Cosmos seeds and planting!

Yes Kriss

 

Ive planted mine direct, last year some grew from a bee and butterfly mix and all i did was sprinkle it on, i will have to see what happens with them if anything.

 

I find growing cosmos on in pots, potting on a couple of times more and pinching at least twice produces bushy, large and better self supporting cosmos plants. Removing flower buds whilst in pots is important too

For a mixture of fun and producing extra large and later flowering plants, I grow a few cosmos potting on into 3 or 5 litre pots pinching and disbudding all the time. Then plant out in mid August to produce 5 to 6' specimens that will flower right through to mid autumn.

 

So I have about 15 different cosmos plants as shown! When is the latest you plant more seeds? Is it getting too late now?

 

No Kriss. They will germinate fast now and make full size summer flowering plants

 

Hello, just wondering about some cosmos seeds I did in trays. They grew quite leggy whilst I was away for 4 days (had them in the conservatory to germinate). Today I've potted them on and plannted them much lower in the pot - like you do if tomato seedlings are leggy. Is this the right thing to do?

 

I've done the same before Snorky, up until the first set of 'real leaves'

 

Yep snorky it should be fine. I usually do something like that anyway
Just keep on the dry side....cosmos hate getting too wet esp seedlings
Also pinch tips when second pair lof leaves has formed and terminal shoot emerges. Mine have already been pinched back and I will repeat this at least 3 or 4 times more

 

Thanks both. Pleased it's ok as I didn't want to waste them. Also got some leggy zinnias so was going to do the same with those also

 

2 weeks ago, after soaking the seeds 24 hours, put moon flowers in soil in an egg carton. got 4 sprouting for me today. hope not too many more. but when I get back from holiday, have to figure out what I am going to get them to climb on, and in a more sunnier spot. such is my plight.

 

So my cosmos plants are all pretty big now, about 12 inches. Some are more bushy with thicker stems than others.

A couple had what looked to be a single bud in the centre which I instinctively pricked out!

Most plants are in their own containers, but one had about 10 plants. Can I now separate the 10 planter one? Or could I leave that to be an extr large, bushier shrub!

 

Best to let cosmos form individual plants. They are potentially vigorous plants. So, yes, separate the 10 plants and pot up into individual pots Kriss

 

now I have 10 moon flowers. still have not transplanted to the long planter. but do have the trellis all fresh sprayed white and ready. thinking soon for them. they are about 5 inches tall, starting a third leaf. I do like cosmos, did not do them this year.

 

So some of my cosmos plants look amazing!!! All approx 1 foot tall but some incredibly bushy, others a little leggy based on the window cill they grew up on.

I’ve planted them out now and will watch them closely. I have noticed though that one or two have slightly burned copper tips at their extremities.... was this me being daft and water every day?

I’ve never watered the foliage during direct sunlight, but I may have watered their bases/pots midday. Is any watering a no no in heat? Even if it’s the base of the plant?

What’s went wrong?

 

Ha ha, relax Kriss
Firstly, cosmos do not like being watered everyday....in fact I never water them once planted out. They flower better, and are more sturdy without being watered. In pots they are only watered when they look on the dry side.
Yes, prob slight damage is the sun. I would leave well alone now; They will soon outgrow those burnt bits
Difficult isnt it about watering? never a good idea in the bright sun of day but sometimes we have to. I planted out lettuce plants late am today and watered them in. If I left them until this evening they would have wilted for sure so common sense I think.
No problem watering the base of plants in sunshine ......the only downside is that they will dry out more quickly than if they were watered in the evening