How to plant cosmos seeds

Season Selection

If you need it to bloom in summer, you should sow the seeds in early spring from February to March, preferably when the temperature and humidity can be controlled. If you plan to sow in the open air, you should sow in mid-April when the temperature is suitable. When the temperature is suitable, seedlings will emerge in about a week.

It needs to bloom in autumn, that is, to celebrate National Day, and can be sown in July and August. The cosmos sown in this season have short, strong, neat and beautiful plants.

Soil selection

The sowing medium should be loose soil rich in organic matter, and a certain amount of decomposed organic fertilizer should be applied before sowing.

When sowing, mix the seeds with a certain amount of sand, spread them evenly on the seedbed, and then cover them with about one centimeter of soil. After sowing, the soil moisture should be maintained and the temperature should be controlled at around 18℃ for germination.

Seedling care

When the seedlings grow 4 to 5 true leaves, they can be transplanted into nutrient pots and pinched off. There is no need to apply topdressing during the seedling growth period to avoid causing the branches and leaves to grow too long and affecting flowering.

The cosmos plant is relatively tall, with thin stems and large, beautiful flowers. It will fall over when encountering wind or other bad weather, affecting its ornamental value. Therefore, during the entire growth process, cosmos needs to be pinched several times and watering should be reduced. This will not only promote branching, but also dwarf the plant and avoid lodging during the growth process.

Pest control

Summer is the season when flowers and succulents are most susceptible to diseases and pests, and cosmos is no exception. Especially the seedlings planted in summer are more fragile.

Common diseases of cosmos include powdery mildew and gray mold, and common insect pests include red spider mites and aphids.

Prevention and control methods: When planting, the density should not be too large, and good ventilation and light transmission should be maintained; after the disease occurs, the diseased leaves and plants should be cut off and destroyed in time to prevent re-infection; in the early stage of the disease, spray 1500 times of 15% Fencarb wettable powder, or 1200 to 1500 times of 10% Lewu disease-free wettable powder, and use the two drugs alternately for 2 to 3 times.

In the early stage of red spider mites, spray 1000 to 1500 times diluted 40% trichlorodicofol emulsifiable concentrate.