Basically, seeds can be obtained from any garden flower or potted plant. An exception are the F1 hybrids, whose seeds are not capable of germinating. Unfortunately, most gerbera houseplants are hybrids. Garden gerbera seeds are more likely to germinate. However, propagation via cuttings is more promising.
How can you grow gerbera seeds yourself?
Gerbera seeds can be obtained by leaving the flower on the plant until it becomes a “dandelion”. Shake out the seeds, dry them and sow them in spring. Attention: With F1 hybrids, obtaining seeds is often unsuccessful; propagation via root division or cuttings is recommended.
Getting seeds from your own gerbera
Some flower lovers are so enthusiastic about the beauty of their gerberas that they would like to grow more specimens from seeds. It's worth a try, but the gardener shouldn't be too disappointed if the attempt fails.
The steps to obtain seeds:
- Let the flowers stand for a long time
- First pick as a “dandelion”
- Shaking out seeds
- Dry on a plate
- Sow in spring
It is very important that the flower from which the seed is to be taken remains on the plant until the end. The time to harvest seeds has come when the flower has turned into a large dandelion and the seeds can be easily removed.
Growing seeds yourself is hardly worth it
The effort required to obtain seeds is quite large. You must not cut the flower so that the seed can mature. However, if spent inflorescences are not removed, the gerbera will not develop new buds.
Growing seeds yourself only makes sense if it is a gerbera variety that is not available commercially.
In addition, not every seed germinates later. The seeds must be as fresh as possible, so they must be sown the following spring at the latest.
Gerberas are better propagated by root division or cuttings
Older gerbera plants in pots are better propagated by dividing the roots. To do this, pierce them smoothly so that you get one or more parts with at least two to three eyes.
Garden gerbera can be propagated via cuttings. To do this, cut off branches in early autumn, remove the leaves at the bottom and let them root in water.
Propagation via cuttings has the great advantage that the new gerbera plants have the same properties as the mother plant.
Tips & Tricks
Gerbera is a distant relative of the dandelion, which is considered a wild herb here. The flowers develop in a similar way. When gerbera flowers have bloomed, the seeds with the typical small umbrellas ripen.
