How to grow potted cockscomb? This one article is all you need
Cockscomb, also known as cockscomb flower, laolaihong, and pen cockscomb, is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Celosia in the Amaranthaceae family. It is named for its red, flat inflorescence that resembles a rooster's comb, and enjoys the reputation of "the fowl among flowers." Tall varieties are used in flower borders and flower beds, are also excellent cut flower material, and can also be grown in pots for ornamental display. Let's take a look below at how to grow potted cockscomb!
How to plant cockscomb seeds?
1. Seed sowing: Cockscomb is commonly propagated by seed. Around Qingming, choose a good plot, apply plenty of base fertilizer, plow finely and harrow evenly, level the ground and make beds, scatter the seeds evenly over the bed surface, cover the seeds thoroughly, firm the soil and water thoroughly. At a temperature of 15-20°C, seedlings emerge in 10-15 days.
2. Seedling 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 plots, and they must be watered after transplanting. During the seedling stage, be sure to weed and loosen the soil, and water as little as possible when it is not too dry. When the seedlings are about 1 chi tall, apply a topdressing once.
How to grow potted cockscomb?
1. Potting soil: Cockscomb is not strict about soil, but it is best to use fertile, well-drained sandy loam as the growing medium, or a mixed medium prepared from leaf mold, garden soil, and sand at a ratio of 1:4:2.
2. Potting up: Cockscomb can be selected directly from field-grown cockscomb during the flowering period and potted up. When potting up, be careful not to let the root ball fall apart, and plant it slightly deeper, with the leaves as close to the pot soil surface as possible.
3. Watering: Cockscomb prefers a slightly moist but somewhat dry soil environment and is somewhat drought-tolerant. During the growing season, it should have sufficient water. After planting, water thoroughly, then water appropriately afterward, but when watering, try not to let the lower leaves get splashed with muddy water.
4. Fertilizing: When planting cockscomb in place, apply about 25 grams of chicken manure at the bottom of the flower pot as base fertilizer. During the growing period, apply a dilute liquid fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potassium once every half month. After flower buds form, apply a dilute compound liquid fertilizer once every 10 days.
5. Temperature: Cockscomb likes warmth and dislikes cold. During the growing period, it needs sufficient light, with at least 4 hours of light guaranteed every day. The most suitable growing temperature is 18-28°C. Excessive air humidity is unfavorable for plant growth.
6. Pests and diseases: Potted cockscomb is prone to anthracnose. If root rot occurs during the seedling stage, quicklime can be broadcast over the field. During the growing period, it is prone to the cotton leaf roller, which can be controlled by spraying diluted detergent, dimethoate, or pyrethroid pesticides on the leaves.
Precautions for cockscomb
1. Soil: Although cockscomb is not strict about soil requirements and can be grown in ordinary soil, it is best to grow it in sandy loam with high, dry terrain, full sun, fertility, and good drainage.
2. Light: Cockscomb needs sufficient light during the growing period, with at least 4 hours of sunlight guaranteed every day. If grown in a shaded place, the inflorescence will be small and its ornamental value will be greatly reduced.
3. Watering: Cockscomb likes dry air and dislikes waterlogging, but its branches are thick and its leaves are abundant, so it consumes a large amount of water during the growing period. Therefore, in midsummer it must be watered sufficiently, and during continuous rainy days it should be moved indoors.
4. Pruning: There are many cultivated varieties of cockscomb. For dwarf cockscomb varieties, pinching should be carried out after planting to promote branching. When used as cut flowers, pinching can be done when the plant height is 20-30 cm.