I have purchased 2 containers of beautiful gerberas and have been looking online for help on caring for them. I have read that in my zone (8a) they can be considered a perrenial. Also they prefer sandy soil. I have a raised flower bed with a mix of really good soil and a mulchy mixture that has been in place since summer of 2017. I would like to plant them in the soil vs leaving them in pots if possible. Any experienced gardners near me that have the scoop on these pretty flowers? Thanks in advance for any help or tips you can give me.

Sorry, can't help. Squirrels believe it's their duty to do an 'off with their heads!'

If I had to guess and if no one else answers, I would think they'd be happy in your existing flower bed. Pop one out of the pot (ahem) and take a look at what the grower used. If it seems to be really sandy then that might be a clue. Another thought would be to mix just a little perlite in the soil where you're going to plant. Might help the drainage. Other than that, I don't know.

Hopefully someone else will pop in and give you more accurate advise.

Thank you for your response! I went ahead and planted the smaller red one in my flower bed so will see if it makes it:) The larger pot with gorgeous orange and bright yellow flowers is sitting in among the planted flowers for now. Testing to see which one does better. Hey maybe neither one will survive the heat. Went to Lowes this morning and got a really cool looking plant I had seen before but never planted. I asked the cashier if they did well here and she said yes, in full sun no less. SOLD!! I got one and will get it planted tomorrow morning. It is called a broom plant and has spiky stems with yellow flowers along them. Very different looking from all the others I have in so will give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen, heh heh, it dies:) I do like to experiment with flowers here to see what is tough enough to take a licking and keep on ticking. Once I have everything in for this year I will take a pic and post it.

lonestargreenthumb said:What's the worst that could happen, heh heh, it dies:)

Grasshoppers. Differential grasshoppers to be precise. They ate the plant into oblivion. It was a good-sized plant and in less than 4 weeks it was demolished. They ate leaves stems and all.

So sorry Donald. That's got to be frustrating. I grow a few gerbers in zone 8a and yes they are perennial. They don't like drought conditions, but can take the heat. Yours should be fine in your raised bed.

Well this is cheery. I say 'squirrels'. Donald says 'grasshoppers'. Can we think of anything else that could go wrong? Plagues?

Was at HD a little while back and was awestruck by the bright yellow flowers on plants called Sweet Broom. They look especially good when you see them en mass. Took a picture so I'd remember to look it up later.

@tx_flower_child, I tried one of these a couple years back. They don't like "wet feet". Mine was planted in early Spring in a lowish bed that gets a lot of rain water, but luckily drains off real fast, though. But not fast enough, as mine still died by mid summer. It got browner and browner and then no sign of life at all. Not sure if it was rain water or our excessive heat that summer that killed it, to be quite honest.