Beautiful Brilliant Gardeners? Osteospermum?

Question

Have yours reseeded themselves? Or should I dig them up and bring them in for the winter? Zone 8, 20 miles inland from Myrtle Beach, SC.

Thank you, beautiful weekend to you all.

Answer 1

Take cuttings, they develop roots easily and in the early spring you can transplant them to the outdoor pots--do not bring pots with garden soil indoors--for they might be infested with many eggs and larvae. Good luck.

Answer 2

From:
http://www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/fact_sheets/specific_crops/newcrops.html

Osteospermum flower most profusely from early spring to mid summer. Flowering slows down during the heat of summer and returns in the fall in response to cool night temperatures. Some of the new introductions such as the 'Symphony' Series are advertised to bloom continually throughout the summer. Osteos will withstand frosts, but not hard freezes. They can be grown as perennials in very mild climates. In Massachusetts, they are grown as annuals for use in containers, hanging baskets or as a spreading ground cover.

Osteospermum makes a nice addition to the very early-season bedding plant market, along with perennials, pansies, cyclamen and other cool crops. There are many different cultivars to choose from with many recent introductions.

Culture. High light intensity, cool temperatures and early pinching are basic requirements. Osteospermum is a +/-12 week crop from rooted cuttings. Allow 4 weeks longer for unrooted cuttings compared with rooted cuttings. Plant 3-4 liners per 8-10" pot and 1 liner per 4-6" pot. Start Osteos with vegetative cutting November through February. Plants are typically propagated from cuttings dipped in a low concentration of rooting powder and placed under mist or in a humidity tent. Temperature of the rooting medium should be 72-75°F. Osteospermum is susceptible to root rot diseases during propagation and cuttings may benefit from a broad-spectrum fungicide drench.

Transplant rooted cuttings in a soilless growing medium four to five weeks after sticking cuttings. Grow plants for about four weeks at warm temperatures (68-70º F night) to establish root systems. Of this four weeks, allow 1-2 weeks after transplanting for rooted cuttings to get established before pinching out the growing tip, leaving 4-5 nodes for 4" pots and hanging baskets and 6-7 nodes for 6" or larger pots. Height of the stem would ideally be no more than 1.5" after pinching. After pinching, allow another 1-2 weeks of vegetative growth. Osteospermum responds well to DIF. If possible, provide negative DIF (65-75º day/night) to promote additional branching. Once cuttings are established, and side shoots are visible, move the pots to cold area or lower the night temperature to 45-55°F for four weeks.

Osteos flower in response to night temperatures below 55°F. This period of four weeks will result in the greatest bud set and flowering. If plants are subjected to frequent high temperatures, plants may develop fewer flowers. The highest quality plants are finished at cool temperatures (50-55°F) and high light. To shorten the flowering time, plants may be finished at 60-65°F. Warm day temperatures will promote faster growth and the need for height control.

Grow Osteospermum at a pH of 6.0-6.2 and a constant feed using 200 ppm nitrogen as a starting point and adjust levels as needed. Excessive feeding and/or using ammonium-based fertilizers can cause excessive elongation. The biggest challenge in production is height control. DIF and/or growth retardants can be used to control height. Drenches of Bonzi and Cycocel have been successfully used as well as a spray application of B-Nine. Note that B-Nine may delay flowering and flatten the ray petals of the spoon varieties. Apply growth regulators about 3-4 weeks after pinching. Additional applications may be needed for 4" pots or warm forcing temperatures. Growers should apply growth regulators on a trial basis. Osteos may also be pinched and trimmed multiple times to increase fullness.

Osteospermum is susceptible to powdery mildew, phytophthora and verticillium and to fungus gnats, thrips and mites. Routine scouting will prevent problems associated with insects and diseases.