What Is Wrong With My Gerbera?

Are the leaves covered with white powder?

Are the flowers covered with gray mold, leaves may be blotched or discolored?

Are the leaves yellow and wilting, stems blackened at the base and the plant is toppling over?

Are the leaves discolored, fine webbing may be present on the leaves?

Are the leaves covered in coarse stippling and may appear silvery?

Are the seedlings clipped off at the soil line?

Are the leaves, stems, and buds distorted, sticky with clusters of small insects on them?

White, powdery patches on the leaves are caused by a fungal disease Powdery mildew. Powdery mildew usually appears in damp places. Encourage good air circulation around the affected plants by thining them and any surrounding plants. Water plants from bellow to keep foliage dry. Any affected leaves should be cut off and removed. Any commercial fungicidal spray will protect your plant from further infections.

Gray mold on flowers is probably caused by fungal disease - Botrytis blight. You can only prevent Botrytis blight disease by planting flowers in areas with good air circulation. Water plants sparsely. Severely infected plants should be removed. Spray weekly with a copper fungicide until the disease is under control.

Stem or crown rot causes these symptoms. These problems are common when plants are kept overly wet or are grown in poorly drained soil. Remove and destroy infected plants and surrounding soil. Let the soil dry somewhat between waterings, and incorporate organic matter to improve soil drainage. Avoid overwatering and overcrowding. Keep winter mulch away from the crowns to prevent excess moisture.

Spider mites are known to cause problems for gerbera daisies. You can control spider mites by spraying plants thoroughly with water 2-3 times a day for several days. For severe infestations, spray plants with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin.

These symptoms indicate thrips. Thrips are tiny, yellow to black flying insects. They hide under the leaves. Severely infected plant parts should be removed and destroyed. Control thrips by introducing lady beetles or lacewings, their natural predators. Insecticidal soap helps in severe infestations.

If the seedlings of your flowers are cut off at the soil level, most likely cause are cutworms. These caterpillars can be 1-2 inches long, brown, or gray. They feed at night by cutting off young plants and sometimes eating them whole. During the day, they are hidden below the soil surface. Control them by introducing parasitic nematodes to the ground. Using BTK spray on the ground will also control their numbers.

Distorted leaves, stems and buds are caused by aphids. These tiny insects cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Introducing their natural predators will keep their number low. Insecticidal soap should be used only with severe infestations.

Various caterpillars may attack gerbera daisy leaves. You can protect young plants with row cover. If the infestation isn't severe, you can handpick caterpillars. Apply a BTK spray if the infestation is severe.