reduced flowering and weaker plant health. Division allows you to separate the plant into smaller, healthier sections, each with its own root system, resulting in renewed growth and abundant blooms.
• Propagation: Dividing is a simple and effective way to create new gerbera daisy plants from your existing ones. This is far more economical than purchasing new plants each year.
• Improved Air Circulation: Overcrowded plants can suffer from poor air circulation, making them more susceptible to fungal diseases. Dividing allows for better airflow around individual plants, reducing the risk of disease.
• Control Size: If your gerbera daisies are expanding beyond their allotted space, division helps control their size and maintain a balanced garden design.

When to Divide Gerbera Daisies

Timing is crucial for successful division. The best time to divide gerbera daisies is in the early spring or early fall. Avoid dividing during the heat of summer or when the plants are actively blooming. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

• Early Spring: Dividing in early spring, just before the new growth begins, allows the divisions to establish their roots before the heat of summer arrives. Look for signs of new growth emerging from the base of the plant.
• Early Fall: Early fall division also works well, as the temperatures are cooler and the plants are beginning to slow down their growth. This allows the divisions to establish roots before the onset of winter. However, in colder climates, spring division may be preferred to give the young plants a full growing season before the winter freeze.

Avoid dividing during the heat of summer, as this can stress the plants and hinder their recovery. Also, don’t divide during the blooming period, as you want the plant to focus its energy on root development after being divided rather than producing flowers.

Tools You’ll Need

Having the right tools will make the division process easier and more efficient. Here’s a list of what you will need:

• Garden Spade or Fork: For digging up the parent plant. A garden fork is often preferred as it causes less damage to the roots than a spade.
• Sharp Knife or Trowel: For separating the plant into divisions. Ensure your cutting tool is clean and sharp to prevent the spread of diseases.
• Gloves: To protect your hands.
• Watering Can or Hose: For watering the divisions after planting.
• Potting Soil: A well-draining potting mix to replant your divisions into pots or garden beds.
• Optional: A tarp or old sheet for easy cleanup, as this can be a bit messy. Also, rooting hormone can help the divisions establish roots quicker.

Step-by-Step Guide to Dividing Gerbera Daisies

Now, let’s get into the detailed steps of dividing your gerbera daisies:

1. Prepare the Area: Choose a day when the soil is slightly moist but not waterlogged. Clear the area around the plant you intend to divide, removing any weeds or debris. If you will be planting the divisions in pots, prepare your pots by filling them with potting soil. If planting back in the garden, prepare the planting site.
2. Dig Up the Plant: Using your garden fork (or spade), carefully dig around the perimeter of the plant, staying about 6-8 inches away from the main crown. Gently loosen the soil around the root ball. Once the soil is loose, begin to lift the entire plant out of the ground. This may require some wiggling and careful lifting. Be sure to preserve as much of the root system as possible.
3. Inspect the Root System: Once the plant is lifted, examine the root system. You’ll notice several individual crowns emerging from the base of the plant. These are the sections that can be divided. Gently remove as much excess soil as possible from the roots, using your hands or a gentle stream of water. This will make the division process easier.
4. Identify Division Points: Look closely at the base of the plant. You’ll see individual crowns or clusters of leaves, each with its own set of roots. These are the areas to separate. Choose healthy divisions with a good root system. Avoid divisions with damaged or unhealthy roots.
5. Separate the Divisions: Using your sharp knife or trowel, carefully begin to separate the divisions. Make sure each division has a good number of roots and a few healthy leaves. If roots are tangled, gently tease them apart by hand. If necessary, use your knife or trowel to cut through the root ball, but be as gentle as possible.
6. Trim Damaged Roots: Once the plant has been divided, inspect the roots of each division. Trim off any damaged or overly long roots with your sharp knife or pruning shears. This encourages the growth of new, healthy roots.
7. Plant the Divisions: Plant each division into its new location. Whether it’s into a pot or back into the ground, ensure the crown (the point where the leaves emerge from the roots) is level with the soil surface. Do not bury the crown too deeply, as this can cause rotting. Space the divisions appropriately in the ground, providing enough space for each plant to grow, usually 12-18 inches apart. For container planting, choose pots that are slightly larger than the root ball of the division.
8. Water the Divisions: Immediately after planting, water the divisions thoroughly with a watering can or hose. This helps settle the soil and encourages root growth.
9. Provide Initial Care: During the first few weeks after dividing, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Avoid overwatering as this can lead to root rot. Place the newly divided plants in a location that receives dappled sunlight or morning sun, avoiding harsh afternoon heat. Fertilize after about 2-4 weeks with a diluted balanced liquid fertilizer.
10. Monitor and Maintain: Keep an eye on your divisions, providing regular water as needed and deadheading spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering. Once established, they’ll need to be watered less often.

Tips for Success

Here are some extra tips to increase your chances of successful gerbera daisy division:

• Choose Healthy Plants: Only divide healthy, vigorous plants. Avoid dividing plants that show signs of disease or pest infestation.
• Water Well Before Dividing: Water the plant thoroughly a day or two before you plan to divide it. This will help to loosen the soil around the roots and make the process easier.
• Use Sharp Tools: Clean, sharp tools make cleaner cuts and reduce the risk of disease.
• Be Gentle: Handle the root systems as carefully as possible to avoid damage.
• Provide Consistent Moisture: Newly divided plants need consistent moisture to establish their roots.
• Avoid Over-Fertilizing: Newly divided plants don’t need a lot of fertilizer right away. Wait a few weeks before applying a light dose.
• Observe for Problems: Monitor the new divisions for signs of stress, disease or pest infestation and treat immediately.
• Consider Rooting Hormone: If you are concerned about the success rate, dip the cut ends of the root divisions in rooting hormone powder before planting.
• Protect from Pests: Gerbera daisies can be susceptible to pests such as aphids, spider mites and whiteflies. Be vigilant, and treat infestations early.

Troubleshooting

Even with the best intentions, you might encounter some challenges when dividing gerbera daisies. Here are some common issues and how to address them:

• Wilting: Newly divided plants may wilt slightly after being transplanted. This is normal, but if the wilting persists, ensure the plants are getting enough water and are not exposed to intense heat. Consider providing shade during the hottest part of the day until they recover.
• Failure to Root: Some divisions might fail to root. This could be due to several factors, including damaged roots, too much or too little water, or poor soil conditions. Try re-potting into fresh soil, being sure not to overwater.
• Slow Growth: It may take some time for the divisions to begin actively growing. Be patient, keep providing consistent care, and they should eventually start to establish themselves.
• Rotting: Overwatering can lead to root rot. Ensure the soil is well-draining and avoid letting the roots sit in soggy soil. If rot is detected, remove the affected portions of the plant and replant in fresh, well-draining soil.
• Yellowing Leaves: Yellowing leaves can indicate a nutrient deficiency or an overwatering issue. Assess your watering practices and consider using a balanced liquid fertilizer.

Enjoy Your Multiplied Gerbera Daisies

Dividing gerbera daisies is a simple yet rewarding task that allows you to rejuvenate existing plants and create new ones. By following these detailed steps and tips, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a garden full of vibrant and cheerful gerbera daisies. Remember to be patient, provide proper care, and your divided plants will thrive and flourish for many seasons to come. Happy gardening!