How to Plant & Care for African Daisies
African daisies (Arctotis hybrida) are showy, low-growing annual plants with silvery-green foliage and blooms that will add a splash of color to the landscape. Traditionally, the petals of African daisies are white with dark centers, but depending on the variety, African daisies are also available in a wide range of hues including red, yellow, orange, pink, violet and white. African daisies are sturdy, drought-tolerant plants that are easy to grow from seed. In about two months, you'll have flowers until the end of summer. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hoe or seeds
- African daisy seeds
- Garden hose with a spray mist attachment or watering can
- General purpose liquid or granular fertilizer
Instructions
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Plant African daisies directly in the garden in spring. African daisies are cold-tender, so be sure any danger of frost has passed. Choose an area where the plants will be exposed to bright sunlight.
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Work the top 4 to 6 inches of the soil with a hoe or spade. Plant the carnation seeds about 4 inches apart, then cover the seeds with a light dusting of soil, no more than 1/8-inch deep.
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Water the seeds carefully, using a hose with a spray-mist attachment or a watering can with small holes. Until the seeds germinate, they will wash away easily.
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Thin the African daisies when the seedlings are about 1 inch tall. Allow 10 inches between each seedling.
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Keep the soil damp for the first few weeks, until the plants are well-established. African daisies are drought-tolerant plants, and once established, will require irrigation only during hot, dry weather.
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Fertilize African daisies once every month, using a general purpose liquid or granular fertilizer. Read the fertilizer package for specific directions.
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Remove wilted blooms regularly. Removing spent blooms will prevent the plant from going to seed too early, and will promote the African daisy to continue blooming until the end of summer.
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Tips & Warnings
African daisy seeds can also be planted indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost of the season. Plant the seeds in trays filled with commercial potting soil. Place the trays in bright, indirect light and keep the soil lightly damp. The seeds should germinate in one to two weeks.
References
- Photo Credit african daisy image by Melva Vivian from Fotolia.com
