Immigrated from the sun-drenched regions of South Africa, Cape baskets transform the summer garden into a sea of flowers. The little beauties owe their middle name Cape Marguerite to their radiating flowers. Why the new favorites for beds and balconies are so popular with beginners and advanced growers is due not least to their uncomplicated cultivation. Read compact answers to frequently asked questions here.
How do I care for Cape baskets properly?
Cape daisies, also known as Cape daisies, require a sunny location, moderate watering without waterlogging and regular cutting of wilted flower stalks. The bed is fertilized twice a season with compost and the pot is fertilized every two weeks with liquid fertilizer.
Planting cape potatoes correctly
The time window opens at the beginning/mid of May to plant the cape baskets that have been brought forward or purchased ready-made. Place the potted root balls in water until no more air bubbles appear. In the meantime, create small planting pits at a distance of 15-20 cm in a sunny location to place the potted young plants in. Beforehand, enrich the excavation with compost and fill the small pits with the optimized substrate up to just below the lower pair of leaves. Finally, water and spread a layer of mulch. Planting in a pot or balcony box is similar, with additional drainage made of pebbles or pottery shards being inserted between the bottom opening and the substrate.
Care tips
The main pillars of professional care consist of a modest water and nutrient balance as well as pruning at the right time. These measures are important:
- Water Cape daisy moderately without causing waterlogging
- Fertilize the flowerbed with compost twice a season, in May as part of planting and in July
- In the balcony box and pot, fertilize liquidly every 2 weeks from May to September
- Consistently cut off withered flower stems to encourage rebloom
Take cape baskets in pots or balcony boxes to bright winter quarters in good time before the first frost. Water occasionally at 10-15 degrees Celsius. Fertilization is not carried out during winter rest.read more
Which location is suitable?
The Cape daisy feels at home in a warm, sunny location. To prevent the upright flower stems from tipping over, a location protected from the wind is ideal. A sandy-loamy, humus-rich and moderately dry soil drives the summer flower to peak floral performance.read more
What soil does the plant need?
Planted out in the summer flower bed, the Cape daisy thrives vitally and luxuriantly in humus-rich, well-drained, sandy-loamy soil. Look for fresh to moderately dry soil, as the little beauty can't stand waterlogging. For cultivation in a balcony box or pot, we therefore recommend a good quality potting soil (€12.00 on Amazon) based on compost, enriched with sand, lava granules or expanded clay.
What is the best time to plant?
For Cape baskets that have been purchased ready-made or grown in the house, the departure of the Ice Saints in mid-May signals the beginning of the planting season. That makes sense, given a minimum temperature of 10-15 degrees Celsius.
When is flowering time?
Located in a sunny, warm location, the Cape daisy shows its most beautiful flowers from May to September. It is not uncommon for the distinctive summer flower to take a short break from blooming. Don't let this confuse you. Cut off any withered flower stems and continue to care for the cape basket. After a short time the ray flowers unfold again.read more
cutting cape potatoes correctly
Careful pruning at the right time will produce numerous new buds and flowers from a Cape daisy. If you continuously cut out withered flower stems, the well-groomed appearance will be preserved. Do not wait until seed heads form, as these cost a cape basket an unnecessary amount of energy that would be better invested in re-blooming. As a vase decoration or bouquet of flowers, cut the most beautiful flower stalks when they have just opened in the early hours of the morning.read more
Water the Cape baskets
The Cape daisy particularly likes constant soil moisture at a moderate to low level. Only water the flower in the bed when there is not enough rain. Check the moisture content of the substrate in the flower box every 1-2 days. If the surface is dry, add water to the root disc until the first drops run into the saucer.
Fertilize Kapko heirlooms properly
For Cape baskets in the open field, the nutrient supply is limited to the addition of compost and horn shavings in May and July. Work the organic material very lightly into the soil and then water. If the Cape daisy thrives in the balcony box, administer a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants every 14 days from May to September.
Wintering
The Cape daisy has the floral vitality for multi-year growth. Since the South African beauty does not tolerate frost, the flowers in the planter can be put away in autumn. Cut the plant close to the ground as soon as all the leaves have grown. In the bright winter quarters at 10-15 degrees Celsius, water the root ball every now and then. There will be no fertilization until next spring. Before wintering, repot the plant into fresh substrate and gradually accustom the young shoots to the sun.read more
Propagate Kapko heirlooms
To propagate a Cape daisy using cuttings, do not cut the flower back before storing it away. Instead, select the strongest stems with a length of 6-8 cm in February/March. Place these in small pots filled with lean potting soil. Any leaves are removed beforehand. In a partially shaded, warm window seat, keep the substrate constantly moist. By mid-May you will have vital Cape baskets in your hands, ready for planting in beds and flower boxes.
Alternatively, collect the winged seeds in the fall before the wind scatters them in all directions. Store the seeds in a dry, dark screw-top jar until February. The seeds are sown on lean peat sand or seed soil. At 18-20 degrees Celsius on a partially shaded windowsill, germination begins within 14 days.
Kappot in the pot
Use a light-colored pot so that the root ball does not overheat in a sunny location. A piece of clay over the water drain effectively prevents waterlogging. Choose a low-peat, compost-based substrate to which you add some sand or lava granules. Water the Cape daisy moderately and fertilize every 14 days from May to September. If you cut off withered flower stems as soon as possible, the plant will continue to branch and produce numerous fresh buds. Before the first frost, move the pot into the bright winter quarters at 10-15 degrees Celsius.
Is cape duck poisonous?
The Cape daisy is ideal for greening a family garden because the flower does not contain any toxic components. Of course, another daisy family is also called Cape basket and also has an aster-like growth. We are talking about the cape marigold from the genus Dimorphotheca. Their ingredients are considered harmful to humans and animals. When purchasing, please ask carefully whether it is the Cape daisy of the genus Osteospermum.read more
Beautiful varieties
- Double Berry White: Beautiful cape daisy with a filled center, surrounded by white-purple ray flowers; 20-40cm
- Elektra: New variety with lavender-blue flowers around a purple disc; 35-50cm
- Akila Daisy White: Award-winning Cape daisy with 5 cm large white flowers, a yellow heart and a very long flowering period; 25-30cm
- Pink Whirls: Futuristic look thanks to spoon-like flowers around blue, yellow-edged basket flowers; 25-30cm
- Emotion Yellow: The yellow ray flowers shine in competition with the sun from May to September; 25-40cm
