What are the home cultivation methods and precautions for cosmos
Cosmos is a very famous ornamental flower. It comes from Mexico in the Americas. However, it is now widely planted in China. It can grow on roadsides, in fields or on riverbanks, but now it is grown at home. Breeding methods, below the editor will introduce the cosmos home cultivation methods and precautions, and I hope everyone likes them.
Cosmos cultivation methods
Lighting
Cosmos is robust and sun-loving, and can be used for short-day treatment. It should be noted that cosmos does not have very high requirements for soil. If it is transplanted into fertile soil and the light is not strong, the plants are prone to grow excessively.
Water and fertilizer management
Watering: Cosmos likes water. During drought, it can be watered 2-3 times a day, and once every 1-2 days. But avoid waterlogging in the pot.
Fertilizing: If base fertilizer is applied when potting, no fertilizing is needed during the growing season. If the soil is too rich, the leaves are prone to grow excessively and flowering decreases. Or during the growing season, apply diluted decomposed urine 5 times every 10 days.
Breeding methods
Sowing: Cosmos sowing work is carried out from March to April. When the seedlings have 4-5 true leaves, they can be transplanted and pinched.
Cuttings: In summer, cuttings are taken, and the survival rate is very high. In May, you can choose a sturdy top branch, cut a segment 8 cm to 10 cm long, and insert 3 to 5 stems into one pot. The pot should be buried in the soil so that 4 cm to 5 cm is exposed above the ground, water and shade, and roots will form after half a month. After rooting, fertilize once every 15 days, and when it grows 15 cm, remove the terminal bud to promote more branches. If fertilizer is properly controlled, flowers will be visible in about 45 days.
Cosmos home considerations
Lodging prevention
Cosmos plants are tall and easily sway in the wind, but they are also easily damaged by wind.
If you want to grow cosmos that is short and does not lodge, you should postpone the sowing time to July, or pinch the heart when the plants grow to 40-50 cm in spring, so that the axillary buds will bloom.
Prevention of pests and diseases
The main diseases of cosmos are leaf spot and powdery mildew, and 50% thiophanate wettable powder 500 times can be sprayed.
The pests to watch for in cosmos are aphids, scarab beetles, etc., and 2% methomyl 2500 times can be sprayed. In hot weather, it is easy for red spider mites to cause damage, and prevention should be carried out as early as possible.
Cosmos lodging prevention
To prevent cosmos from lodging, you can start from three aspects.
Choose the sowing time. Cosmos sowing can be carried out in July and August. Because cosmos is a short-day plant, seedlings sown in spring are growing vigorously, but bloom less, and the plants usually grow tall and tend to lodge. However, for summer seedlings sown in July——August, the plants are short and neat, and bloom. Because when sown at this time, the light is sufficient and the temperature is higher, so growth will be faster, the plant type will not be very tall, and the flowering period will also be in October, so it is not easy to cause lodging.
Dwarf the plants. Dwarfing cosmos plants is also the main method to prevent lodging. First, because cosmos plants are very tall, dwarfing will make them better; second, improper protection during growth will cause the plants to elongate and need dwarfing. During the growth of cosmos, reduce fertilization and avoid its elongation. Throughout the growing season, multiple pinching can also be carried out, so that the plants are continuously dwarfed and are not easy to fall over. This continuous pinching can also make cosmos open more flowers.
Set up supports. When cosmos plants grow to a certain height, supports can play a supporting role, especially in windy locations, to avoid lodging and breakage.