Hi Peter,
This is one of the prettiest plants you have grown and it has pride of place in my garden and you can see why. When you first presented it in your newsletter before stock hit the nurseries I knew I had to have one.
It's been in place just over twelve months and "now what" do I do with it?
I looked at it and noticed it's getting straggly and opening up in areas.
Temptation is to prune it and sadly loose the flowers but get a better shaped plant but do they recover from pruning
Or, do I replace it?
Regards
Christine
No need to replace an Osteospermum, this is a perennial that will give years of faithful service but it does need a little attention along the way.
The first thing I note is the plant has grown enormously. We find that Osteos can struggle to fill a 200mm pot, but just look how far this one plant has spread. This just emphasizes my frustration with our industry's fixation with plant growth regulators. I think this plant is Osteo. Serenity Rose Magic, possibly Pink Magic... seriously I'm red-green colour blind, that's just too subtle. We don't use any PGR's but I'm sure our plug supplier does and it's not until the second season that the plant really gets moving.
After a solid hair cut the plant will start to build some strength and not be tempted to spread so far. My recommendation is to cut them in the late summer so they have the autumn to re-grow and be ready for late winter, early spring flowering. After the first cut I think a relatively gentle tip prune, again annually during the late summer will control the shape easily. Eventually, after say 5 or 6 years the plant may start to lose vigour and the flowering may be less prolific so of course you might like to change the colour scheme.
By the way a feed with general purpose fertilizer or manure after pruning will help maintain vigour.
Osteospermum Serenity Lemonade. Brightening our spec loads this week.
Canaryagro engaged in offering our prestigious clients a very highly premium and unique range of Plant Growth Regulator Manufacture .We are Manufacture highly recognized by the clients and huge in demand among them in all over the India. - Canary Agro Chemicals Pvt.Ltd
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ReplyDeleteGreat post and great place, nothing is as good as seeing sight of flowers, it makes the world look a beautiful place.Thank you for sharing it with us
ReplyDeleteHi my name is paula I m growing osteospermum ecklonis they are getting so big,when the flowers dye of i cut them back, but my plants are starting to fall apart, as though they are getting heavy as they grow taller. Should i cut them right back or what do i do with them. I love my flowers thanks
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