@@sweetstace7 Many thanks for watching and the message, much appreciated. Having the flowers as a cut flower would probably work really well as they do last well. All the best with your gardening 🌸🌼
I’m so glad I stumbled upon your channel. A dear friend gave me a potted Cape Marguerite plant probably 5 years ago and it survived all these years. During the winter, I always brought it inside into my unheated sunroom with the rest of our plants and it survived quite nicely. Last summer it produced the most beautiful yellow flowers in all its lifetime. Last Fall for the first time ever, I cut it all the dead stems back and this winter, I brought it inside my house instead of the sunroom. By late January early February, it had grown the most beautiful leaves and then, all of a sudden, the leaves started drooping like it was dying. I was careful to check the moisture in the soil regularly, but much to my surprise, it actually died. As soon as it was warm enough, I took it outside and covered it with a vented cloche in hopes it would come back to life, but alas it was to no avail. Now, I have a packet of Cape Daisy seeds (Osteospermum Eklonis) to try. I’ve never had any luck growing from seed so I’m quite anxious about planting them. I’m in the USA, North Carolina, hardiness Zone 8a. I prefer to grow these seeds in a pot and not in the ground. Considering it’s the middle of May 2024, is it too late to plant these seeds? Should I start them inside or is it okay to start them outside and keep them covered with plastic wrap until they germinate? Also, is this variety a perennial or an annual plant? There is no indication on the packet that it is one or the other. Thanks in advance for your consideration and response.
Hi Teresa, Thanks for finding my channel and for the message. Sorry that you lost your Osteospermum but it seems as though it lasted a long time for an annual type. I honestly don’t know anyone who has grown Osteospermum from seeds before so I will be interested to know how you get on. I grow Echium and Solanum from seed so would suggest growing your seeds in the same manner. I use a multi purpose compost mixed with perlite, although you could also use horticultural sand in the mix, with perlite/sand being about 10% of volume. Fill the seed tray or pot with the mix and give it a good water, leaving to stand for 30minutes. Sow the seeds on the surface and then cover with vermiculite or a fine layer of your compost mix. Place into a heated propagator until the seeds germinate. The variety you have gone with is a more hardy type than the variety you had but the most hardy species is jucundum. We are zone 8 here and jucundum types are the only ones that readily survive our winters, although our winters are usually fairly wet as well as the colder temperatures. Good luck with your growing and I hope you have some good success in growing plants ready for flowering next year or end of this one. 🌸🌼
Hi Leeanne, many thanks for watching and the message. Hope your cuttings go well for you. Osteospermum are such prolific flowering plants, well worth planting. Have a good Easter 🌸🌼
Hi Cat thanks for watching, glad you liked it, and thanks for your message. They are a lovely flower and one to definitely grow. Hope you have a lovely weekend 🌸🌺
Thanks for watching. Honestly they root almost like a weed. Just don’t water them much until the cuttings show signs of new growth and root development. Have fun chopping/propagating.
Hi Ian, After you have planted your cuttings, Do you leave them in the sun or shade & How often do you water the cuttings & how much water do they need as a cutting? Thank-you, From Australia 😆
Hi Wendy. Thank you for watching the video and your questions. Always amazing to have people watching in far off countries. I leave my cuttings in a more shaded area until they have produced root and where new growth is forming. At that point the cuttings can be carefully separated and individually potted. Again, I keep the cuttings in a slightly shaded area so that they don’t dry out too much. Just keep the soil on the moist side so check and or water daily, depending on temperatures. Once plants are established they don’t require much water. Hope that helps you. Happy gardening 🌸
Thanks for your message. Yes, there are loads of varieties and types of Osteospermum and most are just annual types. That said, in a sheltered position the annuals can overwinter in the U.K. alternatively take cuttings of the annual plants and grow the plants indoors during winter, ready to plant out in spring.
Great video thanks. Is there a best time to take cuttings? Unsure if mine are annuals or hardy but would like to know the answer for both if possible please :) thanks
Thanks for the message. With the perennial types you can take cuttings from May through to September/October, weather dependant. Annual types you need to take cuttings May to August/September so they can sufficiently grow to overwinter.
Hi Ian, having some trouble with Osteospermum I got from my late mums garden in that they seem to have all but died off. I am in Surrey so not particularly cold here although it was after the snow that they seemed to take the hit. I'm not sure if they are full hardy but know my mum had them for a few years and they just done their own thing. I've tried to take some small cuttings from them to grow new plants but they are looking a little worse for ware!
Thanks for the message. I guess the first question is do you know if they are hardy perennial varieties. The hardy ones tend to have thinner leaves and more ground cover habit. Look at the base of the plant to see if there are any signs of root growth or nodules along the stems. If there are then happy days and those sections will root without any issues. If no roots or nodules visible then you will need to do normal stem cuttings. You could do some cuttings now so long as you keep the cuttings indoors to root. You will also need hormone rooting compound at this time of year. If you are worried about loosing the plants totally then perhaps try to dig them up, carefully, and pot up into fresh compost.
Hi many thanks for messaging and for watching the video. I thought I had already replied so apologies for not. Osteospermum will root quite readily in water but I do find that they establish better when cuttings are planted into compost. In water the roots tend to establish quickly but then seem to struggle to maintain healthy plant growth. Hope this helps. All the best 🌸🌼
Hi and thanks for your message. Everything gets fed with chicken pellets, except the acid loving plants which get an iron feed. I also use a concentrate vegetable fertiliser for my veg. Nothing too technical.
Hi. First question, is the plant you are using a hardy perennial variety. If it’s a hardy type and you are struggling to get it to root then you can propagate by using layering method. I did a video on this method, using Hydrangea, but it’s the same technique. If your plant is an annual type then cuttings are the only viable way in autumn but I would suggest taking the cuttings and then place them onto a windowsill. Alternatively, lift the plant and take it indoors for protection and to allow you more time to propagate it.
@@diyhomeandgardening i believe they are hardy parts are a little woody at the bottom now quite large still flowering.i think maybe I took cuttings from the wrong place after watching this yoy cut from the bottom of the plant
sarah140386. If you look at the base of the plant to see if you can see any roots forming or nodes then this point would be an easy point to take cuttings from.
