How to grow cosmos? Growing methods and precautions, sunlight must be sufficient

Cosmos is a highly ornamental plant, and it can be seen in many regions of our country. Many people in China grow it, but to grow it well, there are many things to pay attention to. So how do you grow cosmos? What are the growing methods and precautions for cosmos? Let me walk you through them below.

1. How to grow cosmos: understand its habits

To know how to grow cosmos, we first need to understand its growth habits. Cosmos is a light-loving plant, so when growing it we need to maintain sufficient light. In addition, watering, fertilizing and other aspects also need attention. The details are explained below, so let's continue reading.

2. Growing methods and precautions for cosmos

1. Soil selection: drainage should be good

Among the growing methods and precautions for cosmos, choosing the soil is the first step and the step that lays the foundation. Only by choosing suitable soil can cosmos grow more vigorously. Cosmos prefers to grow in loose sandy soil, which has good drainage and does not easily become waterlogged.

Precautions: The soil for cosmos should not be too fertile either, otherwise it will have a certain effect on its growth. Generally, soil with a certain degree of looseness is enough.

2. Fertilization requirements: avoid heavy fertilizer

Cosmos does not have a great demand for fertilizer during its growth. If we apply base fertilizer to the soil when planting it, then there is no need to fertilize after it enters the growth period, because too much fertilizer will cause excessive vegetative growth of the sap, thereby reducing the number of flowers.

Precautions: If we release base fertilizer into the soil before planting, the fertilizer must first be diluted with water so that it can be absorbed, because this plant is rather afraid of heavy fertilizer.

3. Watering requirements: water little but often

Among the growing methods and precautions for cosmos, watering is a point that needs relatively more attention. This plant likes water fairly much. In dry weather it needs to be watered 2-3 times a day, and when the climate is suitable, watering once every 1-2 days is enough.

Precautions: When watering cosmos, remember to water little but often, keeping the soil at a certain level of moisture. Never water too much, because if water accumulates, it can easily cause the roots of cosmos to rot.

4. Light requirements: pay attention to shading in summer

Cosmos likes light fairly much, but it is not tolerant of strong light. If the sunlight in spring and autumn is relatively suitable, we can keep it outdoors to receive light for a long time, but when the sunlight is too strong in summer, shading is still needed.

Precautions: In summer we can move it indoors to a semi-shaded place to grow, which will not affect its growth. Winter is the opposite of summer. Normally we should grow it indoors, and when the temperature rises again at noon, just keep it outdoors to receive 2-3 hours of light.

5. Pests and diseases: prevent and control them in time

During the growth of cosmos, if we care for it improperly, problems such as pests and diseases can easily appear. Such problems are extremely harmful to the plant, not only affecting its ornamental value, but in severe cases also causing cosmos to dry up and die.

Precautions: When problems such as pests and diseases appear, we must deal with them in time. If the time is dragged out, it will be difficult to cure them completely. For specific control methods, everyone can refer to the article on pest and disease control for cosmos. I will not introduce too much here.

How to grow cosmos? Home growing methods for cosmos

Cosmos likes light, tolerates poor soil, dislikes fertilizer, dislikes heat, and dislikes waterlogging. In short, it is a very “high-maintenance” flowering plant, but one cannot resist its beautiful blooms, so it is likewise loved by many flower enthusiasts. So how should cosmos be grown at home? Let's take a look:

Image: Potted cosmos

1. Home growing methods for cosmos

1. Light

Cosmos is robust in nature and likes sunlight, and can be grown under short-day conditions. Note that cosmos is not strict about soil. If it is transplanted into fertile soil and the light is not strong, the plant is very prone to excessive vegetative growth.

2. Water and fertilizer management

Watering: Cosmos likes water. In drought it can be watered 2-3 times a day, and on ordinary days once every 1-2 days. But avoid water accumulation in the pot.

Fertilizing: If base fertilizer is applied when potting, then no further fertilizing is needed during the growth period. If the soil is too fertile, the branches and leaves tend to grow excessively and flowering decreases. Alternatively, during the growth period apply diluted decomposed urine at 5 times water once every 10 days.

3. Propagation methods

Sowing: Cosmos is sown in March-April. Transplant when the seedlings have 4~5 true leaves, and pinch the growing tips; thinning after direct sowing is also possible.

Cuttings: Use softwood cuttings in summer, which have a high survival rate. Do this in May. Select thick, strong terminal branches and cut a section 8 cm to 10 cm long as a cutting. Insert 3 to 5 cuttings as a clump into a flower pot. The pot should be buried in the soil, with 4 cm to 5 cm exposed above ground. Water and shade it, and roots will form after half a month. After rooting, apply a thin fertilizer solution once every 15 days. When it grows to 15 cm, remove the terminal buds again to encourage more branching. If water and fertilizer are controlled properly, flowers can be seen in about 45 days.

Image: Cosmos

2. Precautions for growing cosmos at home

1. Prevent lodging

Cosmos plants are tall and easily sway in the wind, but they are also easily broken by the wind. To cultivate cosmos with a short plant that will not lodge, the sowing period should be postponed to July, or after spring sowing, pinch the growing tips when the plant grows to 40-50 cm, so that the axillary buds flower.

2. Prevent pests and diseases

The main diseases of cosmos are leaf spot and powdery mildew, which can be sprayed with a 500-fold solution of 50% thiophanate wettable powder. The insect pests to watch for on cosmos include aphids and scarab beetles, which can be killed by spraying with a 2500-fold solution of 10% chudongjing emulsifiable concentrate. Red spider mites are likely to occur in hot weather and should be controlled early.

The above is an introduction to home growing methods for cosmos. I hope it can be helpful to everyone!

Cosmos growing methods and precautions

Cosmos is a light-loving plant. It likes light, tolerates poor soil, dislikes fertilizer, and dislikes soil that is too fertile. It dislikes heat and dislikes waterlogging. It is not suited to high summer temperatures and is not cold-tolerant. It needs loose, fertile loam with good drainage.

Propagation methods for cosmos

1. Propagate by sowing or cuttings.

Cosmos is propagated by seed. Generally sown in early spring, it flowers from May to June. From August to September the climate is hot with more cloudy and rainy days, so it flowers less. After the autumn cools, it continues to flower until frost. If sown in July to August, it can bloom in October, and the plants are short and neat. Cosmos seeds have self-sowing ability. Once planted, a large number of self-sown seedlings will appear afterward, and with a little protection they can bloom as usual. It can be sown in open-ground beds in mid-April. If the temperature is suitable, the seedlings can emerge in about 6-7 days.

2. During the growth period, cuttings can be used for propagation. Cut robust shoot tips of about 15 cm below a node and insert them into sandy loam. Provide appropriate shading and maintain humidity, and roots will form in 5-6 days. For spring sowing in April, germination is rapid, and they sprout 7-10 days after sowing. Softwood cuttings can also be used for propagation, rooting 15-18 days after insertion.

Transplant when the seedlings have 4-5 true leaves, and pinch the growing tips; thinning after direct sowing is also possible. If base fertilizer is applied to the planting site, then no further fertilizing is needed during the growth period. If the soil is too fertile, the branches and leaves tend to grow excessively and flowering decreases. Those that bloom during the high-temperature period of July-August do not easily set seed. After the seeds mature, they fall off easily, so seeds should be collected in the early morning. Cosmos is a short-day plant. Spring-sown seedlings often have abundant leaves but few flowers, while summer-sown seedlings are short, neat, and bloom continuously.

Cultivation and management of cosmos

Cosmos is robust in nature, likes sunlight, tolerates drought, and is not strict about soil, but it must not become waterlogged. If it is planted in fertile soil, it easily causes excessive vegetative growth of branches and leaves, affecting flower quality.

Transplant when the seedlings are 5 cm tall, and plant out when they have 7--8 leaves; thinning after direct sowing is also possible. If base fertilizer is applied to the planting site, then no further fertilizing is needed during the growth period. If the soil is too fertile, the branches and leaves tend to grow excessively and flowering decreases. Alternatively, during the growth period apply diluted decomposed urine at 5 times water once every 10 days. In drought, watering 2~3 times is enough for good growth and flowering. Those that bloom during the high-temperature period of July-August do not easily set seed. After the seeds mature, they fall off easily, so seeds should be collected in the early morning. Cosmos is a short-day plant. Spring-sown seedlings often have abundant leaves but few flowers, while summer-sown seedlings are short, neat, and bloom continuously. It grows rapidly and can be pinched multiple times to increase branching.

Cosmos plants are tall. When planted in windy places, supports should be set up to prevent lodging and breakage. Generally, short plants are mostly cultivated, that is, remove the growing tip when the seedlings are 20~30 cm tall, and then continuously remove the new terminal buds several more times afterward, and the plant can be dwarfed; at the same time, the number of flowers also increases. The planting bed should be given a little base fertilizer. For seed collection, pick the achenes when they turn slightly black, so as to avoid scattering after full maturity.

Cultivation of cosmos:

This species needs short-day treatment during the seedling stage to flower normally, so the appropriate sowing time should be grasped. Direct sowing in open ground is suitable, and seedling raising is also possible. Cover the seeds with about 1 cm of soil, and they emerge in about 5-10 days. Transplant when the seedlings have 5-6 true leaves. The planting distance is 30-50 cm. During the growth period, pinch the growing tips to encourage branching and control excessive height to avoid lodging later. It is not strict about soil, but it must not become waterlogged. It is not cold-tolerant and dislikes extreme heat. It tolerates poor soil.

Key care points for cosmos

Propagation: Propagate by sowing or cuttings. Softwood cuttings can also be used in summer.

Sowing: In late March to early April, sow the seeds in an open-ground seedbed. They can also germinate at a relatively low soil temperature of 15°C, but if sown very early, they will grow into huge plants 2 m tall, which are prone to lodging due to typhoons or the weight of the plant. There are also early-flowering varieties that bloom 50-70 days after sowing, so sowings should be divided into early-flowering and autumn-flowering ones.

Management: It likes warmth, humidity, and sunlight, slightly tolerates early frost, and is not strict about soil. Transplant when the seedlings are 5 cm tall, and plant out when they have 7--8 leaves. It is not strict about fertilizer and water. During the growth period, apply diluted decomposed urine at 5 times water once every 10 days. Tall and medium varieties need supports before flowering to prevent lodging from wind damage. It grows rapidly and can be pinched multiple times to increase branching. Red spider mites are likely to occur in hot weather and should be controlled early. If sown from late July to early August, it can bloom after 50--60 days, with short and neat plants, for use on National Day. After the seeds mature, you can cut off the inflorescences with large, brightly colored flowers, dry them in the sun, and keep the seeds.

To cultivate large cosmos with short plants that will not lodge, the following measures should be taken:

① Sow in the relatively late month of July.

② After spring sowing, pinch the growing tips when they grow to 40-50 cm, so that the axillary buds flower.

③ Set up supports such as short bamboo as early as possible.

Diseases and pests of cosmos:

Measures must be taken against mildew, aphids, and spider mites. Spray benomyl for mildew, and spray Ortolan granules for insect pests.