Gerbera Garvinea Sweet Dreams = 'Gardreams' (PBR) (Garvinea Sweet Series)
ABOUT
The Gerbera Garvinea Sweet Dreams bears a charming appearance with vibrant blooms that add a pop of color and cheerfulness to any garden setting. The flowers are daisy-like with a large central eye and a plethora of petals radiating outward. These petals come in a lovely shade, ranging from pastel to more vivid hues, giving the plant a dreamy and delightful look. The lush green foliage of this plant is made up of deeply lobed leaves, which provide a rich backdrop for the flowers. The leaves have a pleasant, verdant color and a texture that can range from smooth to slightly hairy, depending on the variety and growing conditions. This foliage forms a dense clump or rosette from which the flower stems emerge. As for the flowers themselves, they are borne atop sturdy stems that rise above the leafy base. This elevated position showcases the blooms and allows them to sway gently with the breeze, adding dynamic motion to the garden space. The central disc of the flower, usually contrasting in color with the petals, is a hub for pollinating insects, often buzzing with activity during the blooming season. Overall, the Gerbera Garvinea Sweet Dreams is admired for its cheerful and robust blooms that continue over a long flowering period, offering a continuous display of beauty in the outdoor space where it resides.
About this plant
- Names
Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Garvinea Sweet Dreams, Hardy Gerbera, Perennial Gerbera Daisy
Common names
Gerbera Garvinea Sweet Dreams = 'Gardreams' (PBR) (Garvinea Sweet Series).
- Toxicity
To humans
The Gerbera Daisy is not known to be toxic to humans. Ingesting parts of this plant is unlikely to cause any serious symptoms of poisoning.
To pets
The Gerbera Daisy is generally considered non-toxic to pets. However, ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some animals. Symptoms could include vomiting or diarrhea if any part of the plant is eaten in significant quantities.
- Characteristics
Life cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Pink
Height
1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
Spread
1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
9
Native area
South Africa
Benefits
- General Benefits
- Long Blooming Period: Gerbera Garvinea Sweet Dreams has a longer blooming season than many other plants, often flowering from early spring until late fall.
- High Flower Production: The plant is known for its high yield of blossoms, ensuring a bright display of flowers throughout the blooming season.
- Disease Resistance: This variety has been bred for improved disease resistance, particularly against common ailments that affect gerberas, such as powdery mildew.
- Cold Tolerance: Garvinea Sweet Dreams exhibits better cold tolerance compared to traditional gerberas, allowing it to thrive in cooler climates.
- Attracts Pollinators: The vibrant flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, aiding in the health of your garden ecosystem.
- Versatile Use: Suitable for borders, containers, and as cut flowers, Gerbera Garvinea Sweet Dreams offers versatility in landscaping and home decoration.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, the plant requires minimal care beyond regular watering and occasional feeding, making it ideal for busy gardeners.
- Vibrant Colors: The blooms provide a range of colors that can brighten up any garden space or floral arrangement.
- Drought Tolerance: While they do prefer regular moisture, these plants can tolerate short periods of drought once they are well-established.
- Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
- Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
- Other Uses
- Edible Decoration: The brightly colored petals of the Gerbera can be used as an edible garnish for salads, desserts, and drinks, providing a pop of color and a mild flavor to dishes.
- Art Supplies: The petals of the Gerbera can be pressed and used in creating botanical art or for adding natural elements to handmade paper.
- Photography Props: Gerbera flowers are often used in photography for their vivid colors and photogenic appearance, making them ideal for product shots, portraits, or still life compositions.
- Eco-Friendly Confetti: Dried Gerbera petals can serve as biodegradable confetti for weddings or celebrations, reducing environmental impact while adding a splash of color.
- Craft Projects: The sturdy structure of Gerbera flowers allows them to be incorporated into craft projects such as flower crowns, wreaths, or homemade potpourri.
- Natural Dyes: Gerbera petals can be boiled to extract natural dyes, which can then be used for coloring fabrics, yarns, or homemade cosmetics.
- Teaching Aid: Gerberas can be used in educational settings to teach children about plant biology, pollination, and the life cycle of flowers.
- Color Therapy: The vibrant hues of the Gerbera are said to enhance mood and can be used in color therapy practices to stimulate happiness and energy.
- Table Centerpieces: Gerberas make striking table centerpieces for events, adding elegance and color without the need for complex floral arrangements.
- Seed Harvesting: The heads of Gerbera flowers can be dried and their seeds collected for gardening enthusiasts who enjoy growing their own flowers from seed.
Interesting Facts
- Feng Shui
The Gerbera is believed in Feng Shui to absorb negative energy and emit positive energy, making it beneficial to place in spaces where you want to generate positivity, such as living rooms or offices. It is also associated with purity and innocence and can be placed in the love and marriage area of your space to encourage a happy and healthy relationship.
- Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Gerbera is not used in astrology practice.
- Plant Symbolism
- Beauty: Gerbera daisies are often associated with simple beauty. Their large, colorful blooms make a bold statement and are a celebrated symbol of beauty in the plant world.
- Innocence: The bright and cheerful appearance of the Gerbera daisy conveys purity and innocence, similar to the symbolism of many other daisies.
- Cheerfulness: The Gerbera's vibrant colors and pleasant demeanor are emblematic of happiness and joyful moments, making them popular in bouquets meant to uplift someone's spirits.
- Positive Energy: With their striking appearance, Gerbera daisies are thought to radiate good energy, thereby symbolizing the presence of positivity in our lives.
- Celebration of Life: Due to their association with cheerfulness and vibrancy, Gerbera daisies can represent a celebration of life and are often gifted in events marking new beginnings.
- Water
Gerbera Daisy should be watered deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, typically once a week. During the growing season, water the plant with about a gallon of water each time, ensuring even moisture but avoiding waterlogged conditions. In cooler months or when the plant is dormant, reduce the frequency to every two to three weeks, adjusting to the plant's needs based on temperature and humidity. Always use lukewarm water and water directly at the base to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to fungal diseases.
- Light
Gerbera Daisies thrive in bright, indirect sunlight and should be positioned where they can receive morning sunlight and afternoon shade. Avoid placing them under the harsh midday sun, which can scorch their leaves. A spot near an east- or west-facing window would be ideal for these plants.
- Temperature
Gerbera Daisies do best in temperatures between 60 to 75°F. They can withstand a minimum temperature of 40°F but prefer warmer conditions. Protect Gerbera Daisies from extreme heat above 90°F, as high temperatures can stress the plant and hinder flowering.
- Pruning
Prune Gerbera Daisy to remove dead or faded flowers and encourage new blooms. Cut off spent flower stems at their base and remove any dead or yellowing leaves. Pruning is best done after a flowering cycle and throughout the growing season as needed to maintain plant health.
- Cleaning
As needed
- Soil
The Gerbera Daisy requires a well-draining soil mix high in organic matter with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. A mixture of peat, perlite, and compost works well to maintain the necessary balance of moisture and aeration. Regular feeding with a balanced fertilizer will support its growth and flowering.
- Repotting
Gerbera Daisies should be repotted every 2 to 3 years or when they outgrow their current pot. It's best to repot in spring or early summer, which allows the plant to recover and establish before the growing season.
- Humidity & Misting
Gerbera Daisies thrive in moderate humidity levels, preferably around 50%. A pebble tray or periodic misting can help maintain adequate humidity, particularly in dry indoor environments.
- Suitable locations
Indoor
Place in bright, indirect light; avoid overwatering.
Outdoor
Full sun to partial shade; shelter from harsh weather.
Hardiness zone
8-11 USDA
- Life cycle
Gerbera, including the 'Garvinea Sweet Dreams' cultivar, begins its life cycle with seed germination, where the seed requires light to germinate and will typically sprout within 2-3 weeks under proper conditions. Following germination, the seedling goes through a vegetative growth stage, developing leaves and roots, which can take several more weeks. As the plant matures, it enters the flowering stage, where it produces the characteristic large and colorful daisy-like blooms that the Gerbera is known for. This stage can occur multiple times throughout the growing season as Gerberas can produce continuous blooms when the dead flowers are removed, a process known as deadheading. Eventually, the plant will enter a period of dormancy, typically induced by cooler temperatures and shorter days in the fall or winter, during which growth slows down. After dormancy, the Gerbera will return to active growth and resume flowering; in perennial growing zones, this cycle repeats annually, while in colder regions, the plant may be treated as an annual or requires shelter to survive the winter.
- Propogation
Propogation time
Spring to Summer
Propogation: The Gerbera Garvinea Sweet Dreams, commonly known as Gerbera Daisy, is typically propagated through tissue culture, a method which allows for the rapid production of many plants from a small amount of parent tissue. However, the most popular method for home gardeners is division, usually performed in spring when plants are beginning to grow more actively. To divide Gerbera daisies, carefully dig up the entire plant and gently separate the crowns, ensuring that each division has at least one growing point and a portion of the root system. Replant the divisions at the same depth they were growing before, spaced about 12 to 18 inches (approximately 30 to 45 centimeters) apart to allow for adequate air circulation and growth. Water the new divisions well to help establish them. It should be noted that propagating patented plants like the Gerbera Garvinea Sweet Dreams without permission may infringe on plant breeders' rights.