Cosmos Sowing Time and Pinching Method Illustrated Guide

Cosmos is surely familiar to many people. It is a plant with high ornamental value, blooming every summer, and its flowers are generally pink, which is quite common. It is currently very popular on the market, so many people want to grow it, but before planting, you need to have an in-depth understanding of it.

When to sow cosmos (which month)

If cosmos is to bloom in summer, it should be sown from February to March in early spring, and it is best to sow when both temperature and humidity can be controlled. If you plan to sow outdoors, sow in mid-April when the temperature is suitable; when the temperature is suitable, seedlings will emerge in about a week.

How to pinch cosmos (illustrated method)

1. When pinching cosmos, it needs to be done after the seedlings have grown to a certain extent, at least after they have grown 4 pairs of leaves. Generally, it is best to wait until cosmos has grown more than 10 leaves before pinching.

2. Generally, dwarf plants are mostly cultivated, that is, when the seedlings are 20-30 cm tall, remove the tips, and then remove the new terminal buds several more times in succession; the plant can then be dwarfed, and at the same time the number of flowers also increases.

2. When topping and pinching cosmos, be careful not to do it too early. If you top and pinch too early, the cosmos seedlings will be weakened, which is very unfavorable for growth. So it must be done when cosmos is suitable for topping and pinching.

How to water cosmos

1. Watering before sowing: Before sowing, be sure to water the soil thoroughly, or you can sow first, then cover the seeds with 1 cm of soil, soak the flowerpot in water, with the soaking depth reaching 1/3 of the flowerpot from the top, and let the water slowly enter through the small holes at the bottom of the flowerpot until the entire soil in the flowerpot is moist, then take it out.

2. Watering during germination: When the cosmos seedlings are growing, keep the soil moist. In high temperatures or dry environments, you can increase the frequency of watering. But make sure there is no waterlogging.

3. Watering during the growing period: During the growing period, cosmos needs a large amount of water, and at the same time the surface soil must always be kept moist; the soil must not crack.

4. Daily watering: Daily watering should control the amount of water. It is fine if the surface soil is slightly dry, but the lower soil should remain moist. When watering, be sure not to let waterlogging occur, otherwise it can easily cause cosmos to grow leggy, and in severe cases can lead to root rot.

How to fertilize cosmos

1. Fertilizing time: The best planting time for cosmos is spring, and the best fertilizing time is also spring.

2. Fertilizing during planting: If base fertilizer has already been applied before planting, then no fertilization is needed during the growing period. Conversely, if no fertilizer is applied before planting, fertilization must be done during the growing period.

3. Daily fertilizing: If no base fertilizer has been applied, apply an appropriate amount of fertilizer during the growing period. Generally, fertilize once every 10 days. The fertilizer must not be excessive, otherwise it can easily cause the branches and leaves of cosmos to grow leggy, which will directly affect the number of flowers.

4. Fertilizing precautions: In environments with excessively high temperatures, or in midsummer, do not fertilize. When fertilizing cosmos, the nutrients in the fertilizer should be balanced, and there should be no excessive or unbalanced fertilization. When fertilizing, avoid placing the fertilizer too close to the plant roots, so as not to burn the roots. During the seedling stage, topdressing can be done, but be sure to pay attention to the balance of fertilizer nutrients, and at the same time do not apply excessive fertilizer. Fertilizing can be done together with watering. But waterlogging must not occur.

The planting time of cosmos is generally in early spring each year, or April each year is also fine. After planting, cosmos needs to be pinched, so as to ensure its growth. The specific method is introduced above, and I hope it will be helpful to everyone.