Gerberas

[Hamad]

beautiful Khurram

Hamad

[UMARKHANMARDAN]

Khurram sb the Golden orange on the top is so beautiful.Farrah Rs 300 for an imported tissue culture Gerbera is nothing.Acctually Gerberas are hobbiest plants.Once you are attracted you will even pay Rs 1000 for a single plant.There is always a big difference in seed raised & tissue culture.
Khurram sb whats the secret of success for Gerberas.I have some in pots & some in raised beds but each winter i loose up to 10-12 % of my plants.As compared to Lahore here the frost is too much.Till now its ok but in DEC i know the frost will hit us.When are the imported expected to come here. I am waiting for these beauties.

[farah fayyaz]

Ok. mr.Umar. i thought this because it was a single plant(just seedling). Nurseryman told me that after some time when it will grow in full plant, we shall sell it for Rs. 1000.Is there a big difference between seed raised and imported tissue culture?

[mikhurram]

by farah fayyaz » November 29th, 2013, 3:25 pm
Ok. mr.Umar. i thought this because it was a single plant(just seedling). Nurseryman told me that after some time when it will grow in full plant, we shall sell it for Rs. 1000.Is there a big difference between seed raised and imported tissue culture?

The difference is significant and it has been discussed by me in the following link in the forum.
viewtopic.php?f=86&t=1760&start=30

by UMARKHANMARDAN » November 29th, 2013, 2:04 pm
Farrah Rs 300 for an imported tissue culture Gerbera is nothing.Acctually Gerberas are hobbiest plants.Once you are attracted you will even pay Rs 1000 for a single plant.There is always a big difference in seed raised & tissue culture.
Khurram sb whats the secret of success for Gerberas.I have some in pots & some in raised beds but each winter i loose up to 10-12 % of my plants.As compared to Lahore here the frost is too much.Till now its ok but in DEC i know the frost will hit us.When are the imported expected to come here. I am waiting for these beauties.

Ahem.... isn't Rs 1000 excessive for a tissue culture gerbera but i guess rates are exorbitant in Islamabad and people are willing to pay this amount. Mature tissue culture gerberas (2-3 year old) in 14 inch pots used to be available around Rs 250-300 an year ago in Lahore. The other day Kaleem sahib was telling me that the price of a lillium bulb in Islamabad is Rs 180 whereas it can be bought for Rs 60-80 in Lahore.
Actually Khan Sahib there isn't any success recipe for growing Gerberas which require a raised bed with good drainage and sunshine from morning till 12-am and then shade to protect it from hot afternoon sun especially during May,June, July and August. These days even afternoon sun is beneficial for them. Till date i never applied any fertlizer on my Gerberas which grow naturally on their own and i strongly believe that the usage of fertlisers attract more pests in the long run and it's better to enrich the soil by putting leaf mold in the bed or deterring insects by applying used coffee grounds. I tend to apply pesticides only when they are attached by Mealy bugs in March. A casualty rate of 10-12% is normal in my opinion.
The major reason for Gerbera casualty is excessive downpour in Monsoon. I suspect the mortality of your Gerberas is due to excessive cold in Mardan compared to Lahore as mentioned by you. To protect against frost i suggest mulching the base of the plant with leaf mold compost or old rotten manure which hopefully should keep the roots of the plants warm in the winter season. Normally Hellconia's face the same problem during the winter season in Lahore when the frost damages the plant and a nursery owner suggested adding rotten manure around the base of the plant to ensure frost does not damage the roots of the Heliconia which i intend to apply in my Heliconia planted in a soil bed.
The imported varieties according to the nurseries are expected around 10th of December. Shall inform whenever i get an update.
Most of the gerberas available these days in nurseries are the ones grown from seed and sold at exorbitant rates. These Gerberas raised from seeds have high mortality rate.

[UMARKHANMARDAN]

Khurram sb i,l post the pictures of my Gerberas.A good tissue plant is round about 400-500.I was telling if some ones like it he will not even biuy itr for Rs 1000.I only like the Florist tissue culture plants.The seed raise are not that beautiful.

[Kaleem]

Imran sahib, you have nice collection all are beautiful but first photo on the first page is the most beautiful and unique.

[mikhurram]

Some more current photos of gerberas in bloom.





This is a 6 year old plant whom i intend to divide in spring 2014.

[Hamad Ahmed Kisana]

lovely blooms sir...they are gorgeous indeed...pride of garden gerbera.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

I like the third one the most.

[mikhurram]

Sir I believe you are referring to the variety whose picture appears at the end. The name of this variety is 'blessing' and chances are strong than it will be in the collection imported by the nurseries this year which hopefully should arrive around the 10th of December and shall inform whenever i get an update.