Thursday, December 5, 2019

Playing it by ear

Late, late last fall I took pity on the Gerbera daisy at the bottom of the steps.



It bloomed constantly all summer, and there it was in barely past freezing temps, overnight and all day long, trying, trying to maintain a new bud. Somehow I hoisted all twenty or thirty pounds of it, and got it into the house, one step at a time.



From then to now I have enjoyed the two red daisies, and trimmed the leaves as they yellowed.



I took my scissors this morning to tackle the dwindling number of leaves. and there are two more little buttons, peering up so hopefully. "Thanks for bringing us in from the cold!" Those two daisies have been in bloom going on six weeks now, in spite of the diminishing foliage.

It's enough to drive me to Google, for a crash course on my responsibility to the little thing. So far I have learned it has so many deep roots I probably cannot repot it. That wasn't going to happen, outdoors or in.

I should give them plant food regularly. I wonder if that would have kept their leaves growing? Another "it ain't gonna happen". When the blossoms are done, it may rebloom. It may not. And more useless information on the care and feeding of the gerbera I brought in from the cold.

Then I walked around back, in search of dead leaves.



And here we have new little daisy number three. I thought I was being kind to the extreme when I hauled those two current blooms in from the cold. Now, who's killing who with kindness? I expect in the end I will have three (or more) stalwart flowers, standing alone in a pot of dirt. Wait, excuse me, that was good potting soil.




30 comments:

  1. Lovely, hardy plant. I didn't know they were so hardy because I've only ever had cut gerberas. I extend their lives by putting a bit of bleach in clean water as often as needed. I'm glad they are blooming and giving you the gift of beauty as we approach Christmas.

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  2. I put some gerberas in the garden one year. My soil mustn't have been as good as yours, because they died.

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  3. Yay you.
    I have gerberas, but like too much in the garden they are fast becoming crispy critters. The heat and the drought are ramping up and we are on water restrictions.

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  4. The poor thing looked so cold outside. It has really shown gratitude

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  5. It is good to see the plant is prospering being out of the cold!

    betty

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  6. Good for you! And the gerbera 🙂

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  7. I see a new leaf there also, as well as the three new buds. I think it will survive the winter just fine.

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  8. Well thanks for bringing us the dirt on this story!

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  9. Plants like that can burst through thick tarmac.

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  10. Life just wants to keep living, doesn't it?
    A beautiful reminder.

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  11. I have never had any luck with Gerbera daisies, but always liked them. Fingers crossed that you get them thru the winter.

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  12. You have been rewarded with blooms whatever else occurs.

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  13. Wonderful save!
    The green leaves are a nice house plant. If mine blooms in the spring, then I will be pleased.

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  14. Congrats on saving the Gerber Daisy... but it’s a wonder that you could wrestle that 20-30 pot inside by yourself.

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  15. I have several gerbera daisies in the front yard. They do really well there; shade from the big oak tree gives them some shelter from the sun in hot Texas summers.
    They die back to practically nothing in our "winter", then come back beautifully in the spring. I suppose deep roots make that possible. I'm glad you got a reward for getting it inside!

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  16. All things respond well when treated nicely. Nice going on that heavy pot. Now hopefully it will sit quietly, produce a few more flowers and go dormant until next spring. Then burst out with new leaves and color!

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  17. Hari OM
    I adore gerberas but have never been successful in keeping them. I am impressed at your success here! YAM xx

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  18. fertilizing is easy. and good potting soil only goes so far. the plant will use up all the nutrients. I get my fertilizer in granular form, just sprinkle some in and water about every six weeks. I'll send you some if you want. cause that gerber is telling you it wants to live.

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    1. One of the google sites said feed gerbera's Miracle Gro. Alberta set almighty store in MG, so I may get up to Ace and get me some.

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  19. You know how to nurture them, Joanne. They respond to your care!

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  20. Clearly the gerbera is enjoying its new quarters!

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  21. That Gerbera daisy must really like your home and hospitality. Nicely done.

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  22. Those daisies love you to bits. I think I'd throw a bit of food at them, maybe something you can make, I dunno, what do I know, like tea leaves or egg shells or something.....

    XO
    WWW

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  23. Oh wow! That is just too wonderful. They lasted 6 weeks? That’s amazing. I didn’t know they could bloom that long.

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  24. Our plants respond to TLC. I place a small scoop of organic pellet manure granules mixed up in the compost in the bottom of the flower pot when I repot them. They send their roots down for a feed and the nutrients replenish them. Liquid garden teas like nettles, comfrey and seaweed all work too.

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  25. Plants are like humans; some of them are just too pig-headed to give up before they're good and ready!

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  26. Good luck with keeping it alive. I find that plants that I "rescue" often succumb to aphids or some such pest, goodness knows how these pests even get inside the house in the bad weather!

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  27. They love you, they really love you! And so they should.

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