Planting methods and precautions for Cosmos (how to care for Cosmos after germination)

In fact, Cosmos is an annual herb, short-day plant. It likes a sunny growing environment, is afraid of extreme heat and is not cold-resistant. It has a relatively strong growth habit. The plant height is generally around 60 to 100 centimeters, and it can self-seed and reproduce.

Generally, the flowering period of cosmos is from July to October, and the flower colors are rich, including white, light red or reddish purple, with a yellow center. The following points should be noted when caring for cosmos.

Preventing Cosmos from falling over

Cosmos plants are tall and slender, and sometimes they fall over. There are three ways to prevent them from falling over:

First, pruning and pinching

In summer, you can prune it several times to make it grow more branches. You can also pinch the tops of the plants several times during the growing season to keep them shorter and prevent them from falling over. Pinching can also promote more flowering.

Second, the sowing time is postponed

If you want to make the plant shorter, you can sow it in July and August . During its growth, you should control the water and fertilizer to prevent it from growing too tall. In dry weather, you can water it 2 to 3 times a day. In normal weather, it is better to water it once every 1 to 2 days, but avoid waterlogging in the pot soil.

If base fertilizer has been applied when potting, there is no need to apply fertilizer during the growing period. If the soil is too fertile, it will easily cause the branches and leaves to grow too long. During the flowering period, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be applied once a month to promote flowering.

The third is to set up the support

When the cosmos plant grows to a certain height, a support should be set up for it. This can support the stems and leaves of the plant and prevent it from falling over, so as to avoid the plant from falling over.

How to propagate Cosmos

Cosmos is mainly propagated by sowing, which is done from mid-March to mid-April .

Pay attention to timely thinning during the seedling stage to facilitate the concentrated supply of nutrients for the growth and development of strong seedlings; start pinching after the seedlings grow 4 to 6 true leaves, and do a good job of transplanting and planting management. The appropriate spacing between plants is about 40 to 60 centimeters.