Plant type: annual.
Description: These graceful annuals were first discovered in the tropics of Asia and other warm countries. There are two most common types of this plant. On one of them, brightly colored flowers appear that look like a rooster’s comb. The shade of these flowers is usually yellow, orange, dark red or pink. Flowers of another type are soft to the touch, and resemble the plumage of birds. Their hue is usually dark red, scarlet or golden. In height, these flowers reach from 30 to 90 cm.
- Origin: East India, Africa.
- Foliage: dense, green color with veins. Some varieties have decorative foliage, such as celosia pampas.
- Flowering: showy. Flowers have the following shades: pink, yellow, orange. The flowering period is summer – autumn.
- Growing environment: garden, greenhouse.
- Lighting: full sun or partial shade.
- Humidity level: moderate.
Soil type: it is advisable to choose the soil of the following composition: two-thirds of loam, one-third of deciduous humus, and also add rotten manure and sand. The soil must be well drained.
Watering: If you are growing celosias in a pot, they will bloom profusely if the soil is constantly moist. Water the flower regularly in dry times in the same amount.
Fertilizers: Celosia, which requires special care, will grow better if a water-soluble fertilizer is applied monthly from spring to autumn.
Reproduction: carried out by planting seeds. Between February and April, the seeds should be planted in pots in a greenhouse at a temperature of 13-16°C. The soil in which the seeds are planted must be warm. When the sprouts reach 2-3 cm in height, they can be transplanted separately into small pots and kept in a warm greenhouse. Keep them in the greenhouse for a while, then suddenly place them in a cooler environment and stop watering until the soil dries out. Due to this approach, you will ensure premature flowering of celosia. Plants with the best looking “scallops” should be planted in nutrient-rich soil and returned to the greenhouse. For the best effect, liquid fertilizers should be applied. So, you will get big beautiful flowers on small plants. If you want your celosia to be quite small, then you can cut them just below the flower and place them in small pots with sandy soil. If you want to transplant plants into the garden, then this should be done only after the warm weather has settled. In the garden, seeds should be planted in early spring.
Pests and Diseases: Celosia is resistant to diseases and lesions of various harmful insects. It is possible to be affected by plant aphids, which eat the leaves and stem of the plant.
Application: These flowers are used for storage in vases and for bouquets. You can use either fresh or dried plants.
Additionally: celosia, which is not so easy to care for, requires a transplant if the roots completely filled the pot. It is very important for these plants that they grow in a spacious pot. If you prune the first flowers, then the plant will have more branches, and subsequently more beautiful flowers.
Celosia pinnate – Celosia argentea
It is a species of tropical origin and grows best in full sun. Celosia pinnate is popular with many gardeners due to its vibrant flowers. Propagated by seeds. It is known that the seeds of this variety are so small that 30 grams contains more than 40 thousand seeds.
Celosia paniculata – Celosia pyramidalis
This species is often grown in gardens. With appropriate care, Celosia paniculata is distinguished by a long flowering time.
Celosia Caracas – Celosia Caracas
This variety is often grown indoors. Celosia Caracas has a pink-purple hue of flowers. It reaches a height of about a meter, and blooms from mid-summer to mid-autumn.
