| Additional Notes: Gerberas are sensitive to
fluoride. Fluoridated water can cause petal tip burn. If flowers are properly
conditioned, bent necks should not occur. If a bent neck does occur it is probably
the result of clogged stems due to dirty vase water. Gerberas are very heavy water
drinkers and will last longer in vase water than in floral foam. There are currently
over 300 different varieties of Gerbera being grown for the floristry market. When the gerbera was imported into Europe from South Africa in the
19th century, few people would have suspected the flower was to become so popular.
Gerberas are now widely in demand as cut flowers.
With over 300 varieties, gerberas offer an almost
incredibly wide range of colours. Every colour in the universe except blue is represented.
The bright colours automatically make us think of tropical sun. Or could that be because
the flowers come from Africa?
Pink and orange go so well with the feelings evoked by late
summer and autumn. There are also gerberas in pale pastel colours; and for those with a
more classical taste can choose from a wide range of reds - the most basically cheerful
colors.
For the more style-minded, black-and-white contrasts are
even represented in a single flower: there are pure white gerberas with a black heart. A
new colour trend, coffee and cream, is currently very popular in interior design, and the
beige, cream and fleshy pink tones of certain gerberas co-ordinate beautifully.
Gerberas also have a very trendy shape. Being uncomplicated
single flowers on stems, they are entirely in line with the current minimalist,
'back-to-basics' trend. Ask any child to draw a flower and nine out of ten will produce a
brightly coloured daisy-shaped flower - a gerbera, pure and simple!
However, breeders have developed many variants of this
basic shape. From serrated petals or frilly petals that look ragged and shredded, to
double flowers and extra wide petals.
An recent interesting development, as far as the flower's
shape is concerned, is the mini-gerbera. Although the large-headed gerberas are
eye-catching, they may prove somewhat oversized for smaller flower arrangements. The
mini-gerberas are of an ideal size. They not only exude the same bright cheerfulness as
their bigger brothers, but also have the warm colours and friendly appearance so welcome
in comtemporary homes. |
