Celosia planting and care. Celosia - growing from seeds

Celosia got its name - which means "burning", received for bright large inflorescences of red and orange hues. Sticking up above the leaves, fluffy "candles" of celosia cirrus resemble fiery torches. The flower has long been loved by gardeners for unpretentiousness, decorativeness and long flowering.

Celosia pinnate is one of the varieties of the genus Celosia, belonging to the Amaranth family (previously the plant was attributed to the Marevs). Her homeland is hot and humid regions of China, India, Africa and both Americas. There, the flower grows as a perennial, but in the garden near Moscow it is grown as an annual crop. In addition to pinnate celosia, comb or scallop is popular with gardeners, with an inflorescence shape similar to a cockscomb. There is also a spikelet, which has the shape of an inflorescence similar to an ear. This is the most capricious of the varieties of the flower, so it is almost never grown in our climate. In total, there are about 40 plant species in the genus.

Celosia pinnate is a neat pyramidal shrub up to 70 - 90 cm high. The leaves are oval or elongated. An inflorescence rises above the bush in the form of a fluffy diamond-shaped spike, red, golden, fiery or yellow. Flowering is very showy and lush. It blooms in July and blooms until autumn.

Popular varieties for the Moscow region

Many varieties of celosia pinnate, including undersized ones, have been bred for container growing.

• Goldfeder - golden inflorescences, undersized bush.
• Feuerfeder - scarlet inflorescences harmoniously look against the background of green foliage with burgundy veins.
• New Look - the shade of the foliage of this variety casts blue, the flowers are bright red.
• Geisha is a varietal mixture with different shades of petal color. Bush height 22 - 25 cm. Suitable for growing in a pot.
• Pampas - the height of the bush is up to 80 cm, the color of the inflorescences is orange.
• Glorius - pink celosia.

Growing conditions

The flower is very sensitive to low temperatures, the weather is comfortable for it + 22 ... + 25 degrees. Celosia is planted in a well-lit and draft-free place.

The plant needs fertile and well-drained soil, with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. Heavy soils are ennobled by adding sand for digging, up to 12 kg per square area, and a little expanded clay is poured into the planting holes as drainage.

To provide nutrition, well-rotted manure or compost is brought to the site, in the amount of 8-10 kg per 1 sq. meter.

Fresh manure under the plant can not be made!

Sowing

The flower propagates by seeds that can ripen in our climate. You can buy celosia seeds in garden stores. Also, it will not be difficult to collect them from your own plants. To do this, the faded inflorescences are cut off and hung for ripening in a dry place, wrapping them with a dense cloth. Ripe dry seeds have a shiny black shell. Store them in paper bags.

Seedling

In our climate, in order to admire the bright flowering of the flower for a longer time, celosia is sown on seedlings at the end of March. Seeds have a dense shell to speed up germination, they are soaked in warm water for 3-4 hours. Adding a couple of drops of epin or zircon to the water will give a good effect, and adding aloe juice, a natural natural stimulant, will also help.

Then the seeds are immersed in loose and nutritious soil. You can purchase a ready-made potting mix for flowers, or mix equal parts humus and sand or perlite. It is better to sow celosia in separate cups, as the flower does not tolerate transplantation very well. You can use peat tablets or pots, then when transplanting into open ground, the roots will not suffer. But you need to remember that in such a container the earth dries out faster, so you will have to water the seedlings often.

Seeds are not buried in the soil, but only slightly sprinkled with sand. The container with crops is covered with a film and cleaned in a warm, bright place. Within 1.5 - 2 weeks, the crops will hatch. In anticipation of germination, the film from the pots is removed daily for ventilation, and the soil surface is moistened with a spray bottle.

Celosia shoots need good lighting. If there is not enough natural light, and the seedlings began to stretch, install additional fluorescent lamps. A good effect of increasing the brightness of natural light is the installation of reflective screens made of foil or mirrors.

Water the seedlings moderately, strictly under the root, without soaking the stems. To prevent the disease " black leg", watering with clean water is alternated with watering with a pink solution of potassium permanganate or a solution of "phytosporin".

During the period of growing seedlings, it is fed twice with a complete complex mineral fertilizer for flowers (Kemira Lux, Agricola, Raduga).

Landing on a flower bed

Before planting in open ground, young celosia plants are hardened, taking them out into the open air for several hours. Planted in late May - early June, when the threat of frost has completely passed.

If the seedlings are not sitting in peat pots, they are transplanted into the ground by transshipment, trying not to damage the roots. The distance between the bushes of celosia of low-growing varieties should be 20 cm, for high ones - 30 cm. There is no need to thicken the plantings, celosia does not like tightness.

Care

The flower is not demanding to care. It does not need to be watered often, celosia does not tolerate waterlogging. In a typical summer, it has enough natural precipitation. Only in severe drought is it necessary to water with warm water from a barrel under the root.

It is necessary to regularly loosen the earth, along the way, removing seedlings of weeds. When the bushes rise to their full height and the leaves close up, there will be no need for loosening.

Every month, throughout the summer, celosia is fed with solutions of mineral fertilizers. Preference should be given to phosphorus-potassium compounds. Excess nitrogen in flower nutrition can lead to excessive development of green mass, to the detriment of flowering.

Pests and diseases

In addition to the black leg, celosia can also be affected by other fungal diseases. Excess moisture, dense non-breathing soil structure, high acidity of the soil contribute to the development of diseases.

With a lack of iron in the diet, it can get sick with chlorosis.

role in the garden

Low-growing flower varieties are placed along the paths, in the foreground of the mixborders. Red and yellow "torches" of celosia cirrus look spectacular together with the silvery foliage of wormwood, cineraria plants, with white petunia and blue ageratum.

Color-matched dwarf varieties and planted in pots will decorate a balcony or veranda.

Celosia is used in dry bouquets. Dried in the dark, the inflorescences do not lose their color brightness for a long time and retain their shape.

Growing celosia from seeds is not very difficult, in this article we will describe the whole process step by step, there will be no problems). But first, a few words about the flower itself.

Celosia is a herbaceous plant with a height of 30 to 70 cm. Stems are ribbed, straight, rich green with a reddish tint. The flowers are small, collected in large comb-shaped racemes. At the end of flowering, a fruit is formed - a box with seeds. Planting material is small - in 1 g about 700 pieces. The only way to breed comb celosia is to grow from seeds, especially since the planting material remains viable for up to 5 years. This is exactly what will be discussed in the article.

Important points in breeding celosia

Celosia is obtained by seedling and seedless methods. Sowing seeds of celosia for seedlings begins in May. Planting material is sown under a film in the garden or in separate containers at home. With proper sowing (shallow) and appropriate care, seedlings appear after 6 days.

The main conditions for successful cultivation:

• good lighting;
• moderate temperature conditions;
• air access;
• careful watering (an excess of moisture leads to decay of the root system).

For seedlings, it is necessary to choose a window that is bright, but protected from direct sunlight. Celosia can be transplanted into open ground only when the frosts stop, since the plant is tender and does not tolerate even a slight cold snap.

Seeds are sown directly into the ground in spring or autumn. The flower needs loose, drained soil, mineral dressings are applied once a month.

In general, the process is simple and does not take much time. The main thing is to follow the recommendations. To collect planting material, just take a sheet of white paper and shake a flower over it.

Celosia seed preparation

The plant is quite common, so it can be purchased at any specialized store. Before planting, the seeds are poured into a glass, poured with clean water, 1-2 drops of a growth stimulator are added and left for five hours. After that, you can immediately begin planting work, so by this time the containers with soil should be ready.

Sowing at home

In its natural environment, a flowering plant can be found in regions with a subtropical and tropical climate. Accordingly, for the normal development of celosia, a lot of heat and light will be required. To achieve the longest flowering, experts recommend planting seeds at home, since buds do not form so abundantly in open ground.

The optimal period for sowing is the first half of spring. To germinate seeds you will need:

• soil from humus, vermiculite and sand;
• container.

On the surface, shallow grooves are made at a distance of no more than 1 cm from each other. Planting material is sown and lightly pressed down with the palm of your hand. Watering the seeds is not necessary, just spraying. When watering, small seeds are washed out.

After planting, the container is covered with a film or glass so as not to disturb the microclimate, and transferred to a bright place where the average daily temperature does not change or changes slightly.

Seeds germinate best in a warm and humid environment such as the kitchen or bathroom. The temperature is maintained at + 22 ... + 25 ° С.

The soil should always remain slightly damp, spray with soft water with a low lime content. It is best to spray the seeds in the morning, as evening watering leads to hypothermia.

For a successful seedling of plants, it is necessary to regularly ventilate the container for an hour and remove the accumulated condensate. With the advent of the first shoots, it is necessary to provide additional illumination.

seedling care

After emergence, the soil should always remain slightly moist. Allow the top layer of potting mix to dry out between waterings. Water stagnation should not be allowed, so after a few minutes, when the roots are saturated, it is necessary to drain the water from the pan.

An alternative watering method is to completely dip the cellosia pot into a container of water. Hold until the release of oxygen bubbles stops. Pull out the flower pot, wait for the water to drain, and put it on a pallet.

After a week, when the sprouts grow a little, you should fertilize with a complex fertilizer or containing nitrogen.

If you plan to transplant celosia outdoors, take the container outside a few weeks in advance so that the seedlings adapt to the new conditions. This will accelerate growth and reduce the likelihood of disease. It takes 7-10 days for young plants to get used to the sun and open air. As soon as warm weather sets in and frosts recede, celosia is transplanted into the garden.

Transplantation of young seedlings (picking)

The picking is carried out in two stages. The first time when two full-fledged leaves appear on the seedlings, the seedlings are transplanted into separate containers filled with the same soil mixture. In the first few weeks after picking, no fertilizer is needed, the plants should take root and get stronger. Two weeks later, you can feed the seedlings with a complex mineral fertilizer intended for flowers.

The seedlings dive again when the plants are fully grown, that is, after another two weeks. To do this, use separate cups filled with a mixture of peat and humus. As soon as the plants take root, carry out another top dressing.

Planting seedlings in the ground

Landing site preparation.

1. As a rule, celosia is transplanted into a flower bed when frosts are already excluded. In central Russia, this is not earlier than the second half of May.
2. First of all, you need to prepare the site. Considering that celosia is a thermophilic plant, a place for growing is chosen sunny and hidden from drafts.
3. If groundwater is located close to the surface on the site, drainage is necessary.
4. The site is dug up, humus is introduced. If the soil is heavy, it is diluted with sand. After making humus and sand, the prepared area is left for one week.
5. If the earth is acidic, liming is necessary 3-4 days before transplanting.
6. To disinfect the soil, it is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate 1-2 days before planting.

Young seedlings of celosia are very fragile, so planting work is carried out with a spoon - they dig seedlings out of cups with it in order to preserve the root system, they do not destroy the earthen ball.

The roots in the hole must be evenly distributed over the entire area. A tubercle should not form around the stem, as this interferes with normal growth and watering.

Sowing seeds of celosia in open ground

Seeds can be sown immediately in open ground. Planting work is carried out before winter - in the second half of October or early November. You can also sow seeds in early spring. The main condition is that the soil must be ripe and suitable for gardening.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. The bed is prepared in advance so that the soil settles well, this will take from 7 to 10 days.
2. The grooves should be shallow - up to 5 cm, the distance between them is from 25 cm to 30 cm.
3. Seeds must be mixed with sand.
4. The rows are closed with a rake (back side).
5. Watering is moderate, it is important not to overmoisten the soil and prevent the formation of a crust.
6. After each watering, the earth is sprinkled with a thin layer of humus.
7. Shoots are carefully thinned out so that the remaining plants grow strong and lush.

Celosia is grown mainly as an annual plant, so fertilization in this case is not advisable. If you are breeding a perennial flower, apply liquid nutrient fertilizers once a month from early summer to early autumn.

To maximize the flowering period, it is necessary to regularly cut off the dry parts of the plant. This will give the celosia a beautiful, lush shape.

Celosia is a bright and spectacular plant with which you can decorate any suburban area. Due to its unusual and perhaps even slightly exotic appearance, celosia is actively used in the creation of the most exquisite flower beds, giving them great expressiveness. But in order for these flowers to really please the eye, when growing, you should follow the established rules.

Celosia comb (Celosia argentea f. cristata), which is also called "cock's comb", is a representative of the Amaranth family, numbering about 60 species. This is a small plant (about 45 centimeters in height, although there are less tall species) with small flowers collected in large inflorescences. The inflorescences themselves, by the way, in their shape resemble an orange or purple cockscomb, hence the name of the culture. The flowering period begins in mid-summer and ends around October.

Medium-sized leaves can be golden, green, bronze or burgundy (it all depends on the particular variety).

Popular varieties of comb celosia include:

Among the entire Amaranth family, flower growers distinguish celosia, mainly due to the unusual shape and color.

Celosia comb: growing from seeds

The procedure for growing the described culture occurs in stages, we will consider the features of each of the stages in more detail.

Stage one. Choosing the right place

So, first choose the best place. This may be a site sheltered from the wind and fairly well lit by the sun. The soil should be loose, with a low level of acidity and not very heavy, otherwise the plants will develop poorly and die sooner or later. If there is no black soil on your site, then first add a certain amount of sand to the soil.

Celosia responds well to humus, so you can add it when preparing or directly during planting. Humus can be applied to any type of soil, since this fertilizer is unable to adversely affect the plant. When the site is selected and properly prepared, you can start planting seeds.

Stage two. Preparing and sowing seeds

Due to the fact that celosia is extremely tender, it is recommended to pre-grow it as a seedling. If you live in the city, you can use various containers made of any material for this (they will be installed on the windowsill). Here it is imperative to maintain a temperature balance and not allow the soil to overheat / supercool.

Immediately before sowing, prepare the seed - hold it in a solution of zircon and epin (add a drop of each of the preparations per 200 milliliters) for three to four hours - this will help soak the dense seed coat.

Biostimulants "Epin" and "Zircon"

Sow seeds in March-April in previously made furrows (the distance between the latter should be about 1 centimeter). Do not do it too thickly, do not sprinkle the seeds after sowing - just press them to the soil and sprinkle with water using a spray bottle.

Note! There is another way of sowing seeds - we are talking about their uniform scattering over the entire area of ​​previously loosened soil. This method is more convenient, especially since it takes much less time.

After that, cover the containers with glass or film and place on the windowsill, but not in direct sunlight. The temperature in the room should be 22-25 degrees. Ventilate the room regularly, humidify and get rid of condensation. By the way, if you don’t want to spend time picking in the future, you can plant the seeds in small individual pots.

After about eight days, the first shoots should appear.

Stage three. picking

When growing seedlings, take care of additional lighting - about five to six hours a day (the fact is that during these months the daylight hours are still small). If the seeds were sown in groups, and not in individual pots, then you will have to pick twice.

1. Carry out the first pick when each plant has two or three true leaves. Transplant seedlings in the same soil into shallow containers (no more than centimeters deep) five centimeters apart. As soon as the seedlings take root, apply a solution of min. fertilizer (intended for flowering crops) of complex type.
2. Carry out the second pick when the seedlings are strong enough. Move them to a deeper cassette or, alternatively, carefully remove them along with a clod of earth and place them in individual pots (it is advisable to give preference to peat-humus). When the seedlings are accepted, carry out the same top dressing as after the first pick.

Stage four. Planting celosia comb

When the heat is finally established, and the threat of frost at night has passed (as a rule, this is the end of May), you can start transplanting seedlings into open soil.

Step one. If the selected site has not been prepared in advance, then start by preparing it. Dig up the ground, then add humus and a little sand (if it is heavy), mix everything thoroughly and leave for seven days or more. A couple of days before transplanting, water the area with a weak solution of manganese - this will protect the plants from pests.

Note! If the acidity of the soil is increased, then two or three days before transplanting, carry out liming.

In addition, one should not forget that fresh organic matter cannot be introduced into the ground under celosia, since the culture simply does not tolerate it.

Step two. After that, proceed directly to the transplant. Young plants are very fragile, so try not to damage them in the process. Make holes for flowers in the selected area (the distance between plants should be about 30 centimeters, 15 is enough for dwarf varieties).

Step Three. Using a special spoon, remove the first plant along with the soil from the container, and place it in the hole. Carefully distribute the roots. Do the same with the remaining seedlings.

Step three. Fill the pits with your palm, and gradually. Do not tamp the soil too hard, but do not leave a "bump" at the same time (the latter will prevent watering).

Note! In the event of a high groundwater level in the area, drain the planting site before starting work.

Stage five. Further care

Care is not difficult, the main thing is to be aware of the weak points of the culture: a plant in open soil can die even with minimal frost; moreover, it does not tolerate excessive moisture. There are a number of important rules that will help you.

Table. Rules for the care of comb celosia

If you take these simple measures, then your garden will be decorated with a real beauty! The described plant will be the highlight of any collection and landscape exposition. The main difference between celosia is that it does not require special care, and this is extremely convenient for flower growers (especially for beginners).

Important nuances of collecting plant seeds

To collect seeds, cut off three or four inflorescences that have already begun to fade, place them in a vase (only without water) and transfer to a dark room. As soon as these inflorescences dry, shake them over a sheet of paper, collect everything that was poured, blow it out and pour it into some kind of box. Inflorescences, by the way, can not be placed in a vase, but hung down with flowers and spread paper where the ripened seed will fall.

And what about in winter time?

As a rule, after flowering, the bushes are destroyed in order to plant new plants the following winter. However, this culture is ideal for dry bouquets, so you can cut a couple of beautiful branches, strip them of foliage, bring them into the house, tie them up and dry them in a dark room (preferably with good ventilation). After that, put the branches in an empty vase so that they decorate your home with a bright flame of colors.

Celosia - a bright element of the composition

Video - Growing celosia with seeds

Cellosia (Celosia), also called cellosia, is a representative of the amaranth family. However, more recently, this genus was part of the haze family. The name celosia comes from the word "kelos", which is translated from Greek - "burning, flaming", this is due to the shape and color of the inflorescences, which are outwardly similar to flames painted in various colors. In the wild, this plant can be found in areas with a warm climate, for example: in Asia, Africa, North and South America. This genus includes about 60 species. However, only 3 types of such a plant are most popular with gardeners: celosia cirrus, comb and spikelet.

The herbaceous plant of celosia is represented by perennials and annuals, there are also shrubs. In mid-latitudes, this flower is cultivated as an annual, because it is not able to survive the frosty winter. Shoots branched and straight. Alternately arranged leaf plates have an ovate-lanceolate, ovoid or linear-lanceolate shape. Comb, paniculate or spike-shaped inflorescences consist of small flowers that can have a different color, for example: pink, orange, golden, yellow, red or scarlet. The fruit is a multi-seeded box.

Growing celosia from seeds

Sowing for seedlings

Almost the only way to propagate cellosia is generative (seed). Immediately before sowing, seeds should be prepared, for this they are immersed for 3-4 hours in a solution of Zircon and Epin (1 drop of each of the preparations for 1 tbsp. Water). This will soak the seed coat, which is characterized by excessive density. Sowing is carried out in March or the first days of April. To do this, the bowl is filled with a substrate consisting of vermiculite and humus earth (1: 1). Sowing should be carried out sparsely, the seeds need only be distributed over the surface of the soil mixture, and pressed into it. It is not necessary to sprinkle them with soil on top. Crops should be lightly sprayed with water from a spray bottle. The bowl should be covered with glass or film on top and put on a well-lit warm (from 23 to 25 degrees) window sill, while protecting it from direct sunlight. Crops need to be systematically ventilated and watered, and condensate must be removed from the shelter in a timely manner. In the event that you do not want to pick the plants, the seeds should be sown in individual cups. The first seedlings can be seen after about 8 days.

seedling care

Seedlings need a mandatory four to six hours of illumination. The fact is that at this time of the year the daylight hours are not yet long enough. If you sowed the seeds in one container, then the seedlings will have to be picked 2 times. The first picking is carried out after the seedlings have 2 or 3 true leaf blades. When planting, use the same soil mixture as at the time of sowing. The containers are taken shallow, only 4-5 centimeters. The distance between seedlings should be 50 mm. After the dived plants take root, they should be fed simultaneously with watering, for this a weak solution of a complex mineral fertilizer for flowering plants is used. After the seedlings become stronger, they make a second pick into a deeper container, or using a scoop, carefully pull out each seedling along with a clod of earth and plant them in separate pots (it is recommended to use peat-humus). After the plants have taken root, you will need to feed them a second time in the same way as the first.

Planting celosia in open ground

What time to plant

Planting seedlings in open soil is carried out after the air and soil warms up well, and at the same time frosts are left behind. As a rule, landing is carried out from the middle to the last days of May. The site should be well lit and drained, protected from gusts of wind. In the event that the soil in the selected area is acidic, then before proceeding with planting seedlings, it will need to be limed. Remember that it is impossible to fertilize the soil with fresh organic matter, since celosia reacts extremely negatively to it.

Landing features

You need to plant this flower in almost the same way as most other garden flowers. When planting, it should be noted that young bushes have a very delicate root system, which can be easily injured. In this regard, when transplanting plants into open soil, it is recommended to use the transshipment method. If the flowers grow in individual peat-humus pots, then planting should be done directly in them. If the species or variety of celosia is tall, then a distance of 25 to 30 centimeters must be observed between the bushes, and if it is undersized, then from 15 to 20 centimeters.

Features of care

Growing celosia in your garden is quite simple, but you should take into account a few nuances. Seedlings planted in open ground and even under a slight frost can die. And this plant reacts negatively to waterlogging of the soil. When caring for celosia, these nuances must be taken into account. Watering should be done only during prolonged drought and heat, while the leaves should drop from the bush and new flower stalks should stop growing. Do not forget to feed these flowers once a month, but nitrogen-containing fertilizer for this purpose should be used with great care, because if you overfeed the cellosia, it will stop blooming, but its foliage will be very thick. Also, do not forget to systematically loosen the soil surface around the bushes and weed.

Diseases and pests

When growing seedlings of such a plant, it is not necessary to allow waterlogging of the substrate, as a black leg may develop due to this. If the plant began to hurt (a black spot appeared at the base of their stem), then the surface of the substrate should be loosened and sprinkled with a thin layer of wood ash. For a while, do not water the seedlings at all. If you saw aphids on the bushes, then you can get rid of it with the following mixture: 2 tbsp. connect water with 1 tbsp. vegetable oil and with 2 small spoons of liquid soap. The bushes should be processed in the evening, while this procedure must be repeated several times. The break between sessions should be several days. To other diseases and pests, such a flower is highly resistant.

Celosia after flowering

To get cellosia seeds, you should pick a few pieces of inflorescences that have begun to fade. They are placed in a dry vase and cleaned in a gloomy place. After the inflorescences are completely dry, you need to remove the seeds from them, for this they are simply shaken over a newspaper sheet. The seeds crumbled along with the garbage must be blown out, and then poured into a box and put away for storage. If desired, you can collect the seeds in a different way. To do this, they are hung with inflorescences down, and a newspaper sheet is placed under them. After the seeds dry and ripen, they themselves spill out onto this leaf.

Wintering

As a rule, in the autumn, the remains of cellosium are disposed of. However, if desired, you can create dry bouquets from inflorescences. To do this, you need to cut off several flowering inflorescences of a tall variety, remove the leaves from them and bring them into the room. They are tied in a bundle and removed in a well-ventilated unlit room. Wait until the bright inflorescences are completely dry. After that, they are placed in a vase without water.

Types and varieties of celosia with photos and names

Below will be described the types and varieties of cellosia, which are cultivated with pleasure by a huge number of gardeners. It should be noted that the most popular in the middle latitudes is silver celosia, which has 2 varieties:

Celosia silver comb, or "cockscomb" (Celosia argentea f. cristata)

The height of the bush is about 0.45 m, however, there are lower varieties. The color of the leaf plates depends on the variety and can be burgundy, golden, green or bronze. Large inflorescences outwardly similar to a rooster's comb consist of small orange or red-purple flowers. Flowering begins in the middle of the summer period, and ends in October. Varieties:

• Impress - the bush reaches a height of 20 to 25 centimeters, the color of the leaf plates is dark red, and the inflorescences are red;
• Atropurpurea - the height of the bush is about 20–25 centimeters, the color of the stem is light pink, the inflorescence is purple, the leaf plates are pale green;
• Imperialis - not very tall bush has dark red stems and inflorescences, as well as purple leaf plates with red veins.

Celosia silver pinnate, or celosia paniculate (Celosia argentea f. plumosa)

Some varieties have a bush height of about 100 centimeters, but there are also dwarf and undersized ones. On the tops of the straight stems are large panicle-shaped inflorescences that can be painted in various shades of red, orange and yellow. The color of the leaf plates can be pale green, red, rich green and pink. Flowering begins in July and ends in October. Varieties:

• Goldfeder - an undersized bush is decorated with golden inflorescences;
• Tomsoni Magnifika - the height of a tall bush is about 0.8 m, the inflorescences are burgundy, the leaf plates are pale green;
• Torchshine - a tall bush has paniculate inflorescences of rich red color;
• New Look - a bush reaches a height of 0.35 to 0.4 m, the color of the inflorescences is orange-yellow, and the leaf plates are purple-purple.

Celosia spikelet, or Hutton's celosia (Celosia spicata)

To date, it is not in great demand among gardeners of medium latitudes, but the popularity of this species is gradually growing. The height of the bush can vary from 0.2 to 1.2 m, small panicle-shaped inflorescences outwardly similar to spikelets can be painted both in yellow, red and orange, and in white. Coral spikelet cellosia deserves special attention.

Celosia is an ornamental culture that belongs to the Amaranth family. If the name of the flower is translated from Greek, it will mean "burning, flaming." This name is quite justified, because the shape and color of the inflorescence resembles flames.

Description and types

Planting seeds

Planting containers must be filled with a nutritious and loose substrate. Lightly tamp it down and water it. Distribute planting material evenly over the soil surface. Top it with earth. After planting, the substrate is irrigated with a spray gun. Top the container with glass. Install it in a heated room where the temperature is 20 degrees. After 8-10 days, shoots can be observed. After that, the glass can be removed.

Seeds can also be sown in separate peat cups. Thus, it will be possible to discard the picking of plants. To grow healthy and strong seedlings, you need to take care of additional lighting. At the beginning of March, daylight hours should be extended by additional lighting.

On the video - celosia from seeds:

picking

When the plants have managed to form several leaves, you can perform a pick by planting the seedlings in different cups. The soil for this should be chosen similar to that which was used for sowing. Between seedlings, a distance of 5 cm must be observed.

As soon as the seedlings have grown stronger and grown, then they, together with a clod of earth, must be placed in separate containers. Further cultivation of seedlings comes down to fertilizing and regular watering. For fertilizer, complex mineral compositions will be used.

Landing in open ground

Landing in open ground should take place at the end of May, when the threat of frost is gone. But before that, you need to choose the right site. To do this, give preference to warm and well-lit areas. The plant will not be able to grow in a site where strong winds are present. So make sure there is no draft.

The soil should be nutritious, loose, but organic fertilizers should not be applied. The culture is demanding on the acidity of the substrate. If the soil is acidic in the selected area, then lime must be added during digging.

Planting seedlings in the selected place is carried out according to standard rules. However, there are a few nuances to take into account:

1. Since celosia does not tolerate excessive soil moisture, it is necessary to take care of drainage.
2. The roots of a young flower are fragile, so when transplanting seedlings, it is necessary to do this with peat humus cups.
3. Place the holes at a distance of 25-30 cm.
4. If the seedlings were grown in containers, then the transplant should be carried out by transshipment, together with an earthen clod.

How to care

Celosia refers to picky plants. But nevertheless, you need to know the simple rules that will allow you to grow a strong and beautiful plant. Do not forget that celosia is afraid of cold weather and will not tolerate stagnant water.

Water the plant only on the hottest days. Then the bush lowers the leaves and ceases to form flower stalks. It is very important to carry out monthly top dressing, without which celosia will not be able to fully develop. But it is important not to overdo it, because then the culture will form lush foliage, and the number of peduncles will decrease. The soil around the plants should be regularly loosened and weeds removed.

On the video - how to care for flowers:

As for pests, a black leg can often affect celosia. As soon as you find the first signs of damage, it is worth loosening the soil, sending a thin layer of wood ash there. But stop watering for a while. Sometimes the plant is affected by aphids. To combat it, it is necessary to treat the plant with a composition consisting of 20 ml of vegetable oil, 40 ml of liquid soap and 500 ml of water. Processing is carried out several times a day.

Celosia is one of those plants that adorn any flower bed or flower garden, because it has abundant and very bright flowering. Different varieties of culture allow you to plant several types of celosia in a flower bed in order to get an original flower arrangement that will surely attract the attention of passers-by.