Are Gerbera daisies perennials in U.S. zone 7? I planted seveal Gerbera daisies in patio containers last spring. I deadheaded as and when (but not religiously, I confess) recommended. Can I expect that the plants will "come back" this spring? Or, should I remove plants from patio containers?
Gerbera daisies are typically considered to be tender perennials in your regions and annuals in cooler areas. By tender, this means it can be affected by the cold and may or may not return, depending on how well it's been protected. So pretty much it's a wait and see kind of thing. Hopefully, your winter has been mild enough to allow the plants to return. In the future, you may want to cover the plants with mulch or move pots to a protected area.
What causes a bloom of a Gerber daisy to droop? I had it for a couple of days. It was fine and then the bloom looked terrible. My other one is fine. This is a houseplant in a pot.
If you mean you had just purchased the plant, then one of them drooped, the most likely cause is needing water. Here is an article on gerbera daisies: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gerbera-daisy/growing-gerbera-daisies.htm
Gerberas don't make a very good houseplant, because they need a lot of light and room for their roots. But this article on houseplant care will help you if you're determined to keep them in the house: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/basic-care-of-houseplants.htm
Where to plant Gerbera daises? How much water and sunlight or shade do they require?
This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gerbera-daisy/growing-gerbera-daisies.htm
My Gerbera daisy plants all seem to have holes in the leaves. Something seems to be eating them but I do not see any bugs. What can I spray on them to solve this problem?
Holes in leaves are normally the work of slugs, which come out at night and are, therefore, rarely seen. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/facts-about-slugs-and-how-to-kill-garden-slugs.htm
I am growing them in a pot.
Yes, you can deadhead these plants. That being said, rather than simply pinching back the spent blooms, for daisy varieties that produce single stems per flower, such as Gerbera,, it’s better to cut the individual stem back to the base of the plant. If all the blooms are spent, simply cut the entire plant back to the base. This will stimulate new growth and additional flowering.
How far down the stem do I trim the old blooms?
You can cut the daisy flower any place along its stem, from just under the flower head to the bottom where it emerges from the leaves. Here are some more interesting facts about gerbera daisies: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gerbera-daisy/growing-gerbera-daisies.htm
Recently bought 4 gerberas that were fine. Since planting into bigger pots, the flower stalks droop over. Can you tell me why this is please?
You may have placed the plants too deeply into the bigger pots, or the water is staying in the new soil rather than getting too the roots, or the new pots are too large and the plants are staying too wet. Here's some more information on growing gerberas: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gerbera-daisy/growing-gerbera-daisies.htm