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Buying a Gerbera Bouquet is easy, but if the stems become bendy or the vibrant petals fade within 48 hours, it can be frustrating. Over the past 28 years I have conditioned thousands of stems at my workbench on the Lodhi Road, and I have learned how to pick only the most compact centres of the flowers. By carefully wiring the heavy heads and putting them into just 2 inches of clean water, I know my Gerbera Bouquet will stay perfectly upright for over a week.
Every day, at 5.30am when fresh crates come through from polyhouse growing, my customers ask me why their Gerbera Bouquet purchased from the store is wilting so quick. Many online guides give vague advice. The one thing you have to understand is that Gerbera Jamestown doesn’t grow like roses. They grow on a bare, hollow stem known as a scape. This one change means you need to be careful when choosing, wrapping, and watering. I’ve created this guide to help you pick the freshest Gerbera Bouquet. Here are the steps I follow every day in my studio.
How To Choose a Fresh Gerbera Bouquet?
Check the Capitulate, When sorting through the incoming bunches to make a Gerbera Bouquet, I look directly at the centre of the flower. The head of a gerbera is known as the capitulate and contains hundreds of tiny florets. Fresh flowers will have a compact centre ring with no loose yellow pollen. If the centre is fluffy and puffy, the flower has been halfway through its vase life already. I also check the outside of the flower have petals that are parallel to the table.
Check the Scape
After checking the flower head, I run my thumb down the top 2 inches of the stem. This is where there will be low water pressure due to the bacteria blocking the stem. A fresh stem should feel firm. When cutting at a 45 degree angle, the stem should snap easily. If there is any pale slimy discoloration at the bottom of the stem, I won’t use it as the bacteria will rise up the hollow stem very quickly.
Florist Scorecard
Criteria Description Reject Score
Compact Centre Ring Compact centre with unripe florets Fluffy / Puffy centre 5.0/5
Firm Upper Stalk Firm stem directly underneath flower head Bendy, soft 2 inches below petals 4.8/5
Parallel Petals Petals are glossy and straight Reflected petals 4.9/5
Clean Base Pale green firm stem Brown, soggy or split ends 4.7/5
By checking for a compact centre with no pollen and firm feeling stems at the top 2 inches below the flower head, you’ll find a fresh Gerbera Bouquet. Reject any with slimy bases or reflected petals as they will have bacteria blocking.
How To Pair the Right Gerbera Bouquet With Your Occasion?
Many people are often hesitant to give a red flower to someone they work with such as a colleague or mentor due to the strong romantic sentiments associated with roses. The Gerbera Bouquet solves this dilemma instantly. Wide, sun like faces give a feeling of warmth and optimism. As mentioned in the Royal Horticultural Society guide to Gerbera growing, breeders have created dozens of bright colours to add vibrancy to your indoor spaces. I match each colour to the relationship between the recipient and giver.
Gerbera Colour Main Message Best Occasion Ideal Number Of Stems
Canary Yellow Pure friendship, optimism & positivist Birthdays, wishing someone well & exam success 12 -15 stems
Tangerine Orange High energy, enthusiasm & celebration Promotions, housewarming & celebratory dinners 15 -20 stems
Pastel Pink Thankfulness, admiration & sweet Mother’s Day, thank you & teacher 12 stems
White Clear, truthful & peaceful sympathy gestures & simplistic home decor 10-12 stems
Crimson Red Deep love & vibrant passion Anniversaries & Valentine’s 15 -24 stems
Pair With Roses
A single daisy bouquet will give you a bright and simple look. However by mixing the wide gerbera faces with traditional spiraled petals you’ll get amazing depth. In my shop, when clients come in looking for milestone anniversaries from Fresh Roses Online I often suggest mixing 6 pastel pink gerberas with 12 velvety red or blushing roses. This gives a rich and structured scent, whilst the gerberas act as open centre pieces. If you’re unsure what to mix together to suit your budget or style, we have a breakdown on how to choose the perfect flower bouquet.
By matching the right colours to your Gerbera Bouquet you’ll be giving the right message. Yellow and orange give a friendly message whilst pink and red give a warm loving message. By mixing wide gerbera heads with traditional roses you’ll get great structure.
How To Create a Professional Gerbera Bouquet?
Prepare the Stems, Before tying, I remove any loose leaves or fibres from the stems. Due to the heavy heads on hybrid gerberas, I thread a thin 22 gauge florist wire carefully up the centre of the stem until the bottom of the flower head. Alternatively you can tightly wrap green floral tape around the centre of the stem just below the calyx for 3 inches. This will create a hidden support so the heavy flowers won’t sag during the journey through busy Delhi roads.
Create Using Spiral Method
I always use an odd number of stems when creating your Gerbera Bouquet. This could be anything from 11, 15 or 21 stems. Hold your tallest centre stem in your non dominant hand. Cross each stem over in a 30 degree angle. Rotate the group slightly to create a spiral. This will help lock the stems in place. The bouquet will stand upright and won’t squash any fragile stems. If you need some last minute inspiration for your next party look through our Same Day Flower Delivery Delhi for some ideas of how I balance the filler stems such as gypsophila and eucalyptus with the bright daisies.
By using a hidden support such as thin florist wire or floral tape you’ll create a professional Gerbera Bouquet. Using an odd number of stems in a spiral will lock everything in place to create a balanced volume.
How To Stop Gerbera Bouquet Sagging & Make Last Up To 10 Days/
Why Use Shallow Water, The biggest mistake I see customers make is to fill tall vases full of tap water. Gerberas take in water from the very bottom cut. If you put 8 inches of a soft hairy stem in water it will cause quick microbial growth. This will block the water flow and cause the flower to sag. From research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Floriculture Program clean, shallow water will greatly reduce the bacteria plugging. I always fill my cleaned glass jar with just 2 inches of warm filtered water. Changing every 48 hours.
Fix Sagging Necks
If your Gerbera Bouquet has a sharp bend in the stem, usually the flower head will be fine as it has just had a blockage. I tightly roll a piece of stiff newspaper around the whole flower and stem to create a straight cone shape. Place the bottom in lukewarm water and cut 1 inch from the bottom underwater. This stops any air bubbles getting into the hollow tube. Place the wrapped stem upright in a cool place overnight. This will allow the water pressure to build up overnight. If you want some more seasonal tips, look through our guide on which flowers last the longest.
By using clean filtered water in just 2 inches of the stems and changing every 2 days you’ll stop any bacterial growth. If your stem is sagging, wrap the stem upright in paper and cut the bottom underwater.
FAQs
How long can I keep a fresh Gerbera Bouquet?
A fresh Gerbera Bouquet will last between 7-10 days. Keep your Gerbera Bouquet in shallow clean water and away from direct afternoon sunlight. In my studio I notice if the flowers are placed in an air conditioned room with the water changed every 2 days they will usually last 10 days. If placed near sunny windows or fruit bowls they will usually fade after 4 days due to the ethylene gas.
Why are my gerbera daisy stems bending?
The stems will bend due to the air bubbles or bacteria in the water blocking the water flow to the heavy heads. Last week a customer contacted me, worried her yellow Gerbera Bouquet was bending. After pouring out 80% of the water and cutting the stems underwater, all the flowers stood straight within 4 hours.
Are gerbera daisies safe for my cat or dog?
Yes! Gerbera daisies (Gerbera Jamestown) are non toxic to cats and dogs. A Gerbera Bouquet is one of the safest choices for a pet friendly home. Unlike lilies, which I strictly advise against, gerberas won’t harm your curious pets if they nibble on any petals that have fallen.
Can I order a Same Day Gerbera Bouquet Delivery in Delhi NCR?
Yes! You can order a freshly conditioned Gerbera Bouquet to be delivered Same Day in Delhi NCR within 60-90 minutes. Every morning I pick the flowers with slightly closed buds. This way they will open fully when they reach their doorstep. Even during busy afternoons to Gurgaon or Noida.
How many stems should I purchase?
I would recommend between 12-15 stems for a hand tied Gerbera Bouquet. This would be perfect for birthdays and thank yous. If you want a luxurious look, I would recommend 21 or more stems. When corporate clients come in for desk arrangements, I would usually suggest 15 stems of mixed colours with some subtle green filler. This will fill a standard medium vase.
Author
Written by the Lead Florist of Sai Flower. Since 1998 I have been creating fresh floral arrangements. Find us at our flagship store Shop No 1 Sai Mandir, Lodhi Rd, Gokalpuri, Institutional Area, Lodi Colony, New Delhi, Delhi 110003. Contact us on 088020 04527 for bespoke floral advice, Sai Flower, Shop No. 1, Sai Mandir, Lodhi Rd, Gokalpuri, Institutional Area, Lodi Colony, New Delhi, Delhi 110003.
