Do osteospermum come back every year?
Annual osteospermum plants will live for one growing season. Perennial varieties are generally short-lived with a lifespan of around two to three years. Osteospermum plants begin blooming within 60 days after Transplanting. They bloom in spring, summer, and fall, but flowering may pause during peak summer heat.They might languish when the weather is too hot but when it gets cooler in the fall they will revive. It is good to fertilize Osteospermum plants to encourage growth. Remove the flowers when they diminish to stimulate more blooms.It’s advisable to cut back your osteospermum plant in early spring or autumn, or even at both times if you wish to encourage fuller growth.Some varieties of osteospermum are tender or half-hardy, particularly in cooler areas. These can be grown as annuals or moved indoors in autumn to overwinter. Move pots under cover to a greenhouse. Species that are H3 (hardy down to -5ºC) can be overwintered in mild areas.
What plants go well with osteospermum?
For a continuous floral display, osteospermums pair well with Erysimum (perennial wallflower), which produces long-lasting blooms in shades of purple, pink, and yellow. Similarly, Salvia nemorosa provides spikes of deep blue or violet flowers that complement the daisy-shaped blooms of osteospermum. A tender perennial, ensure the survival of your favourite osteospermum by taking cuttings in spring or late summer. Select a non-flowering shoot and cut the tip off, strip the leaves and dip in hormone rooting powder. Plant several cuttings in well drained compost around the edge of a pot.Plant Osteospermum Seeds: Nick seed with nail clippers, then sow in cell packs or flats. Press into soil and barely cover. Kept at 70°F.Osteospermum muricatum, a perennial plant, is best transplanted from early to late spring when the weather is mild and growth resumes. Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil to ensure optimal growth. Osteospermum muricatum thrives with regular pruning to promote lush blooms and healthy growth.Osteospermum A mix of three different and vivid colours, these bright blooms have excellent staying power in summer hanging baskets. Reaching a height of 30cm, Osteospermum ‘Purple Sun’ makes another vibrant choice for your baskets.Osteospermum grow best in a sunny location with plentiful light (as mentioned above, they might fail to bloom in darkened conditions). As such, it is best to select a location with no shade whilst naturally taking precautions against wind damage.
Is osteospermum an annual or a perennial?
Although osteospermums are tender perennials, they are usually grown as annuals in USDA Zone 8 and cooler. They can tolerate temperatures in the high 30s, but won’t survive a freeze. Osteospermums come from Southern Africa and vary greatly in hardiness, with many having to be grown as annuals in the UK. Shire Pink’ appears to be fully hardy however. They provide a splash of colour over a long season. They need a sunny position and are very drought tolerant when established.For best results feed your Osteospermums on a weekly basis with a general fertilizer such as phostrogen. This will help promote flowering.Salvia: Both annual and perennial salvias can be excellent companions for Osteospermum, as they share similar growing conditions and attract pollinators.Osteospermum hybrids must be propagated by cuttings. There are only a couple of Osteospermum varieties that are suitable to grow from seed. The first series available from seed is called Osteospermum ‘Passion Mixed’: a mixture of pink, rose, purple and white flowers with azure blue centres.
Can I grow osteospermum from cuttings?
Osteospermum is easily propagated by semi-ripe cuttings, best taken in late summer. Find non-flowered shoots 5-10cm long and snip off the plant. Put them in a plastic bag straight away to prevent drying out. Fill a container with a compost mix which is at least 50% perlite (or if you prefer, as we do, 100% perlite). Osteospermum flourishes in a warm, sunny spot with well-drained soil. These plants originate from South Africa, so they prefer conditions that mimic their natural habitat – plenty of sunshine and soil that doesn’t hold onto too much moisture.Grow osteospermum in a sheltered spot in well-drained soil in full sun. They are perfect for adding colour to containers as they flower for months from May through to September.Fertilization: Osteospermum doesn’t require excessive fertilization, but feeding them with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season can enhance their performance. Apply fertilizer according to the recommended dosage on the package.Height and spread: 45cm (18). Osteospermum ‘Falling Stars™’ plants can be planted directly into their final containers and grown on in bright, frost-free conditions. Plant them in any fertile, well drained compost.Aim for consistently moist but not soggy soil – allowing the top couple of centimetres to dry out before watering (insert your finger into the soil to check this). Container-grown osteospermum need to be watered regularly throughout the growing season as these can dry out very quickly.
How long to wait before planting cuttings?
Rooting will generally occur in 3-4 weeks but some plants will take longer. When the roots are 1-2 inches long or longer the cutting is ready to be potted up. Be sure to add fresh water as needed until the cuttings are fully rooted. Rooting will generally occur in 3-4 weeks but some plants will take longer. When the roots are 1-2 inches long or longer the cutting is ready to be potted up.Success factors for rooting your cuttings They’ll root faster with plenty of sunlight, but avoid setting them in direct sun. Temperature is also important, the warmer the better to speed things up.Can you put cuttings straight into soil? You can put a cutting into a fresh pot of soil or try rooting them in water, but it’s often best to put the cutting straight into soil.
How long does it take for osteospermum cuttings to root?
We normally take our 5cm stem tip cuttings in autumn, although they can be rooted at any time of year given the right conditions. Always choose non-flowering shoots. It’s advisable to use a hormone rooting powder or liquid, containing a fungicide to prevent basal rotting. The cuttings should root within 3-4 weeks. As most Osteospermums can only be considered half hardy, it’s always best to propagate new plants by taking cuttings each year. This is preferable to over-wintering large plants. We normally take our 5cm stem tip cuttings in autumn, although they can be rooted at any time of year given the right conditions.Most gardeners treat osteospermum as an annual, disposing of the plant after one growing season and replacing the following spring. In a mild winter it is possible to overwinter some osteospermum so they come back for another year, though results tend to be mixed and it is often not worth the effort.Growing osteospermum seeds is easy, even for beginner gardeners. They don’t require a lot of attention once established and are tolerant of hot temperatures and drought. Hardy osteospermum seeds can be sown directly outdoors into pots, beds or borders from March-June.They don’t require a lot of attention once established and are tolerant of hot temperatures and drought. Hardy osteospermum seeds can be sown directly outdoors into pots, beds or borders from March-June. For half-hardy perennials, sow seeds indoors in a warm windowsill in January-March.Annual osteospermum plants will live for one growing season. Perennial varieties are generally short-lived with a lifespan of around two to three years.