GrowSabzHow to grow cineraria in pots
Also called Florist's Cineraria, Common Cineraria, florist cineraria, pericallis · Pericallis x hybrida
سینیراریا
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 2–4hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 0.4 Levery 2 days, 5 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 10–18°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 5 L15 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 60–90days from sowing
Cineraria keeps producing once it starts. First picking comes around day 60, and the plant then crops for roughly 60 more days — but only if you keep picking. Blooms left on the plant is a signal to stop making more.
Short answer
Grow cineraria in a 5 litre container at least 15 cm deep, watering about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil every 2 days, and keep temperatures between 10 and 18 °C. First harvest comes 60–90 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does cineraria need?
5 litres and 15 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 5 L | 15 cm | Use pots with drainage |
| Grow bag | 5 L | 15 cm | Fabric breathes well |
| Open ground | — | 20 cm | Space well in a shaded spot |
| Raised bed | 10 L | 20 cm | Ensure good drainage |
Watering
How often should you water cineraria?
Every 2 days through the growing season, at about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — daily in hot weather, every 4 days when it turns cool. Water at morning. Bottom watering or at soil level works best.
Too little water
- wilting leaves
- yellowing leaves
- flower drop
Too much water
- yellowing lower leaves
- soft stem
- root rot
- fungal growth
Avoid: water on leaves; standing water; letting soil dry out completely.
Climate
Can you grow cineraria where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 10 – 18 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | 0 – 25 °C |
| Germinates above | 18 °C — best at 21 °C, about 12 days |
| Flowers drop | above 22 °C, or below 5 °C |
| Sunlight | 2–6 hrs/day, best 4 |
| Frost | Highly sensitive — will not survive it |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 25 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for cineraria? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Cineraria growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for cineraria
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why cineraria fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 5 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Cineraria wants about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Wetting the leaves
Overhead watering in the evening leaves foliage damp overnight, which is exactly the condition fungal disease needs. Water the soil, early in the day.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 22 °C, or below 5 °C, flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Planting it beside Sunflower
Requires full sun and dry conditions, which are opposite to Cineraria's preference for shade and consistent moisture. Also a heavy feeder.
- Leaving it out through a cold snap
Cineraria is highly frost-sensitive. One night below 0 °C can end the plant outright — bring containers in or cover them.
Companions
What to plant with cineraria
Good neighbours
Shares similar shade and moisture requirements, creating a harmonious display in containers or shaded beds.
Provides a lush, humid backdrop that Cineraria appreciates, and complements their vibrant blooms with green foliage.
Offers contrasting flower colors and a trailing habit that pairs well with Cineraria in mixed containers, sharing similar light and water needs.
Adds vibrant foliage color and texture, thriving in similar shaded, moist conditions without competing aggressively.
Keep apart from
Requires full sun and dry conditions, which are opposite to Cineraria's preference for shade and consistent moisture. Also a heavy feeder.
Demands extremely dry soil and high light, which would quickly lead to root rot and scorching for Cineraria.
Highly invasive and aggressive root system that would quickly outcompete Cineraria for water and nutrients in a shared container.
Problems
Cineraria pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves, sucking sap and causing distorted growth. May secrete sticky honeydew.
Whiteflies humidity >60% · temp >25
Tiny, white, winged insects that fly up when the plant is disturbed. They suck sap, weaken the plant, and can transmit viruses.
Spider Mites humidity <50% · temp >27
Tiny pests that cause leaves to look stippled, pale, and eventually turn yellow and drop. Fine webbing may be visible on undersides of leaves.
Leaf Miners humidity any · temp any
Larvae tunnel within leaves, creating winding white or translucent trails. Can reduce photosynthesis and aesthetic value.
Powdery Mildew humidity 50-70% · temp 20-27
White, powdery fungal spots appear mainly on the upper surface of leaves. Causes leaves to yellow and die off prematurely.
Botrytis Blight humidity >85% · temp 18-24
Also known as gray mold. Causes fuzzy gray-brown mold on leaves, stems, and flowers, especially in humid conditions with poor air circulation.
Root Rot humidity any · temp any
Caused by overwatering and poor drainage. Leads to wilting, yellowing leaves, and eventually plant collapse as roots decay.
Yellowing Leaves humidity any · temp any
Commonly caused by overwatering, underwatering, nutrient deficiencies (especially nitrogen), or cold stress. Check soil moisture and feeding schedule.
Wilting humidity any · temp any
Can be a sign of both underwatering (soil too dry) or overwatering (root rot). Also, extreme heat can cause temporary wilting.
Harvest
When to harvest cineraria
First picking falls between day 60 and day 90, and the plant then keeps producing for about 60 days. Pick often — what you leave on the plant signals it to stop making more.
How to tell it's ready
- Fully open flowers
- Fading or spent blooms
How much to expect
Storing it: Not applicable (ornamental plant, best enjoyed fresh on the plant)
Questions
Cineraria: common questions
How long does cineraria take to grow?
About 100 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 60 and day 90. It then keeps producing for roughly 60 more days. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does cineraria need?
At least 5 litres and 15 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 10 litres of soil and 20 cm of depth.
How often should I water cineraria?
About 600 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 2 days in normal weather — daily when it is hot and every 4 days when cool. Water in the morning.
What temperature does cineraria need?
It does best between 10 °C and 18 °C and survives from 0 °C to 25 °C. Seed needs soil above 18 °C to germinate, ideally around 21 °C.
Can I grow cineraria in winter?
Not outdoors anywhere that frosts — it is highly frost-sensitive and will not survive it. In a frost-free winter it grows slowly; anywhere colder, treat it as a warm-season crop.
How do I know when cineraria is ready to harvest?
Fully open flowers; Fading or spent blooms. Once picked: not applicable (ornamental plant, best enjoyed fresh on the plant)