The process of growing osteospermum from seeds and the specifics of care

The process of growing osteospermum from seeds is a simple matter, and flower care is minimal. He will thank him for his care with lush flowering. You can choose a plant with any color of petals, depending on your taste.

Description of the plant

Osteospermum is a genus of annuals and perennials of the Astrov family, a native of African countries. Numerous varieties differ in the size and color of the inflorescences. The average height of the bushes is about 30 cm, there are kids no higher than 25 cm and huge meter beauties. Osteospermum is called Cape daisy and African chamomile due to its great similarity with these popular flowers. There are specimens with petals in white, purple, yellow, lilac, red, pink, purple and orange. The heart of the flower is always in blue. Flowering begins in July and lasts until frost, the diameter of double or semi-double inflorescences is on average 4 to 8 cm. They open in clear weather, on cloudy days and at night the flowers are closed. The leaves are serrated, oblong. After flowering, a dark rather large achene is formed. Stems are erect and well branched, there are weaving varieties.

There are a large number of species, varieties and hybrids of osteospermum. They differ not only in the variety of flower colors and plant sizes, but also in the shape of the petals, resistance to adverse factors and other signs.

• Osteospemum Eklon Is a popular perennial with strong stems. It can reach one and a half meter in size, but there are also undersized forms. The leaves are 5-10 cm long, and the diameter of the flower baskets is on average 6-7 cm. This thermophilic plant is very decorative. Many hybrid varieties have been created on its basis.
• Conspicuous osteospermum in regions with mild climates, they are grown outdoors all year round. As the flower blooms, its petals change their color shade, their lower part is always darker than the upper one. It is more difficult to grow than Ecklon's osteospermum.
• Shrub osteospermum the stems are creeping, they can create flower carpets in white, red or light lilac over large areas.

When the stems and leaves are damaged, a characteristic odor appears, which not everyone likes. That is why osteospermum is not used for cutting.

How does osteospermum multiply?

The best way to get a wonderful flower on your site is to grow from seeds. It is not troublesome and the plants grow quickly. However, seedlings do not always retain all the qualities of the parent bush, so this method is not suitable for varietal osteospermums.

Sowing is carried out in March or April. There is no need to pre-soak the seeds.

1. Prepare soil in advance from peat, sand and humus in equal proportions. It needs to be warmed up in the oven for about half an hour to prevent diseases in future seedlings.
2. The seeds are immediately placed in separate small containers or containers to a depth of no more than 0.5 cm and lightly sprinkled with a thin layer of soil. It is better to use its own container for each plant - this will save you from an intermediate pick, from which delicate roots can be damaged.
3. After planting, spraying is carried out, best of all with a spray bottle.
4. The crops are covered with glass or plastic wrap and transferred to a room with a temperature of about +22 degrees.
5. Usually the first shoots appear in 5-7 days.After that, the container with the seedlings is placed in a bright place, the temperature can be reduced by several degrees.
6. Seedling growth rates are fast enough. If the cultivation was carried out in a common container, then after the appearance of the first pair of true leaves, the seedlings dive into separate pots. When transplanting, they are slightly deepened, placing the cotyledon leaves at the soil level.

Young osteospermums are regularly watered, but moisture stagnation should not be allowed. If the seedlings are pulled out, a little earth is poured into the pots. The hardened plants are pinched to make the bushes more lush. They are gradually accustomed to fresh air. At first, they simply ventilate the room, and eventually they take it out into the street during the day. The residence time in the air is constantly increasing, starting from 10-15 minutes.

Osteospermum reproduces well by self-seeding. In the next growing season, seeds germinate that have remained in the soil from last year. When self-collecting seed, it must be borne in mind that the seeds are not formed inside the flower basket, but on the outside of it.

When and how to plant outdoors?

The beds for osteospermum are prepared in advance. The site is freed from weeds, fertilized and dug up.

The timing of planting osteospermum in a permanent place depends on the region of cultivation and weather conditions. Work is carried out when the threat of frost has passed (usually in May). Neighboring specimens are planted at a distance of at least 20 cm from each other. For representatives of large varieties, the interval is increased to 50 cm.

The first couple of weeks after planting seedlings in open ground, watering is carried out almost daily. When young flowers take root, moisturize about once every three days.

Growing features

Osteospermum is an unpretentious plant that can withstand a temporary lack of moisture, can survive temperatures of several degrees of frost, strong winds and heat. However, you can only admire the abundant flowering for a long time only if the plant receives the care it needs.

• Osteospermum prefers sunny areas, but it can be grown in light partial shade.
• The plant likes fertile and loose soil.
• Water the flower sparingly, on average twice a week in dry and hot weather. The plant needs water less often if the outside temperature drops. During heavy rains, do not water. Regular irrigation should not be too abundant. Osteospermum does not tolerate waterlogged soil well.
• Faded inflorescences are removed if seed collection is not planned. This stimulates the appearance of new flowers, each of which lives no more than 5 days.
• The row spacing with young plantings is regularly weeded and weeds are removed from the site. Over time, the plants grow, the leaves of neighboring specimens close, and it becomes difficult to loosen it.
• The bush is formed with a pinch, which the flower tolerates well. It is held at least twice a season.

Sometimes in extreme heat, osteospermum ceases to please with new buds. For him, this is a normal reaction to deteriorating living conditions. Usually, after the temperature drops, the plant resumes flowering.

How to fertilize?

After the seedlings have rooted in the ground, about a couple of weeks after planting, the first organic or mineral dressing is carried out. Re-fertilize when inflorescences begin to form. In the future, additional nutrition is introduced regularly using mineral fertilizers. Twice a month, take half the dose indicated on the package of complex feeding by the manufacturer. Organic matter is introduced with caution, the flower does not like its excess.

Pest and disease control

The flower practically does not get sick and is rarely affected by pests. Problems usually arise under unfavorable growing conditions.

Excessive moisture from the wrong watering regime or prolonged and heavy rainfall can cause black legs or other types of rot.The plant is transplanted if the cause of the problem is water stagnation in the area. Treatment is carried out with fungicides, for example, Fitosporin.

Osteospermum can be favored by aphids. Unpleasant parasites feed on the sap of the plant, weakening it. To combat a small number of pests at home, you can use folk methods.

• Soap solution: 150 g of laundry soap is taken for 5 liters of water. The resulting solution is sprayed with flower plantings, especially carefully moisten the places where pests accumulate.
• Garlic solution: 200 g of garlic is chopped and infused in a liter of water under a lid for 4-5 days. Before use, the resulting infusion is diluted with water. You need 10 liters of water for 25 ml of garlic tincture.

In mass attacks, aphids use insecticides, for example, "Aktara" or "Aktellik".

How to preserve osteospermum in winter?

The flower is often grown as an annual, but you can save the plant for the winter. To do this, in the fall, it is dug up and planted in a pot of the appropriate size. In winter, they are kept at a temperature of about +16 degrees. It is transferred to a warm room not earlier than the end of February.

At the beginning of the growing season, such osteospermum can be used for grafting. In this case, the young plant will retain all the properties of the parent flower, therefore the method is used for varietal plants. In the spring, osteospermum is placed in a bright and warm room. When the shoots grow, they are cut off with a sharp tool. Shoots 5-7 cm long are placed in a mini-greenhouse with fertile soil for rooting, after removing the lower leaves. After about a decade, it will become clear which of the specimens have taken root. When the cuttings grow up and acquire good roots, they are transplanted into a garden bed or in hanging pots.

Use in landscape design

Osteospermum is a versatile plant for ornamental floriculture, which is actively used in mixborders and flower beds. With it, you can create spectacular accents on flower beds and flower borders, decorate terraces, balconies and verandas, planting it in various containers and decorative flowerpots. A hardy flower suitable for growing on rocky hills and slopes.

A flower garden with osteospermums is a bright piece of summer, which will draw attention to itself until the very frost.