Re: Hmmm...Weather...Plant Swap...I won?

Bonnie,
Here's a pic of Osteospermum Symphony Vanilla - I think this is the one I
have:
http://snipurl.com/e7dh
Here's another called O. Tradewinds Expt White & Blue
http://snipurl.com/e7di
You mentioned yours was a new variety, so it may look a little different.
In my experience these are thirsty plants even though they have thick
leaves.  I propagate by just pinching off a short cutting, stripping the
bottom leaves, dip in rooting hormone, and inserting into a moist
perlite/vermiculite mix in a sweater box.  The first time I tried I made the
cuttings too long and the tips browned out.  Then I saw someone in a nursery
doing it with just the tips, so I tried it and they root nicely in 2-3
weeks.  If you do this in fall, the little cuttings will be full size plants
by April, just remember to pinch to encourage branching.  The first year I
brought the whole large plant in in the fall, about 18 in by 18 in and cut
it back a bit.  When I planted it out the next spring, by fall it grew to a
mammoth 3 ft x 3 ft.  That's when I realized cuttings would be the smarter
way to go.

Here's a propagation/cultivation sheet on Osteospermum, but it is written
more from a nursery's point of view:
http://www.ecke.com/html/fastfax/ff_ffx_sunscapedaisy.html

I also found the following re their water needs:
"To grow flourishing Osteospermums, it is imperative that they are given a
very free-draining situation; they have little tolerance for continuously
damp or saturated soil. Their native, mountainous habitat is a good
indicator of the conditions to which they have successfully adapted. In
Cumbria, they thrive in containers and raised beds, but if grown in a
border, it is a good idea to break up the soil before planting and add some
handfuls of grit to ensure they have the best chance of survival."

Kitty
neIN, Z5

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bonnie & Bill Morgan" <wmorgan972@ameritech.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2005 5:34 PM
Subject: RE: [CHAT] Hmmm...Weather...Plant Swap...I won?


> I did mention it to the committee last year, but I live in Washington
> Township and not in Centerville proper.  Since it is put on by
"Centerville
> City Beautiful," I don't think my comments count for much, though I can
> throw a rock and hit the Centerville city limit sign from my property.
> There are only about 4 people who put the show on, too, so maybe they
don't
> have the staff to fend folks off and make them turn in the tickets.  (Yes,
> they did give out tickets like last year.)  I took 32 plants and brought
> back (and gave most to Rayna) 20 plants and there were only 5 plants
(mostly
> lambs ear, which I have scads of.)  At least the "leftovers" will go into
a
> community garden somewhere.  I would have gone only for the talk this year
> if daughter Rayna wasn't in need of some very common plants on a tight
> budget.  It irritates me that folks act like that, but I figure in the
long
> run, some time, some where, they will have that same treatment returned to
> them and I don't have to do anything or even know it happened.
>
> The talk was good and I did enjoy being with "plant people" for a couple
of
> hours.  YEAH!!!  I didn't have to worry that folks would think I talked
> gibberish if I said a botanical name instead of a local common name.
>
> I did miss seeing Wendy Swope at the swap.  I haven't heard from her since
> her mother-in-law died and my e-mails did not go through to her old
address.
>
> And what I received must be the African daisy you described.  It really is
> quite a lovely thing, isn't it?  It must be considered an annual here too.
> How do I start more of these beautiful daisies?  Thanks for the I.D.!
I've
> got the pot in the shower, soaking it right now.  Mary didn't water them
so
> the pots wouldn't be so heavy they couldn't be carried.  It will probably
be
> a week or more before I can set that gem outdoors!  It really is quite
> lovely and already has it's fertilizer and great potting soil and I didn't
> even have to get my hands dirty!
>
> Blessings,
> Bonnie (SW OH - zone 5)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gardenchat@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On
Behalf
> Of Chapel Ridge Wal Mart National Hearing Center
> Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2005 6:31 PM
> To: gardenchat@hort.net
> Subject: Re: [CHAT] Hmmm...Weather...Plant Swap...I won?
>
> Hi Bonnie,
> I remember you had the same complaint about this swap last year.  Have you
> voiced your objection to someone who could do something about it?  I'm
very
> glad you won the door prize though, sort of an award for your patience and
> endurance with the pushy crowd.
>
> Re > new variety of annual daisy (no name that I could find) with a blue
> center.
> Is it an African Daisy?  Osteospermum,(also some other names)  I have a
very
> lovely pristine white one with a blue center that I carry over year to
year.
> They sell them as annuals here, but they are so vigorous and unbelievably
> easy to grow from cuttings.  I've often seen these used in potted
> arrangements, so I thought this might be what you have.
>
> Re > as usual, more people took plants than brought them.
> I've never been to a swap; can you explain?  A swap indicates to me a 1:1
> exchange.  I seem to remember your saying that you received tickets for
the
> plants you brought.  You could hand one in for each plant.  I could
> understand that you might not use all your tickets if there was nothing
left
> that you really wanted to take home.  But how do people take MORE plants
> than they brought?  Without tickets, how do they get the plants?
>
> I don't think I should ever attempt to go to a plant swap.  I don't have
> your temperment.  I couldn't bring myself to take plants that weren't
> properly potted in good soil with fertilizer, properly named and
accompanied
> by a photo, and looking perky and happy (the flowers - I'm not
particularly
> perky anytime).  I f I did all that and then was faced with the
ill-mannered
> crowd you describe, I wouldn't do it again.  I'd just attend the talk.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bonnie & Bill Morgan" <wmorgan972@ameritech.net>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2005 2:58 PM
> Subject: RE: [CHAT] Hmmm...Weather...Plant Swap...I won?
>
>
> > I'm not quite far enough South.  We could get up to two inches of snow
on
> > grassy surfaces (and garden areas) by morning.  Low should be around 29
F.
> > tonight.  I'm glad Bill helped me get the tree rose, magnolia tree and
> other
> > not yet acclimated pots into the garage.
> >
> > As for the plant swap, well, I got plants for daughter Rayna mostly.
She
> > still needs some black-eyed Susan's and she got some sun-drops, some day
> > lilies, some monarda, false dead nettle and a periwinkle.  As for me, as
> > usual, more people took plants than brought them.  I still ended up with
a
> > nice pot that looks like some variety of geranium--no tag and a canna to
> put
> > into a pot for the front of the driveway.  There were folks that came in
> > over halfway through the talks who stood in the back of the room next to
> > where the plants were put that as soon as the talk was over, just turned
> > around and scooped the really nice plants up.  I do wish they would
> organize
> > it differently!  Of such is life.
> >
> > Mary Higgins (well known in the area for her flowering pots) was there
to
> > demonstrate how she arranges plants in pots with the usual do's &
don'ts.
> > In any case, at the end of the presentation, there were 4 large pots
> filled
> > with wonderful annuals.  I won one of them as a door prize.  It has
black
> &
> > blue salvia, bacopa, a variegated ageratum & purple alyssum, as well as
a
> > new variety of annual daisy (no name that I could find) with a blue
> center.
> > It is very pretty and I was glad someone brought a trash bag or two so I
> > could cover it long enough to get it home.  I'm not the type to win
> things,
> > so I'm wondering if I should go buy a lottery ticket now?  Hmmm.  I've
> > probably used up all this year's luck anyway.
> >
> > Blessings,
> > Bonnie (SW OH - zone 5)  Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-gardenchat@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On
> Behalf
> > Of Donna
> > Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2005 9:23 AM
> > To: gardenchat@hort.net
> > Subject: RE: [CHAT] Hmmm...Weather...Plant Swap...
> >
> > Have a great time at the plant swap, let us know what treasures you get
:)
> > Wish you had better weather for it... heard that you are in for a winter
> > storm.... UCK! Although you might be south enough to miss
it...(hopefully)
> >
> > Donna
> > Where it is cold, but not snowing.....
> >
> > >
> > > It is spitting snow here amongst the rain drops.  It's 37 degrees
> outside
> > > so
> > > nothing has frozen or frosted yet.  What a miserable day to walk 5
dogs.
> > > Of
> > > such is life.
> > >
> > > Today is the annual Centerville garden seminar and plant swap.  I've
> only
> > > got three flats of plants to take in for the swap because of work,
> family
> > > and other obligations, not to mention the weather.  I decided not to
pot
> > > so
> > > much in pots this year as I ran out of them last year.  I put a number
> of
> > > smaller division in plastic baggies with their soil.  At least it is
> > > neatly
> > > contained.  I know I'll get things at the swap that are freshly dug
and
> in
> > > box lids and grocery bags without soil.  There is so much more I could
> > > take
> > > if I had the time to dig it out.  Maybe I'll have a yard/plant sale
when
> I
> > > get the rest out and potted up.
> > >
> > > I've got to get plant labels made up!  Everyone have a fabulous day!
> > >
> > > Blessings,
> > > Bonnie
> >
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