How to Propagate Cockscomb? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Propagation Methods
Cockscomb is surely familiar to everyone. It originated in Africa, tropical America and India, and is now widely cultivated around the world. Most of its flowers are red, and it is planted in many places to beautify the environment, especially now it is used quite a lot for roadside flower beds and community landscaping. Besides its role in beautifying the environment, cockscomb also has high medicinal value. Now let us take a look at the propagation methods of cockscomb!
Growth Habits of Cockscomb
Cockscomb is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Celosia in the Amaranthaceae family. Varieties can be divided by inflorescence form into broom cockscomb, faced cockscomb, mandarin duck cockscomb, tassel cockscomb, etc. It prefers a warm and dry climate, fears drought, likes sunlight, is not tolerant of waterlogging, not tolerant of frost, and not tolerant of barren soil. It likes loose, fertile and well-drained soil, and cultivation in well-drained sandy loam is better. It is a new way to develop courtyard economies at present.
Distribution of Cockscomb Production Areas
Domestically, the production areas of cockscomb are mainly distributed in Anhui, Beijing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hong Kong, China, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, China, Xinjiang, Tibet, Yunnan, Zhejiang and other places.
Propagation Methods of Cockscomb
1. Seed sowing: Cockscomb propagation commonly uses the seed propagation method. Around Qingming, choose a good plot, apply sufficient base fertilizer, plow finely and harrow evenly, level and make beds, evenly scatter the seeds on the bed surface, cover the seeds slightly, firm the soil and water thoroughly. Generally, at a temperature of 15-20°C, seedlings can emerge in 10-15 days. For summer sowing after Mangzhong, seize the dry period to clear stubble, and it can also be intercropped with white peony, tree peony or other crops, using one jin of seed per mu.
2. Seedling stage management: When cockscomb seedlings are 2 cun tall, thin them to a row spacing of 1 chi and a plant spacing of 8 cun. The thinned seedlings can be transplanted to other fields, and after transplanting they must be watered. During the seedling stage, be sure to weed and loosen the soil. When it is not too dry, water as little as possible. When the seedlings are about 1 chi tall, apply a topdressing once. After the rows close, appropriately remove old leaves. When flowering and heading, if the weather is dry, water appropriately, and strictly prevent water accumulation in low-lying areas during the rainy season. After heading, the flower buds in the leaf axils on the lower part can be removed to help nutrients concentrate on the growth of the main spike at the top.