From my perspective as an Osteospermum, light is my primary source of energy. I am a sun-worshipper by nature, originating from sun-drenched landscapes. The process of flowering is incredibly energy-intensive. If I am placed in a location with too much shade, my photosynthetic machinery cannot produce enough sugars and carbohydrates to support the massive energetic demand of creating blooms. My stems may become leggy as I stretch desperately towards any available light source, diverting all my resources to survival rather than reproduction. For me to perform at my best and produce the flowers you expect, I require a minimum of six to eight hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight daily.
My nutritional needs are very specific, especially when it comes to flowering. While I appreciate nourishment, the wrong type of fertilizer can be counterproductive. A fertilizer with too much nitrogen will encourage my vegetative growth—lush, green leaves—at the expense of my flowers. Nitrogen promotes the production of chlorophyll and foliage, which is beneficial to a point, but it tells my system to focus on leaf production, not bloom formation. I require a fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus (the middle number in the N-P-K ratio) to encourage strong root development and, crucially, to signal that it is time to initiate the flowering process. The soil itself is also key; I need well-draining soil. Soggy, waterlogged roots become stressed and damaged, making it impossible for me to uptake any nutrients effectively, let alone support flowers.
Water is essential, but it is a constant balancing act for my root system. Both extremes—drought and drowning—induce significant stress. Under-watering causes me to become dehydrated. I will wilt and conserve every drop of moisture I have, immediately aborting any non-essential processes like budding and flowering to focus on sheer survival. Conversely, over-watering is just as detrimental. It suffocates my roots, preventing them from absorbing oxygen from the soil pores. This leads to root rot, a condition where my foundational structures decay. A plant with a compromised root system cannot effectively transport water and nutrients to its extremities, making the development of delicate, high-energy flowers a physiological impossibility.
You must understand my natural rhythm. I am a perennial in warm climates, and my flowering is often linked to the cooler temperatures of spring and autumn. During the peak heat of summer, I may naturally enter a period of semi-dormancy where I slow down blooming to conserve energy and water. This is a survival tactic. Furthermore, how you interact with me through deadheading directly influences my reproductive drive. If my spent blooms are left on the stem, I receive the signal that my reproductive mission—to produce seeds—is complete. There is no need for me to produce more flowers. By consistently deadheading, or removing the old flowers, you trick me into thinking my mission has failed. This encourages me to produce more blooms in a continued effort to create viable seeds, thereby extending my flowering period significantly.
