Garvinea Growing Instructions
1. Introduction
Garvinea® Perennial Gerbera is a new selection of winter hardy plants for garden and
border. Selected for their compactness, flower size and abundant flowering. Starting with a selection of 16 varieties, this series will develop within the future years.
The uniform plant material is multiplied through tissue culture and offered as hardened
young plant material per 105 plants (Jiffy-4). These plants will be delivered after 6-7
weeks and they have to be potted at that time. More information on the cultivation
aspects will follow in this manual.
The available varieties can be found in the separate Garvinea® Perennial Gerbera brochure
2. Basic principles for Garvinea® Perennial Gerbera cultivation
This cultivation manual has been based on Western-European conditions. In this manual,
guidelines are given about growing Garvinea® Perennial Gerbera from young plant to fully
flowering plant, which is ready to be delivered to garden centers, etc. First of all we want to
explain some basis principles for professional Garvinea® Perennial Gerbera cultivation:
2.1 Greenhouse conditions
2.1.1 Required equipment
• For Garvinea® Perennial Gerbera cultivation you need a greenhouse (glasshouse or
poly house) where you can monitor the climate through ventilation, screening and
when necessary, heating. Furthermore you also need culture tables, cultivation mats
or different systems on the ground such as concrete flooring with ebb and flow
system (MAXIMUM ebb/flow time no longer than 30 minutes). When watering from
above, please be aware of the danger for fungus mould that could grow within the
centre of the plant. If you don't use this ebb and flow system you can also use an
irrigation system.
2.1.2 Climate
• Depending on the stage the young plant is in, the ideal situation for Garvinea®
Perennial Gerbera cultivation is reached when the greenhouse temperature lies
between 10°C and 15°C. This temperature should only reach a minimum of 5°C
during the flowering phase and a maximum of 20°C.
The night temperature should not be too high, to stimulate bud induction. The ideal
night temperature lies around 10-12°C.
Please note it is very important to Garvinea® Perennial Gerbera to keep a
compact plant !
• T After potting the light intensity should read approx. 500 - 600 Watt (50.000 –
65.000 Lux). Above these figures screening must be applied to prevent higher light
intensity/sun radiation.
2.2 Used substrate
It is recommended to obtain a coarse substrate with good drainage, being not too moist.
pH must be between 5,5 and 6,0 and an EC of 1,0 m/s – 1,5 m/s. These are ideal values
to ease the intake of micro elements. When having a high pH the crop will start growing
chlorotic (mainly yellow leaves). It is advised to take a soil sample before using the
substrate. Hereunder you can find the specifications of the soil mixture per m3:
GARVINEA MIX (substrate incl. Osmocote)
We have developed this substrate together with our substrate supplier.
Our substrate supplier, TREF BV from Holland (http://www.trefgroup.nl/?language=eng)
will be able to give you exact information on the contents of this substrate.
A mixture with good drainage is of great importance.
2.3 Cultivation plan
The production of Garvinea® Perennial Gerbera from the moment of potting should
follow this timetable (depending on your location):
Winter/Spring: 10-12 weeks
Approx. 50.000 plants can be planted per 1000 m2.
15 cm pot: potted: 50 plants per m2 - spaced: 10 plants per m2
(6 inch pot)
Of course the number of plants is depending on the layout of each location / greenhouse.
Omschrijving: Aantal per: m3
Fine sand 0,15 m3
Florisol clay 0,10 m3
Garden turf fibres 0,20 m3
Garden turf 0,20 m3
Irish fine 0,30 kg
Bark fraction 0 0,10 kg
Dolokal 3,7 kg
TBF 17-10-14-4 0,75 kg
TBF // 6-14-27 // 0,50 kg
OSMO STAN EXACT 5/6 months. 2 kg
Garvinea® Perennial Gerbera cultivation manual
3. Potting
Stage 2: Potting the Garvinea® Perennial Gerbera.
After the first hardening stage of 6-7 weeks the Garvinea® Perennial Gerbera young plants
can be further grown. Florist De Kwakel BV will deliver the young plants to your nursery in
Jiffy 4 cm plugs.
The young plants can be potted in 13-17 cm (= 5"- 7" Inch) size pots (different per
area/country) with the substrate mixture mentioned earlier. The Jiffy plant must be planted
level to the surface (not too high and not too deep!). Place the plant in the middle of
the pot. You need to have pots with proper drain edges and at least 8 holes at the bottom,
for good drainage. Please take good care of a proper substrate!
After spacing the plants can be moved to a colder greenhouse after 2-3 weeks and after
another 2-3 weeks the first plants will start flowering. After a total of 16-18 weeks the plants
are ready to be sold. Consumers will be able to welcome a rich flowering Garvinea®
Perennial Gerbera in their gardens.
Flamingo Holland cannot be liable for any loss of profit, growing result or any other commercial damages resulting from use of this guide. This guide is for information purposes only and are not warranted for content, accuracy, or performance overall.
