Planting, flowering, cultivation and care

Presentation of osteospermum

What light and exposure are ideal for osteospermums?

Because it is native to Africa, this plant has Need a sunny exposure to give you beautiful, generous flowering. It can accommodate a place in partial shade, but it will then be less flowering. Whether you use it as a ground cover, in a flower bed or on a border, be careful to choose a location sheltered from wind and cold drafts, because osteospermum is chilly.

What is the ideal temperature for osteospermum?

Here again, the origins of the Cape daisy are not without consequences, because it has remained very cautious. Let’s take a closer look! Even though it is a perennial, it is usually grown as an annual in most regions in France. In fact, osteospermum does not tolerate temperatures below -5°C.

Only in regions where the climate remains mild in winter is it possible to keep this plant from one year to the next.

If you live in an area where frosts are common, another solution is to opt for growing in a pot. This will allow you to shelter your plant in a cool and bright place as soon as the bad days arrive to bring it out after the frosts.

Watering osteospermum

The Cape daisy is a plant that is able to withstand periods of drought when grown in the ground. She doesn’t ask to be watered only when it begins to suffer from lack of waterwhich is manifested by the sagging of its stems and the wilting of its flowers and leaves.

But none of this is irremediable, because it will regain its beautiful appearance shortly after a good watering. On the other hand, if you grow it in a pot, it will be necessary to carry out more regular wateringr.

Attention : It is a plant that fears excess water more than drought. Our advice is to only water it when the substrate is dry.

What types of soil and fertilizer for osteospermum?

Earth

In its natural state, this plant grows in rocky mountainous areas. Even if it adapts to all soils as long as they are well drained, it nevertheless has a preference for light and sandy soils, even poor ones. Here are some scenarios:

• If the soil on your land is very richit will tend to produce more leaves than flowers.
• If the soil on your land is not sufficiently draining or if it is heavy, do not hesitate to add sand to the soil to lighten it and prevent it from retaining water.

For growing in a pot, you can opt for a mixture consisting of geranium potting soil, garden soil and sand.

Fertilizer

As we have just mentioned, it is a plant that does not really need fertilizer for its proper development. If you grow your osteospermum in a pot, it is however advisable to provide a little liquid fertilizer during the flowering period, 1 to 2 times a month.

Planting and repotting osteospermum

Cultivation in open ground

If you are planning to create a flowerbed, rock garden or border of Cape daisies, wait until spring to do so and plan for a space large enough to be able to space them from each other by approximately 25 cm in all directions.

Then follow the following steps for each plant:

1. Soak the root ball to thoroughly
2. rehydrate it.
3. Meanwhile, dig a hole 2 to 3 times the size of the osteospermum clump.
4. At the bottom of the hole, install a bed of gravel to promote drainage.
5. Install your plant without burying it too much.
6. Fill the hole with soil, possibly adding sand or gravel to promote drainage.
7. Tamp lightly before watering thoroughly.
8. You can install mulch at the base of your plant. This will save you from watering in summer.

Pot cultivation

If you want to grow your Cape daisy in a pot, choose one made of terracotta, preferably, and with the bottom pierced to ensure drainage.

As a general rule, you can get a 25cm pot for a single plant. As with growing in the ground, do not neglect to install a drainage bed at the bottom of the pot before installing the plant and fill the pot with a mixture of geranium potting soil, garden soil and sand. equal parts.

How to multiply osteospermum?

African daisies can be propagated by sowing, cuttings or division.

Sowing

It is possible to sow in open ground directly on site in spring. It takes between 10 and 15 days for the plants to germinate. Otherwise you can sow your seeds in pots as follows:

1. After sowing the seeds in a pot filled with special seedling soil, cover them with a layer of approximately 3 mm thick of this same soil.
2. Tamp lightly.
3. Be sure to always keep the substrate moist until germination, which should occur after 10 to 15 days.
4. After 15 days, lighten.
5. When the seedlings have strengthened sufficiently, transplant them into larger pots.
6. When all risk of frost has passed and your cuttings have grown well, you can plant them in the ground.

Cutting

If you have plants already in place, it is possible to take cuttings. To do this, proceed as follows:

1. Collect stems in spring or summer.
2. Remove all leaves except those at the top end.
3. Plant the stem in a pot filled with light substrate.
4. Maintain in a warm, humid, bright environment until roots have developed.
5. You can then plant in a pot or in the ground.

Division

It is also possible to divide clumps in spring. To do this, simply dig up the root ball, divide it in two, then replant each part. Finally, carry out copious watering.

How to prune the cape daisy?

If you grow your plant in the ground, it is recommended to cut back the clump in the fall.

Maintenance of osteospermum

Here are some actions that will help you have very floriferous osteospermum:

• Remove faded flowers as you go to encourage the appearance of new flower buds.
• Install mulch around the base of your plant. This will limit the development of weeds and keep the soil moist.
• In spring, pinch out any stems that are too long. You will thus promote branching and benefit from a denser and more compact plant.
• If you grow your plant in a pot, consider overwintering it before the first frosts arrive.

Species and varieties of the Osteospermum genus: there are a very large number of them

Osteospermum genus counts about 70 species, but most osteospermum grown in our gardens are hybrids from 3 species. They come in different varieties which are distinguished by their size, shape and color of the flowers, etc. We can cite:

• Osteospermum Summersmile cream;
• Osteospermum Cape Daisy white;
• Osteospermum Deep purple;
• Osteospermum whirligig;
• etc.

The 3 points to remember about the Cape daisy

• The many varieties of osteospermum allow you to decorate different areas of your garden. In beds, on borders or in pots, they will look great.
• It’s a frost-prone plant. which will rather be cultivated as an annual, except in regions where the climate remains mild and where you can keep it from one year to the next.
• It is an easy plant to grow which resists drought.