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Osteospermum repotting advice, please

B3B3 Posts: 25,155
in Plants
My osteospermums have been flowering in the porch all winter.
I've moved them outside and will prune them hard back. They are all still in full flower but a bit leggy.
My question is:
When I repot them, can I root prune them a bit?
In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    No chance of putting them into bigger pots if they are pot bound?
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,155
    They're, already in big pots. Some are a few years old and have been repotted before.
    If I can't root prune, they'll have to make do with top dressing.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I keep mine for years. I repot and it's true, I end up with very big, heavy pots. I have never tried any serious root pruning but I take cuttings when I sense that the plant is getting too big to handle for another year.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    Does one cut any oesteospermum back hard?
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,155
    edited April 2018
    I will cut them back to a few sprouted buds. That's what I should've done in the autumn, but I couldn't bring myself to cut all the flowers off.
    I don't know if I've damaged them. We'll see. :)
    Ps. I don't know enough about them to give any advice but that's what  I usually do.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,497
    I cut mine outdoor ones hard every year and they do very well.Blooming all through 'The Beast from the East' as well.
    I have root pruned ones in pots as well.
    I get loads of cuttings as well so I stick them in the ground as they are and away they go!
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    Good to know
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,155
    Thanks Mad. That's just the answer I wanted!
    So good when that happens :D
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    @madpenguin I saw your comment above and potted up some osteo prunings/cuttings and they have rooted! I checked today and they have a great system and have put on loads of new leaf - in just a month. Woo hoo. Thanks for the tip. I with def'ly be doing this in future. I have loads of new salvia too. So satisfying to get so many free plants.
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