How to Grow Osteospermum or Cape Daisy

The colourful flowers of the Osteospermum plant or cape daisies can brighten your patios and borders. They have gorgeous and cheerful blooms that open up with the sun and close when evening comes around. They are available in various colours, with contrasting centres in most cases, flowering fromlate spring to the firstcold days of winter.They’re easy to take care of and propagate well, providing colour, value, and interesting looks for your summer garden. It’s a small plant, making it great for the front or middle positions of the border. Many can spread and create great ground cover as well. Choose your variety with care, as not all are hardy enough to survive the colder months around the country.

Cape Daisies are Easy to Look After

Once established, cape daisies require very little care, as they’re generally self-sufficient and a great addition to your garden.

Light Requirements

Osteospermum likes being in sunny conditions, whether on the border or in a pot, so keep that in mind and find a nice spot. They will flower best when they’re in full sunlight, but they can tolerate partial shade.

Water Requirements

These plants will tolerate dry conditions as well. They should be watered well for the first two weeks after planting. Once established, they may require watering every week if the weather is dry. It would be best to water container-grown plants often enough to keep them from drying out, as they may drop their buds otherwise.

Soil Requirements

These plants prefer free-draining soil, so if yours is a bit heavy, you should add enough grit before planting. They prefer fairly fertile soil, so add some organic compost or other ways to improve the soil if the situation improves. Ensure that any pots used for these plants have plenty of drainage holes so the roots won’t get swamped.

Fertiliser Requirements

Feeding the Osteospermum fortnightly in the growing season will lead to better flowering. This is especially important if you grow them in containers.

Planting

Osteospermum can be planted in May once any frost has passed, and it won’t return. You should choose a sunny location in free-draining soil. The plants you bought must be planted immediately after the purchase. Mix in a light application of organic fertiliser and improve the soil before you plant. Dig a hole about twice the size of the root ball as you do and position it so the plant is level with the soil in the same way it was in the pot. Backfill it and firm it up, then water it.

If you plan on planting plants you grow from cuttings, you should start by preparing the soil and digging up some organic fertiliser or soil improver. Use a trowel and dig holes about 1015 centimetres apart, depending on the size and variety of your choice. Remove the plants from the pot, untangle any roots and put them in the holes you prepared. Backfill them and firm the plants gently, removing any air pockets in the process, then water them well.

Maintenance

Your Osteospermum requires very little in terms of maintenance. You can deadhead the plant, cut back any wilting stems, and keep it tidy. What’s more, you can feed it during the growing season on a fortnightly basis.

Repotting

Pot-grown plants must be repotted once the root ball gets congested. Choose a container over ten centimetres larger than the root ball, ensure the pots have excellent drainage holes, and cover these with broken crocks to prevent them from becoming blocked.

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