How to Grow African Daisy (Osteospermum)

African daisy is a summer-flowering plant with flowers like daisies that bloom in white, blue and shades of pink. Some kinds have a ring of contrasting color right around the yellow center.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bypass Pruners
• Compost Makers
• Fertilizers
• Garden Hoses
• Mulch
• Plants
• Plants

Choosing African Daisy

1. Buy African daisy in late spring and summer and through fall in warm climates.

2. Look for plants at nurseries in 4-inch to 1-gallon containers.

3. Choose healthy-looking plants with signs of new growth in foliage and flower buds.

Planting African Daisy

4. Plant African daisy in full sun in well-drained soil.

5. Add a light application of organic fertilizer to the planting hole.

6. Place the plants no deeper than they were growing in the containers.

7. 

   Set the plants 9 to 12 inches apart.

8. 

   Mulch around but not on top of the plants with 3 inches of organic compost.

9. 

   Water well until soil is completely moist.

Caring for African Daisy

10. Deadhead (cut off old flower stems) with scissors or bypass pruners.

11. Apply a light application of organic fertilizer on top of the soil in spring; follow package directions.

12. Mulch around but not on top of the plants with 3 inches of organic compost.

13. Water well weekly until soil is completely moist in summers with no rainfall.

[matantebinou]

on 8/8/2009 Hi - I've been deadheading my African Daisies this summer and, for some odd reason, I've had virtually no new blooms for weeks now with no visible buds for future blooms either. Does anyone have any idea why this is happening and what I can do to change the course of these plants?

Andrea