Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) Common Problems and their Solutions

Some links in this post may be affiliate links

Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) common problems are yellow leaves, wilting and dying, leaf spots, mold, rotting, pests and diseases among others.

Gerbera Daisy also called Barbeton Daisy or Transvaal Daisy is among popular flowering plants on account of its striking flowers that are a pleasant sight to behold in any space.

The flower colors come in soft pink, white, pale yellow, pink, orange, red and purple. They may be single flowers, semi-double flowers, double flowers, or spider flowers.

Transvaal Daisy is among air-purifying plants which gets rid of formaldehyde and benzene as outlined on the NASA Clean Air Study.

As indicated by ASPCA, Gerbera Daisies are non-toxic to both humans and pets. They are pet-safe plants for a space where there are cats, dogs and other pets.

Barbeton Daisy performs best in bright light with 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, warmth of 15-25⁰C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season. Learn how to grow and care for Gerbera Daisy indoors.

If the right growing conditions are not provided, Gerbera Daisy may exhibit some problems. We have herebelow outlined some of the major problems. Keep reading to learn more.

Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) Problems and Treatment

1. Yellow leaves

Some of the causes of yellow leaves on Gerbera Daisy are too little light, nutrients deficiency, root-rot, pests infestation among others.

1. Too little light: Adequate light is needed for food making, which is required for growth and energy for the plant. Inadequate lighting means the plant cannot make enough food for growth and development. This causes the leaves to begin to turn yellow, then brown and eventually die.



Fix: Position the Gerbera Daisy in a spot where it will receive bright light with 6-8 hours of direct sunlight or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not enough.



2. Magnesium deficiency: This causes the leaves to turn yellow along the edges while the centers remain green.



Fix: Feed Gerbera Daisy every 3-4 weeks in spring and summer with a water-soluble fertilizer that contains micro-nutrients like Iron, Zinc and Magnesium which are needed for the healthy growth of the plant.



3. Iron deficiency:It causes gradual yellowing of the young leaves with the leaf veins retaining their green color. The Iron deficiency is caused by unavailability of the nutrient to the plant at soil PH above 6.5. The best soil PH for Gerbera Daisy is between 5.5 and 6.5.



Fix: Spray the Gerbera Daisy with foliar chelated iron and feed it with an acidic fertilizer to correct the soil PH and keep it at the optimum level.



4. Root-rot disease: The disease is promoted by soggy soil due to poor quality soil and or lack of proper drainage. It is characterized by yellowing and wilting of the leaves which is rapidly followed by browning and plant collapse.



How to fix it

1. Slip the plant out of its container and inspect the roots. Brown-black mushy roots indicate root-rot.


2. Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant.


3. Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil to prevent sogginess.


4. Do not water the plant immediately; keep it dry for 5-7 days before you can resume watering.


5. Cut down on watering in fall and winter as growth is slowed at this time.



5. Pests infestation: The sap-sucking insects like spidermites, aphids, mealybugs and scales cause wilting, reduced growth and yellowing of leaves.



How to fix it

1. Maintain the Gerbera Daisy well pruned by removing spent flowers, dead and yellow foliage to reduce the hiding and breeding places for these pests.


2. Regularly inspect the plant for these pests and carry out timely control.


3. Isolate the affected plant to reduce spread and treat it with an insecticidal soap or neem oil to get rid of these pests. Make sure to follow the manufacturers' instructions.


4. Damp-wipe the leaves with a soft cloth to discourage the pests.


5. To minimize pest infestations, increase humidity; group the plants together or set the pot on a wet pebble tray.

2. Wilting and dying

Gerbera Daisy is wilting and dying due to underwatering, soggy soil, spider mites infestation among others.

1. Underwatering: With too little moisture in the soil, the plant cannot get enough water for photosynthesis, therefore, the leaves loose their stiffness, they wilt and die.



Fix: Keep the soil moderately moist and never allow the soil ball to dry out completely. Apply water when the top 2-3 inches of soil are dry.



2. Soggy soil: Too much water reduces oxygen in the soil that is needed to keep the roots alive. When the roots die, they cannot take up water from the soil to the plant. As such, it begins to wilt and eventually dies if the situation is not corrected.



Fix: Pot Gerbera Daisy in loose, free-draining soil and in a container that has adequate drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. Check out these self watering pots on Amazon.



3. Spidermites infestation: These insects suck the plant sap which causes dehydration of the plant resulting in wilting and possibly death.



Fix: Keep the plant well pruned, regularly inspect it for signs of webbing under the leaves and carry out timely control of these pests.

3. Gerbera Daisy Pests

Common pests of Gerbera Daisy are aphids, scales, spidermites, fungus gnats and caterpillars. These sap-sucking pests will cause wilting, reduced growth and yellowing of leaves.

Fix: Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants and treat it with Neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturers' instructions.

4. Gerbera Daisy Diseases

(a) Leaf spot disease

Leaf spot disease is characterized by brown leaf spots surrounded by lighter-colored borders. In a serious attack the spots can enlarge and merge, killing the whole leaf. The disease is prevalent in stuffy humid conditions.

Treatment and Solutions

1. Remove and burn the affected leaves to reduce the risk of spread to the rest of the plant and other plants.


2. Spray the affected plant with a systemic fungicide and ensure to cover all the parts with the fungicidal solution.


3. Improve on ventilation to minimize the occurence of the disease.

(b) Powdery mildew

Powdery mildew is characterized by moldy leaves and flowers. It is enhanced by overwet conditions coupled with poor air circulation. The disease results in disfigured leaves and in severe cases it can spread to the stems of the plant.

Treatment and Solutions

1. Cut off the diseased parts to minimze spread and keep the plant warm while ensuring that there is good air circulation


2. Spray the plant with a systemic fungicide. Ensure all the parts of the plant are completely covered with the fungicidal solution.


3. Do not mist the plant as moisture on the foliage creates favorable conditions for the disease.

(c) Botrytis disease

botrytis disease is characterized by grey, fluffy mould which can cover all parts of the plant; leaves, stems, buds and flowers. The disease is caused by the fungus by the name, Botrytis cinerea and is prevalent in cool and humid conditions coupled with poor air circulation.

Treatment and Solutions

1. Cut all affected plant parts and destroy by burning to prevent spread to the entire plant and other plants.


2. Remove and replace the moldy soil with fresh, loose, free-draining soil and always allow the soil to dry out between waterings.


3. Spray the plant with a systemic fungicide. Ensure all the parts of the plant are well covered with the fungicidal solution.


4. Maintain the soil on the drier side; reduce watering to keep the soil moderately moist and ensure that the pot has a draiange hole.


5. Improve ventilation; ensure free air circulation to discourage the disease infestation.

(d) Crown-rot disease

Limp leaves and rotten crown center in Gerbera Daisy are an indication of crown-rot disease due to wetting of the crown during watering. It is a fungal disease which spreads rapidly and kills the plant with no intervention. It is common in wet, cool and poorly ventilated plant growing conditions.

If caught early, the disease can be treated but if it has spread, the plant cannot be saved and it should be discarded or burnt. Discard its pot and the soil as the treatment is not effective and may spread to the rest of the plants.

Treatment and Solutions

1. To save a plant that is in the early stages of infestation, cut away and discard or burn the diseased tissue.


2. Keep the soil on the drier side; avoid soggy soil by ensuring that the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole.


3. Ensure there is free air circulation for your plant. Avoid keeping your plant in too cold conditions.


4. Avoid wetting the crown of the plant during watering or water it from the bottom instead.

(e) Root-rot disease

The first sign of root-rot disease is yellowing and wilting of the leaves which is rapidly followed by browning and plant collapse. The cause of the disease is a fungal decay which is promoted by soggy soil.

Treatment and Solutions

1. Remove the plant fron its pot, wash the soil away from the roots. Cut away any stems or leaves showing any signs of rot. Cut off brown-black, mushy roots.


2. Disinfect the remaining roots and the entire plant with a copper-based fungicidal solution as indicated by the manufacturer.


3. Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot and repot the plant.


4. Ensure that the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.


5. Water the plant with the fungicidal solution and place it in a warm, well-lit spot.

6. Do not water the plant again until new growth appears and avoid overwatering and soggy soil thereafter.


7. Do not let water stand on the saucer for too long. Empty the saucer so that the plant does not sit on water after you are done watering.

(f) Viral infections

Viral infections in Gerbera Daisy are indicated by stunted plant growth, distorted stems, pale green or yellow spots or small patches on the leaves and large white streaks on the flowers. These viral diseases are transmitted by sap-sucking plant insect pests like aphids, spidermites and scales.

Treatment and Solutions

1. Regularly inspect the plant for pests and take timely control of measures.


2. There is no cure for these infections. The best option is discard the infected plant to reduce spread of the diseases in your houseplants collection.

Tweet

Amazon Associates Disclosure

---

Homeplantsguide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.