Osteospermum planting and care in the open field in the winter

Osteospermum is still a rare plant in the gardens of the Middle Strip, but due to its unpretentiousness and long flowering, the cultivation of this culture is gaining popularity among amateur gardeners.

Care is also not difficult, you just need to carefully study the needs of the flower.

Origin and description

In its homeland - South Africa and the Arabian Peninsula - osteospermum is represented by more than 70 species. There it is a perennial plant that retains its foliage all year round.

Depending on the type, osteospermum can be in the form of a herbaceous perennial, or a shrub. Height ranges from 10 to 100 centimeters. The flowering of this plant is very long, in our latitudes it begins to bloom in June and ends only just before the onset of frost.

The flowers are multi-colored daisies, the palette of which ranges from white to purple and from yellow to red. The size of a flower, depending on the species and variety, can be 3-8 centimeters.

The only drawback of this plant, when grown in the temperate zone, is that its flowers are open only in sunny weather, thus, this flower protects its pollen.

Only a few species of this plant are suitable for use in decorative floriculture:

1. Osteospermum Ecklona, ​​it is he who is called the Cape daisy, after the name of the area where it grows. This species can grow up to 1 meter, and in natural conditions is a shrub. On the territory of Russia, it is grown exclusively as an annual plant.
2. Osteospermum is noticeable, in appearance it is not very different from the previous one, with the only difference that its height is less, and it is more resistant to a drop in temperature. Therefore, in the southern regions of the country, where the temperature does not drop below -10 degrees, it can winter outdoors.

Reproduction

The most common breeding method is by seed. Currently, in flower shops you can find a large selection of varieties of this plant.

In order for osteospermum to begin flowering in June, you need to plant it on seedlings in March or early April.

The seeds of the plant are quite large, so when planting they need to be lightly sprinkled with earth. In order to get friendly seedlings, you do not need to resort to any conditions other than maintaining the substrate in the seedlings in a moist state.

The first shoots will appear in a week, since they grow quite quickly, at least one pick will be needed before planting in a permanent place.Seeds can be harvested on their own from decaying plants, which form them in large quantities.

In warm regions, the seeds, crumbling, give abundant self-seeding next spring, which is used for further cultivation in flower beds.

It's important to know: when propagating by seeds collected in the garden, it must be remembered that the likelihood that similar specimens will grow from them is small, especially for terry varieties.

You can also propagate osteospermum by cuttings, but for this you will need to keep the mother plant in a frost-free room, or in the fall, transplant it into a pot and keep it on the windowsill as a houseplant, but this method is convenient only for low-growing varieties.

Young shoots that have not yet formed flowers are taken for cuttings. They take root in a loose substrate rather quickly and in the future, care for them is the same as for seedlings grown from seeds.

Location and soil

In order for osteospermum to bloom magnificently, it needs to highlight the sunniest place, in extreme cases, an openwork shadow.

One of the positive qualities of this plant is that it can grow in the sun itself without compromising the decorativeness and color of the flowers.

Almost any soil is suitable, except for clayey, because the moisture permeability of the soil on which it grows is important for osteospermum.

Note: if the shade is dense, then the flowers will begin to shrink, and terry varieties will become common. In addition, in deep shade, the flowers will often be closed.

It is also desirable that the soil is not too fertile, otherwise the plant will grow green mass to the detriment of flowering.

Watering and feeding

Osteospermum is a rather drought-resistant plant, and can do without watering for quite a long time, but at the same time the flowers begin to shrink, and their number decreases. Therefore, in hot weather, it needs to be watered about once a week.

Osteospermum is fed several times a season with complex mineral fertilizers, diluting them in the dosage indicated on the package.

When applying fertilizers, you need to adhere to the rule that it is better to underfeed than overfeed. Because osteospermum responds to an excessive amount of fertilizers with violent growth to the detriment of flowering, for the same reason, not too fatty soils are chosen for planting it.

Care

Other plant care consists of the following activities:

• weeding and weeding;
• loosening the soil;
• removal of faded stems.

All these activities allow you to extend flowering until the very frost.

Gardener tip: if the plant is grown in the southern region and wintered in the open field, then care begins with almost complete cutting of the stems in the spring.

If the plant is planned to be stored until next spring, then it must be dug out before the frost begins, otherwise the above-ground part will be damaged.

How osteospermum grows, see the following video:

Recently, summer cottages, front gardens and flower beds in yards have increasingly begun to be decorated with bushes with delicate, chamomile-like flowers. These are osteospermums or African chamomile. An unusual plant has gained popularity not only for its beauty and rich palette of shades, but also for its unpretentiousness. Growing osteospermum from seeds at home for flower growers will not be difficult.

General description of African chamomile - photo

Many are wondering - perennial or annual osteospermum flower? I would like to note right away that this plant is perennial, but it is capable of overwintering only at temperatures not lower than -10 degrees. If you live in a region with cold winters, then the bush will have to be dug out so that it overwinters at home. But more on that later.

So, how to recognize osteospermum and distinguish it from dimorphoteka, with which it is often confused:

• the bushes of the plant are branched, and its stems reach a height of no more than 30 cm;
• serrated ovoid leaves are distinguished by gray, bright green or variegated color;
• a large number of inflorescences with a diameter of 3 to 8 cm are formed on the bushes;
• flowers can be double and semi-double;
• the color of the inflorescences can be pink, purple, white, orange, blue;
• each flower has a bright blue center with red-orange blotches.

In the open field, osteospermum blooms from June to October.

Varieties

Before starting to grow osteospermum from seeds at home, you need to decide on the type of flower. Many flower growers like to grow Eclonis and Eklona varieties on their plots. It is from them that breeders have bred many plant hybrids, some of which are tall bushes.

The most popular and very beautiful hybrids:

1. The Zulu variety is a plant with pale yellow flowers.
2. "Bamba" - inflorescence petals from white smoothly pass to purple color.
3. "Sky and Ice" is distinguished by white flowers with a blue border.
4. "Volta" - the baskets at the beginning of flowering have lilac-pink petals, and by the end they turn white.
5. Silver Sparkler is a bush covered with white flowers.
6. "Buttermilk" is a plant with an interesting color of yellow petals, which turn white to the receptacle.
7. "Buttermilk" is a bush up to one and a half meters high with pale yellow inflorescences, which have a bronze tint downward.
8. "Lady Leitmin" has white-pink petals.
9. Osteospermum "Pleasant" is a hybrid, the petals of which are twisted into a tube (see photo). Above they are of one color, and below they are of a different color. The flowers are very unusual and beautiful. But the variety is not resistant to cold weather, therefore it is grown only as an annual.

Growing osteospermum from seeds - preparation and planting

To decorate the flower garden with luxurious flowers in June, it is recommended to sow osteospermum seeds at the end of March, and grow seedlings at home.

The flower seeds are quite large, so there will be no problems with sowing them. They go deeper into the groove of about half a centimeter. The seedling soil should be light and contain sand.

The planted seeds are sprinkled with soil and sprayed with water at room temperature. The container for seedlings is covered from above with glass or polyethylene to make a mini greenhouse. While waiting for shoots, it should be placed in a warm place, you can near the battery. Every day, the polyethylene is removed, the soil is ventilated and sprayed with water.

As soon as the seedlings rise, the seedling container is placed in a well-lit place without direct sunlight. Seedlings with three true leaves are dived into separate pots. Disposable plastic cups can be used.

The plant does not need hardening, so young osteospermums can continue to grow on the balcony if the air temperature on it is at least +10 degrees. The bush is planted in the garden at the end of May.

Osteospermum - planting and care in the open field

Location - in the garden for the bush, you should choose a place protected from the wind, well-lit place.

The soil should be fertile and loose, so it is advisable to add a nutrient mixture to the hole, consisting of the following ingredients:

• humus;
• sod land;
• leafy land;
• sand.

Everything is taken in equal parts, mixed and stacked in a handful of holes, which are prepared for planting seedlings.

Watering should be regular. But you should know that both drought and waterlogging are harmful for osteospermums. However, it is better not to top up the bush than to pour it over. From stagnant water, it can begin to rot and die. If the soil is dry, then the leaves will simply fall, which after watering will rise and recover.

Top dressing do better mineral every two to three weeks. The plant is not fertilized immediately after planting. You should start feeding it during the formation of buds.

How to preserve osteospermum in winter

In order for the osteospermum to bloom next year, the bush must be dug up, planted in a container and stored until spring in a cool but bright room. It should be watered to a minimum, that is, only after the soil has completely dried out.

But if you live in a region with not very cold winters, then the bush can be left in the open field, covering it from the cold.

Osteospermum cuttings

Several plants can be obtained from one bush preserved in winter. To do this, in the spring, osteospermum will need to be propagated by cuttings, which is quite simple to do:

1. Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut the tops 5-7 cm long.
2. Remove the lower leaves from the cuttings.
3. Plant the segments into a damp substrate.
4. Put a plastic bag on a container with planted cuttings, thereby building a greenhouse.
5. Put the cuttings in a bright place, where there are no direct, scalding sun rays.
6. They should be ventilated daily and the soil should be checked for moisture. Water if necessary.

After about 10 days, it will be possible to see which cuttings have taken root and which have not. As soon as the threat of frost has passed, the established cuttings with roots are planted in open ground.

Having grown osteospermum from seeds at home once, next year the bush can be propagated by cuttings without any problems. Thus, even in regions with cold winters, a thermophilic plant can be made perennial and decorate your site in the country or in the garden, a balcony or loggia with it.

Osteospermum (African chamomile, Cape daisy) - in the natural environment is a perennial herb, shrub, shrub. In the cold and temperate climatic zone, it is cultivated as a one- or biennial plant. Belongs to the Astrov family, originally from South Africa, the Arabian Peninsula.

Botanical description

Stems are erect, less often creeping. The height of the plant is about 30 cm, varieties are bred up to 75 cm high. The leaf plates are dense, ovoid, oblong, with even or jagged edges. Stems and leaves can be bright green or grayish in color.

Delicate inflorescences are like chamomile. The core can be blue, blue, smoky black. The color of the petals (reed inflorescences): white, various shades of purple, pink, yellow, orange, blue. Their shape is oblong with pointed tops, but the so-called spoon osteospermum are derived: the shape of the reed inflorescence resembles a spoon.

The diameter of the inflorescence is 3-8 cm, they are simple, terry and semi-double bred by breeders. It blooms almost throughout the summer, and if the weather is favorable, it can bloom until October. Each inflorescence lives for about 5 days, they continuously replace each other. Flowers open in clear weather.

A variety of shades, long flowering, unpretentious care contribute to the popularity of osteospermum.

Growing osteospermum from seeds at home

Osteospermum seeds photo

The plant reproduces successfully by seeds: they remain viable for up to 4 years, friendly shoots appear 7-10 days after sowing. It reproduces well by self-seeding.

In open ground, seeds are sown in April. No seed pretreatment is required.

When to plant osteospermum for seedlings

To get more viable plants that bloom earlier, seedlings should be grown.

• Sow osteospermum seeds for seedlings in early March.
• It is better to sow one or two seeds at once in separate pots - the seeds will definitely sprout and you will not have to carry out an intermediate transplant.
• If there is no opportunity or a lot of space, you can sow seeds in a common container at a distance of 3-5 cm from each other, and then carefully transplant them into separate cups.
• To grow seedlings, you need loose soil (a mixture of humus, turf and sand).
• Just press the seeds shallowly into the soil.
• Maintain the air temperature at 20 ° C, the lighting should be diffused.

Osteospermum from seeds photo of seedlings

• With the appearance of 5-6 true leaves, pinch the tops to stimulate the forcing of lateral shoots and good bushiness.
• Temper the seedlings by gradually lowering the temperature to + 12 ° C. You can just take it out on the balcony for a short while, and then increase the time spent on the street.

As soon as the threat of frost recedes, transplant the seedlings into open ground.

How to plant osteospermum with seeds for seedlings, the video will tell:

The hardened seedlings, planted by the transshipment method, practically do not get sick and take root immediately, especially with careful care. You should not be too zealous and flood the plants: it is enough to keep the soil slightly moist.

Reproduction of osteospermum by cuttings

How to propagate osteospermum by cuttings photo

To preserve varietal characteristics, propagation by cuttings is used. This method is suitable for plants that have been moved indoors for the winter.

• In February, select a shoot that has not bloomed and cut off the apical stalk, the cut should go under the knot.
• Remove the leaves from the bottom and plant a stalk for rooting.
• The soil is a mixture of peat, sand and perlite.
• Cover with a jar, cut plastic bottle or plastic wrap.
• Rooting lasts about a month. Air regularly, moisten the soil.
• When it gets warm, transplant rooted cuttings into open ground.

Landing in open ground

The best place for planting would be an open, sunny area, possibly light shading.

The soil requires loose, moderately fertile, permeable, neutral or slightly acidic reaction.

• Dig up the area, loosen the earth and let it settle.
• Plants are transferred along with an earthen lump - the hole must correspond to this size.
• Maintain a distance of 30-40 cm between bushes.
• Press the soil surface around the seedling a little, water well.

How to care for osteospermum in the garden

Osteospermum Sky and ice - blue-eyed daisy photo

Watering

The plant is drought tolerant, but moderate watering is required to maintain abundant flowering. Avoid waterlogging, water only in severe drought.

Pinching and feeding

• Pinch the tops of the shoots to encourage branching.
• Feed three times a season: a couple of weeks after planting in open ground, then during bud setting and at the end of summer. Use complex mineral fertilizers for flowering plants.
• Remove wilted inflorescences constantly.

Wintering

Osteospermum in the open field hibernates only in regions with warm winters (the maximum temperature drop is up to -10 ° C). For successful wintering, it is necessary to cover the plants with dry leaves in the fall.

If in your area the temperature drops below -10 ° C, the plants will die, but in order to preserve them until spring and propagate by cuttings, you can dig out the bushes and keep them in a cool room. Dig up the bush carefully without disturbing the earthy coma and place in a wide container. Keep at a low air temperature, water occasionally. In the spring, transplant to open ground again.

Diseases and pests

From waterlogging of the soil, rot is possible - remove the affected areas, treat with fungicide, adjust watering.

Aphid damage is possible - treat the plant with an insecticide.

Types and varieties of osteospermum with photos and names

There are more than 70 species, many species, varieties, hybrid forms are cultivated.

Osteospermum Ecklon Osteospermum ecklonis

Osteospermum Eclona Osteospermum ecklonis photo

Grown as an annual crop. The shrub is highly branched, erect stems are extended by 1 m, the leaves are narrow with jagged edges. The core of the inflorescence has a red-purple hue, the petals are white, along the lower part there are streaks of pink.

Varieties:

Osteospermum Eklona Osteospermum ‘Sunny Philip’ photo

Zulu - inflorescences of a bright yellow hue.

Bamba - the color of the inflorescence changes from white to purple.

The sky and ice - the core is blue, the petals are snow-white.

Volta - pinkish petals turn white as they bloom.

Buttermilk - bright yellow petals turn white as they bloom.

Silver Sparkler - white inflorescences.

Congo - purple-pink inflorescences.

Pemba - ligulate inflorescences are twisted into a tube up to half.

Sandy Pink - spoon-shaped pink petals.

Sterry Ice - the ligulate inflorescence folds in half lengthwise, the inside is white, the outside is gray-blue.

Peshn is a hybrid series of this type. Here it should be noted the varieties Pink lace, Dwarf Salmon, notable for the spoon-shaped form of reed inflorescences.

Osteospermum conspicuous Osteospermum jucundum

Osteospermum perceptible Osteospermum jucundum photo

The color of the petals is white, purple, the reverse side may have a lilac-purple tone.

Varieties:

Buttermilk is a plant up to half a meter high. The color of the petals is pale yellow, their reverse side acquires a bronze tint.

Lady Leitrim - the core is almost black, the petals are light lilac.

Bengal fire - the inner side of the reed inflorescence is white, and the outer side is blue.

Shrub osteospermum Osteospermum fruticosum

Osteospermum shrub Osteospermum fruticosum photo

It has the shape of a compact bush. The color of the reed inflorescences is white, pale lilac, red.

The best varieties of osteospermum with photos and names

Osteospermum Akila Osteospermum Akila photo

The Akila variety has many shades from white and pink to burgundy and dark purple. Looks great in mix landings.

Osteospermum Passion Osteospermum Passion Mix photo

The Passion variety is also great in mixed flower beds, its compact low bushes with powerful erect stems are densely covered with beautiful flowers with neatly outlined petals, on which longitudinal volumetric stripes are pronounced.

Osteospermum white Ice white Osteospermum ice white photo

It is impossible not to admire the white daisies with blue centers, on which are scattered rare yellow specks of stamens. This is a unique Ice White variety.

Osteospermum Sunny Philip Osteospermum ‘Sunny Philip’ photo

The stunning Sunny Philip is truly reminiscent of little suns with radial rays. The tips of the petals seem to be pinched, curled up into tubes.

Osteospermum Osteospermum Impassion Purple photo

The Impassion variety has a special petal shape, the flowers look very neat, as if stamped, one to one similar.

Osteospermum Double Parple photo

Terry variety Double Parple With tubular central petals somewhat reminiscent of a chrysanthemum.

Osteospermum Osteospermum 3D Purple photo

Another stunning 3D terry variety with multiple rows of petals is crowned with a central tubular center. The color is rich, the lower petals are oval-elongated, the middle ones are slightly shortened and dissected at the tips.

Osteospermum in landscape design

Osteospermum in landscape design photo

Low-growing species are planted as ground cover plants. They are also good in pots to decorate balconies, terraces, verandas.

Osteospermum will become a bright accent in any flower bed, looks good in rocky gardens, frame rabatki, plant in groups in mixborders.

Osteospermum photo of flowers in a flower bed

Plant white, blue Carpathian bells, petunias, forget-me-nots, alissum, iberis, lavender next to white osteospermums.

Nivyanik, asters, cuff, yaskolka, geranium, cinquefoil are combined with variegated forms.

The duration of flowering of osteospermum makes it in demand not only in the design of flower beds and flower beds. Compact multi-colored bushes are ideal for decorating balconies, small gardens at the entrances, for hanging planters and even for indoor landscaping. He came to us from African countries, having long become very popular in European countries.Growing and caring for osteopermum is not difficult, and flowering continues from June until the very frost.

Osteospermum types

Before you start growing osteospermum, you should decide on its varieties. After all, some of them grow up to a meter in height, which may not be suitable for a certain place of their landing.

The most common type is the Eklona or Cape daisy. Very neat, compact plant, stem height from 30 to 100 cm, depending on the variety. This southern perennial is afraid of winter frosts, therefore in the middle lane it is grown as an annual. Some growers manage to dig up the plant before frost, store it in a cool room with moderate watering, in order to plant it on a flower bed in spring. The plant tolerates such a procedure well, quickly recovers after transferring to open ground and already from June begins to delight with beautiful chamomile-like flowers.

The most popular varieties of osteospermum (photo):

• With white petals - "Sky and Ice", "Silver Sparkler";
• Yellow flowers - "Zulu", "Buttermilk";
• Multicolor - lilac-pink "Volta", purple-pink "Congo", lemon "Cream Symphony" with a purple stripe;
• Series with embossed petals, which include the varieties "Pink Lace", "Dwarf Salmon";
• Low-growing varieties suitable for growing in flowerpots and pots, decorating balconies and windows, from the Pass series grow up to 30 cm, have all shades of pink with a deep blue center;
• Differing in a large color range of varieties Sunny, Cap Daisy, growing up to half a meter.

Today, breeders have brought out a new type of flowers, osteospermum pleasant (photo), a distinctive feature of which is the change in the color of the petals from white to purple as the flower blooms. The back of the petals is always darker than the top. The flowering period of each flower is 10-15 days, after which its color gradually becomes lighter and it withers. It is more difficult to grow than Cape daisy due to some breeding characteristics. These include the varieties "Buttermilk", "Bengal fire", "Lady Leitrim". They are evergreens that can withstand winter in warm regions under cover.

Sometimes low-growing varieties of osteospermum are confused with dimorphoteka. They are very similar in appearance, bloom until frost, love the sun and warmth. But osteospermum is perennial, in cold winters, the flowerpot with it can be removed indoors and in the spring the plant can be transplanted into open ground, and dimorphoteka is an annual plant and cannot be stored in winter.

Reproduction

Osteospermum propagates by cuttings or seeds.

Cuttings

This method can be used only when you need to grow a specific variety that you really like, or you have a desire to start breeding. After all, osteospermum grown from seeds may not completely copy the external characteristics of the mother.

The selection of cuttings should be carried out in January-February, carefully cutting off the tops of the mother plant. These sprouts should be kept in water for at least a month before root formation. The room temperature most suitable for rooting is +20 degrees Celsius. The soil for planting sprouts should be loose, consist of equal parts of humus, sand and soil in which they will grow in summer, watering moderately.

Sowing seeds

Growing osteospermum from seeds is a very simple and rather productive way to get young plants. The seeds of osteospermum are quite large and have good germination. To get the first bloom in June, you should sow in March. The root system of the plant is very sensitive to transplanting, therefore it is better to place the seeds in peat tablets or several pieces in separate cups, which does not require picking.

Bury the seeds in the moistened soil by half a centimeter, sprinkle on top with a thin layer of earth. Cover the container with seedlings with glass or foil, put in a warm, well-lit place.Can be placed on the windowsill, removing from it with each airing. At a temperature of 18-20 degrees and moderate watering, the first shoots will appear in 7-8 days.

Despite the fact that the plant is quite cold-resistant, its seedlings must be hardened in the open air immediately after the appearance of the first leaves, increasing the duration of air baths every day. You can open the window for a few minutes every day, making sure that there is no strong draft.

Planting plants grown from cuttings or seeds in open ground should be carried out in the second half of May, when the threat of night frosts disappears. For planting, you need to choose a well-lit, warm place. The distance between the bushes depends on the variety and the intended branching, but not less than 30 cm. By the middle of June, the first flowers will appear on the seedlings. Osteospermum can be sown directly into open ground in early May. But in this case, it will bloom much later than the seedlings.

Features of growing and caring for osteospermum

To grow osteospermum, you need to find a sunny place with loose, fertile soil. In shade or partial shade, its gorgeous flowers may not open. Groundwater should not be located too close to the surface, otherwise the root system of the plant will quickly rot, leading to death.

See also: When to plant godetia seedlings

Rooted osteospermum will easily tolerate high temperatures and short-term lack of watering, and will feel quite comfortable at temperatures down to -5. It is enough only to periodically feed it during budding and flowering, and sometimes water it in a particularly dry summer. Faded inflorescences do not leave the stems for a long time, therefore, to maintain decorativeness, they must be removed by hand.

For continuous and abundant flowering under osteospermum, fertilizers should be applied weekly, alternating mineral with organic matter. Periodically rapidly growing bushes, especially in tall varieties, should be pinched in order to provoke their additional branching. At very high summer temperatures, the plant can "hibernate", stopping flowering and laying new buds. In August, when the heat subsides a little, it makes up for lost time, actively forming buds.

Osteospermum brought into the house for the winter period needs a rest period. And no matter how great the temptation may be to extend the summer on the windowsill, it is necessary to create the proper conditions for hibernation from December to March. The pot with the plant should be placed in a cool but not cold room, isolated from light, limiting watering to a minimum. The most suitable temperature is + 15-17 degrees.

Pests and diseases

Osteospermum is not susceptible to disease, resistant to pest attacks. But by planting it in partial shade or regularly exposing it to overflows, you can provoke a weakening of immunity, which will lead to wilting and deformation of the growth from the attack of aphids.

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