Hello, dedicated caretaker. I am your Osteospermum, the African Daisy. To help me thrive and produce my vibrant, sun-seeking blooms from spring through fall, here is the care schedule I need, broken down by the seasons of the United States.
As the soil warms and daylight increases, I break from my winter slumber. This is a critical period for establishing my growth. Please gradually acclimate me to outdoor conditions if I've been sheltered indoors. Begin watering me more regularly as my new growth appears, allowing the top inch of soil to dry between drinks. As my flower buds form, a gentle application of a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer will give me the energy I need for the prolific blooming ahead. Pinch back my early growth tips to encourage a bushier, more robust form.
This is my time to shine! I adore the warmth and long days, but intense heat can sometimes cause me to pause my flowering. To keep me blooming consistently, your most important tasks are watering and deadheading. My roots prefer consistent moisture but absolutely despise sitting in waterlogged soil. Water me deeply at the base during the cooler mornings. Faithfully remove my spent flowers (deadhead) by pinching them off at the stem; this tells me to produce more blooms instead of wasting energy on seed production.
As the temperatures begin to cool, I often experience a magnificent second wind of flowering. You can continue your summer routine of watering and deadheading until the first hard frost is forecast. Please hold back on fertilizing me now; any tender new growth spurred by fertilizer would be too vulnerable to the coming cold. In colder zones (USDA zones below 9), this is when you must decide. To keep me as a perennial, you can cut my stems back to a few inches above the ground after frost and apply a thick layer of mulch to protect my crown through the winter.
My needs are simple in winter: I require protection and rest. In my perennial range (USDA zones 9-11), simply ensure my bed is well-mulched. I may appear dormant or even die back, but my roots are alive. Please do not water me unless the season is exceptionally dry. In colder zones where I am grown as an annual, my life cycle concludes with the frost. However, if you've potted me, you can bring my container indoors to a cool, bright, frost-free location like a garage or sunroom. Water me very sparingly, just enough to prevent my soil from turning to dust, and let me sleep until spring returns.
