Osteospermum , also make out as cape marigold or African daisy , grow daisy - similar flush with moody centers in subtlety of snowy , yellow , pink , royal and down in the mouth . Native to South Africa , the plant life tolerates heat energy but slows down in extremely hot or humid stipulation . Osteospermum bloom in summertime through fall , and is unadulterated for raw garden throughout the United States . usually grow as an yearbook , the industrial plant may execute as a perennial in USDA hardiness zone 9 through 11 .

Site and Soil

Osteospermum want a planting locating that receives full sun , although it tolerate partial tint in very red-hot mood . Well - drain soil with median to lowly fertility provides the best growing medium . Osteospermum plant also performs well in outdoor containers filled with well - drained potting ground when placed in a sunny position . Garden plants require 8 to 12 column inch of space between plantings to allow enough elbow room for mature increase .

Watering Requirements

Regular tearing prevents osteospermum plant from dry out out . hebdomadary applications ply the effective results , although the works may require more frequent tearing when plant in a container or during stop of extreme drouth . Water twice per week for the first two hebdomad after constitute to help initiate new growth and encourage the root to become established . Keep water off of the leave to prevent fungal diseases . For the best results , implement piss immediately to the soil and avoid over - head lachrymation .

Fertilizing Requirements

Osteospermum plant life ask subsidiary fertilization to raise efflorescence organisation and benefit from weighed down doses of fertiliser throughout the growing season . hebdomadal program of a bloom - encourage , weewee - soluble fertiliser keeps garden plants tidy . Container plants require the use of a ho-hum - spillage granular fertilizer accord to the manufacturing business ’s instructions to encourage emergence and bloom .

Dead-heading and Pruning

Removing exhausted or faded osteospermum blossom , a process known as dead - heading , keeps the plant blossom and sizeable . During very hot weather , the plant may begin to develop smaller heyday . In this case , shearing the plant back by several inches and give a dose of water system - soluble fertilizer ensures further blooming when temperatures drop . Cut flora back in other spring before new growing begins to encourage the formation of newfangled side shoot and fresh growth .

Winter Care

Container - grown osteospermum plant brought indoors during wintertime may perform as perennial . In most cases , however , gardeners treat the plants as yearbook , allow them to die back when temperature drop and replant from seed the next give . If over - wintering indoors , plants require a warm , cheery place to live and hebdomadal applications of water . Osteospermum grown in USDA hardiness zone 9 through 11 may survive winter in the ground if watered regularly . No supplemental fertilizer is needed during winter .

Propagation

Propagation of osteospermum by seed provide the honorable results . Seeds sown indoors six to eight calendar week before the last frost of wintertime germinate in about two week when provided with temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit . Once the seedling have emerge and all danger of frost has passed , they are transplanted in the garden or planted in containers and placed alfresco in a gay spot .

References

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