Gazania ∗ The 10 best care tips

origin

Gazania is a genus of the daisy family. Cultivars of the species Gazania rigens, Gazania nivea and Gazania krebsiana are cultivated as ornamental plants. They are also offered under the name Mittagsgold. The plant occurs in South Africa, where it colonizes sunny places.

growth

Gazania are herbaceous plants with bushy growth forms, some of which are perennial. These plants develop partially lignified root stocks. The cultivated varieties usually grow annually with a fine root system without a rhizome. They reach heights of growth between 15 and 20 centimeters and usually develop compressed shoot axes. This makes the plants appear cushion-shaped with slightly overhanging shoots.

leaves

The leaves of most cultivated Gazania are basal arranged in dense rosettes. Few species develop leafy stems. They are lanceolate and narrowly shaped and colored light green on top. The underside of the leaf appears silvery due to the fine hairs.

blossom

The splendor of the flowers from the midday gold is striking. Large cup-shaped flowers sit on approximately 15 centimeters long stems. From a botanical point of view, these structures are inflorescences made up of numerous individual flowers. Many tubular flowers crowd in the center. They are fringed by enlarged ray florets that radiate outwards and are strikingly colored. Typical of Gazania are golden yellow flowers, the ray florets of which are black at the base.

Heyday

The inflorescences, reminiscent of daisies, appear between May and September. They open when exposed to sunlight. The eight to ten centimeters large flowers remain closed in shady locations.

use

Since the plants grow compactly, they are often put together in small groups. They line flower beds and harmonize with low perennials that bloom in intense colors. Gazania are suitable for edging garden paths. Male loyalty, creeping winds, marigold or liver balm are good planting partners. Rudbeckia can also be planted between the midday gold for color accentuation. With their low stature, the daisy beautify flower boxes (€ 13.18 on Amazon *) and tubs.

Which location is suitable?

Gazania grow in sunny locations with warm conditions. The more sun you get, the better the bloom comes into its own. Full sun garden beds or front gardens are ideal. Rock gardens and walls ensure similar conditions. Plants cultivated in pots prefer south-facing balconies or unshaded terraces.

What soil does the plant need?

The midday gold grows on poor soils that have a good structure and are permeable. The pH value is in the neutral to slightly acidic range. Nutrient-rich soils mean that the plants develop many leaf rosettes and hardly bloom. The composites prefer moderately dry conditions. They do not tolerate moisture to a great extent. Loamy substrates provide a good basis. Mix sand into the substrate and make sure there is drainage when planting tubs.

The correct planting distance

Gazania are planted in the bed after the Ice Saints at the earliest. Place the summer bloomers in the bed at a distance of 15 to 20 centimeters so that they can unfold without restriction. In group plantings, there are four to five plants next to each other.

How to plant:

Thoroughly loosen the substrate and improve it with sand or gravel
Dig a planting hole twice the size of the root ball
Insert plant balls and fill gaps with excavated material
Press the substrate and water it

Cuttings

Not all species are recommended for cuttings, as most plants do not develop leafy stems. If you have Mittagsgold whose shoots develop leaves, you can cut off these shoots and pull them as cuttings. The shoots should be at least four inches long. Remove the lowest leaves and put the shoots in a nutrient-poor growing medium. (€ 9.05 at Amazon *) Moisten the soil and place the vessel in a bright and warm place.

As soon as new leaves develop, the pots can be moved outside. A protected place is ideal. At night, the temperature should not drop below ten degrees Celsius.

sowing

Seeds can be sown between February and April. These are commercially available or are collected directly from the plant. Mix potting soil with sand and fill the substrate into a planting bowl. The seeds are scattered on the substrate and not covered as they need light to germinate. Place the container in a light location and keep the substrate evenly moist.

So it goes on:

Germination after two weeks
Prick out young plants with four to six leaves
From May, put pots outside during the day and bring them in at night
The plants remain outside from the end of May

Gazania in a pot

Gazania are suitable for planting in pots. Use clay or terracotta planters. In the pot they harmonize with other summer bloomers, which are sun-hungry and warm-loving in equal measure and prefer drought. Choose a pot with a drain hole so that no water accumulates in the substrate. Cover the bottom of the pot with expanded clay (€ 17.50 at Amazon *) or gravel and fill the bucket with a mixture of sand and potting soil. After planting, the composites should be watered and placed in full sun.

Watering Gazania

The water requirement is relatively low. You should water the plant regularly but sparingly during the growing season. In winter, reduce the watering so that the root ball does not dry out completely. The roots of the decorative permanent flower do not tolerate waterlogging. Water at the base of the stem in the morning or during the evening hours. Leaves and flowers should not get any water so that diseases do not develop.

Fertilize Gazania properly

The plants require few nutrients. Through the application of fertilizers, Gazania develop more leaves and stop flowering. You should therefore avoid repeated fertilization.

Cut Gazania properly

Regular pruning is not necessary as the plants naturally grow compactly. When you clean up dead stems, you encourage the development of fresh shoots. This is how you can extend the flowering period of Gazania.

After the hibernation period, it can happen that the daisy plants are out of shape. Remove too long and annoying shoots. Old leaves and dried up parts of the plant are removed as part of the cleaning process.

Hardy

The plants from the south of Africa can withstand temperatures down to -5 ° C. To avoid frostbite, you should bring the midday gold to winter quarters before the first frosts. Cool temperatures between five and ten degrees Celsius and bright conditions prevail here.

During the resting phase, water is used moderately so that the roots do not dry out. Specimens planted outdoors should be put in a bucket and overwintered in the same way. In April Gazania can be put outside again. You are slowly getting used to the temperatures. Put the buckets indoors during the night. Between the middle and the end of May, the plants remain outdoors permanently.

Fungal attack

If the site conditions are not right or the care is incorrect, it is often an infestation by various fungi.

Gray mold

Too wet a substrate will cause the roots to rot. Fungal spores of the gray mold settle in these places, which penetrate the organism and disrupt growth. If the plant has withered leaves and flowers, it should be dug up and checked for mold.

Cut off rotten roots and place the gazanie in fresh substrate. You should refrain from watering for the next few days so that the plant can recover. Make sure the floor is well ventilated. Gray mold spores do not find optimal growth conditions in a permeable substrate.

mildew

This fungal attack shows a floury coating on the leaves that can be easily wiped off with a finger. To prevent the spores from spreading further, you should generously remove the affected parts of the plant. Spray the entire plant with a mixture of 90 percent water and 10 percent milk.

Pests

Gazania can be attacked by pests both in spring and during the break in winter quarters.

Snails

When the plants develop fresh leaves in spring, gazania becomes a popular food for snails. You can protect the plants with barriers that snails cannot overcome. Crumbled eggshells or plant collars have proven to be successful. The aroma of old coffee grounds scares off voracious pests.

Aphids

They are among the most common pests on Gazania species. If the plants have been infested to a minor extent, the pests can be wiped off with a cloth or sprayed off with a hard water jet. Plant brews have a preventive effect, but should not be used too often. They also supply the plants with nutrients so that over-fertilization can quickly occur.

Gazania does not bloom

The midday gold is considered to be a tireless bloomer. If the plant does not develop flowers, a suboptimal location may be the cause. If the perennials are too dark, they will not develop any flower buds. They need a lot of light from spring to autumn.

Excessive leaf development without flower formation indicates too many nutrients in the substrate. While the flowering time of many flowering plants can be extended through fertilization, Gazania react with reduced flower development.

Tips

Gazania looks particularly attractive in old finds from the flea market. Put the perennial in an old wooden wine box or in a wooden barrel.

sorts

Daybreak Red Stripe : Blooms between May and September with orange-yellow ray flowers that are streaked dark red. Up to 25 centimeters high.
Big Kiss Rose : Flowers up to twelve centimeters in size between July and September, pink. Height between 20 and 25 centimeters.
Mini Star : compact growth. Flowers shine white, yellow, orange, pink or brownish red. Up to 25 centimeters high.

Gazania: The best care tips