Over wintering Osteospermums ….

Hello everyone, just joined forum looking for any assistance.

First frosts of season are on their way...

Amongst my plants, have a good selection of Fuchsias, Roses, Dahlias, Chrysanthemums & Osteospermums which I take cuttings from. Moving plants inside. Just spent the afternoon cutting flowers from Chrysanthemums and removing some of the side shoots in an attempt to produce new plants, obviously realise not the best time to do so, but will keep inside house near light. Will be taking them up as well as Dahlias once frosted.

Have developed a love of Osteospermums, take cuttings in early spring which have produced a number of decent sized flowering plants.

Over the last few years have dug up Osteospermums from garden & over wintered in pots in greenhouse.

This year some of these plants - sorry do not know their varieties other than flowers are either white, yellow, purple & orange - are rather large, especially the white ones.

Wondering if I could cut back these plants at this time of year, reducing size to aid overwintering in greenhouse?

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Malcoman. It would help us if we knew roughly what area you're based in as this makes a difference to any information we give regarding climate. Most of us add it to our avatar box.

Roses, assuming they're in the ground won't need any protection. My Osteospermums stay in the ground too and I'll cut those back ready for re-shooting next Spring. Hardy Fuchsias will be fine but tender Fuchsias will need to be protected from frost. Sorry, I've not grown Dahlias or Chrysanthemums so can't help you with those.

 

I assume we are referring to the tender bedding type of oseospermum.

I'd cut them back but not too hard, so as to leave at least some green shoots.

It might possibly help to provide you with a good flush of young new shoots in the spring for some good cuttings.

 

I cut some of my osteospermums back at the weekend, but I do live in the balmy far south. It may be a little late to do it if you are in a colder area. Still, nothing ventured ... and if the option is make them manageable with a trim or leave them to die outside, I'd do the former! They are quite short-lived plants. 3-5 yrs is about their life span, but I have had some of mine for 8 or more, assisted by winter fleecing or moving them into the garage on cold nights.

 

I know it's probably not the right thing to so, but I let mine flower in the porch. They brighten it up a bit.

 

They sure do!

 

Must admit, due to not having a spare inch of greenhouse space, I buy new cuttings each year.

 

I don't cut mine back in case I loose them all together. I suppose you could try rooting some cuttings now and hope for the best, and you'd still have the cuttings if the 'main' ones died off.

 

Thank you for all your helpful advice.
I live in the North East of England, ground is covered in snow fall at the moment.
I will attempt to cut back a couple of the larger plants, to see how they perform next year. Do have a few small plants, cuttings taken earlier in year, planted in garden but do not seem to have grown much, although small and easier to store over winter!

 

There's a white one with a blue underside that went rampant for a few years in my London garden. It was sitting over the gas, water and electrics going into the house so maybe that helped.
Then there was a really hard frost.....