Celosia are colorful annual plants that make a great addition to the cut flower garden. Easy to grow from seed, celosia can be grown by even a beginner gardener just starting out. Learn how to grow celosia, and add this interesting flower to your garden and your vase.
If you are considering growing celosia, rest assured that you can’t really go wrong with this plant. I grew these flowers my very first year flower farming, and have grown them ever since, due to their beauty and ease of care.
When growing celosia for cutting, make sure to purchase taller varieties suitable for arranging. Most likely you will have to grow these plants from seed, as generally most varieties available at the garden center are the dwarf cultivars, commonly used as bedding plants, and are much shorter in height than those you would typically use for cutting.
What Makes Celosia So Popular?
Celosia are a popular choice for gardens and flower growers for several reasons:
1. Flowers Are Beautiful And Unique:
During my first few years of flower farming, celosia really made an impression. These flowers were just so interesting, with their funky shapes and vibrant colors.
The flowers come in bright and vivid colors including pink, red, orange, yellow, green and gold. Their unique shapes add interesting texture and form to garden designs and floral arrangements.
2. Long Blooming Season
Celosia has a long flowering period, often blooming from summer through fall. This makes them a valuable addition to any garden, providing color and interest for an extended period.
These plants fall into the category of cut and come again flowers, due to the fact that they will produce multiple stems throughout the season, and the more they are cut from, the more they produce.
3. Easy To Grow And Maintain
Celosia is very easy to grow from seed, and since it’s an annual, you will need to start it every year.
Celosia is a low maintenance plant. Once it gets established in the garden, it is very easy to care for and grow throughout the season.
4. Heat Loving And Drought Tolerant
Since celosia flowers grow in the heat of the summer, they do exceptionally well, and even when temperatures are very warm, they seem to flourish.
The plants are also drought tolerant, which makes them ideal for gardens in warmer climates, or for gardeners seeking low-maintenance landscaping options.
5. Pollinator Friendly
Celosia flowers also attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees, which are beneficial for the garden ecosystem. Encouraging pollinators helps support the health of all plants in the vicinity.
Different Types Of Celosia
When deciding to grow celosia, it’s important to know that you have lots of choices. Not only are there different color choices, but there are also different forms.
There are a number of different types of celosia plants, each with various striking forms. Depending on your preference, here are the different types to choose from:
Plume Celosia, or Plumosa Type
- These celosia have plume-shaped feathery flowers, that are easy to use in flower arrangements, adding lots of texture and color.
- Some describe the flowers as being flame shaped, especially when the plumes have fiery colors.
Crested Celosia, or Cristata Type
- The crested and cockscomb shaped flowers add interest and visual appeal. These flowers are truly unique, with a wavy and wrinkled texture.
- Sometimes these flower heads are so large that they can be difficult to use in arrangements, however they still look great in the garden.
Spike Celosia, or Spicata Type
- The spiked celosia have wheat shaped flowers with narrow pointed blooms, similar to a stalk of wheat.
- Also known as wheat celosia, these flowers are thinner than the blooms on the other varieties, and are a great choice for arranging.
Planting Celosia
Since celosia are annual flowers, the plants will need to be started from seed, every year. The planting process is very easy, right from the start.
The seeds can be planted about 6 weeks before your last frost date, so it’s important to know your USDA hardiness zone and frost dates. This will give the seedlings time to grow to a good size for transplanting out, when the time is right.
Celosia are tender flowering plants and do not tolerate frost. A late spring frost can severely injure or even kill the plants. So it’s important to plant them at the right time.
If you have a greenhouse, the seeds can be started in your greenhouse if it is warm, and the plants are protected. Otherwise they are very easy to start indoors, with the right set up.
I generally start my celosia seeds about the same time as I start my zinnia seeds, indoors under lights.
Starting The Seeds
- I plant the celosia seeds in cell trays filled with a good quality seed starting mix. Make a little indent on the top of each cell to drop the seeds into.
- Celosia seeds are tiny, black and round. They are easy to handle and deposit into each cell. Sow one or two seeds into each hole, and thin accordingly once they germinate.
- Work with fresh high quality seeds for best germination. If you have collected your own seeds from last season, your seeds will still be fresh, and will likely have a good germination rate.
- Cover the seeds with vermiculite, to just fill the little hole that you created. This will allow the seeds to receive some light as they go through the germination process, and the vermiculite will aid in keeping the soil moist as well.
- Bottom water the tray to avoid displacing the seeds. This is easily accomplished by placing the cell tray into a larger container filled with several inches of water.
- Allow the water to wick up into the cell tray, until the soil is wet.
- Make sure to keep the soil moist, while awaiting germination, and don’t allow it to dry out completely, which can injure the germinating seeds and cause seed demise.
- Place the tray on a heat mat to aide in germination. It will help to warm up the soil temperature.
- Remove from the heat mat once 60% of the seeds have germinated, and place the tray under grow lights.
- Grow the seedlings under the lights until the weather warms, and the seedlings can be hardened off in preparation for transplanting out.
Transplanting to The Garden
Remember that celosia are not frost tolerant, so be sure to transplant out after the risk of all frost has passed.
We typically space celosia seedlings 9 to 12 inches apart. When grown for cutting, the seedlings are planted in landscape fabric, which helps to space them appropriately and also helps to reduce weeds.
You don’t necessarily need fabric for a cutting garden, however we grow in long rows so we find this set-up works well.
Plant into a planting hole at the same depth in which the seedlings were growing in their trays, and water in well after planting.
Keep the soil moist until the plants take root and become established in their planting spot in the garden.
The plants will grow taller as the season progresses, producing lots of side branches, and once they start to flower will continue to bloom, right into fall.
Caring For Celosia
Light Requirements
- Celosia are heat loving, sunlight loving plants. Plant in a full sun location for the best flowing results.
Moisture Requirements
- Celosia will grow well with an average amount of rainfall, and will even tolerate drought conditions. They will benefit fro extra watering however, when the weather is dry.
Soil Requirements
- Plant into fertile soil amended with organic matter such as compost.
Pinching
- Celosia may benefit from pinching, depending on the variety that you are growing.
- Pinching can help to stimulate the production of more stems and side branches on your celosia plants. Pinch back to a set of leaves when the seedlings are about 6 to 8 inches tall.
- Avoid pinching cockscomb flowers, which do not benefit from the pinching process.
Deadheading
- Deadheading spent blooms is always a beneficial gardening technique. This helps to divert the plant’s energy away from seed making, and back into growth and flower production.
Common Pests And Diseases
Celosia is relatively hardy, but like many plants, it can be susceptible to certain pests and diseases.
Some common issues you might encounter when growing celosia include pest infestations, such as aphids, spider mites, leaf miners, and thrips.
Celosia can also be susceptible to several fungal diseases, including powdery mildew, root rot and leaf spot.
Prevention And Control Measures
With the right plant care and monitoring however, you can greatly reduce the incidence of these pests and diseases.
- Ensure good air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and maintain moderate soil moisture.
- Check plants frequently for signs of pests and disease. Early detection is key to effective control.
- Remove and destroy affected plant parts or entire plants if necessary to prevent the spread of pests or disease.
- Use insecticidal soaps or neem oil for pests, and appropriate fungicides for fungal infections. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions for application.
Harvesting Celosia
Celosia are wonderful cut flowers.
The flowers offer a wide range of colors and textures to arrangements. They are also very long lasting in the vase, with a vase life of up to 10 days.
Harvest the crested and cockscomb varieties when the flowers are fully open.
Inspect your flowers closely for stage of maturity. It is fairly easy to see when the blooms are beginning to age, and you can see evidence of tiny round seeds on the flower itself.
Celosia plumosa and spicata types can be harvested while the flowers are still fresh and firm at the base, before they show evidence of drying, and the beginning of seed development.
The blooms can be harvested at any stage before they are spent, and will add a nice pop of color to the vase.
Celosia can be used in both it’s fresh and dried form.
When harvesting for drying, make sure to harvest the blooms at their peak condition, before they show signs of seed development.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does Celosia Do Well In Pots?
Celosia grow very well in pots, and can make a fabulous and colorful display. If you have a long growing season you can sow seeds directly into the pots once the risk of frost has passed.
You can also transplant some of the seedlings which were started indoors into the pots outside, when the weather warms up.
How Do You Keep Celosia Blooming?
Celosia are moderate producers, and cut and come again flowers, so the more often the stems are cut from, the more flowering stems will be produced.
How Long Does Celosia Last?
Celosia are annual plants, and will last for the duration of the growing season, until frost.
Conclusion
Growing celosia can offer a delightful burst of color and texture, that can enhance any garden setting.
With their vibrant hues and fascinating shapes, these flowers not only make stunning additions to your outdoor spaces, but also serve as durable, long-lasting cut flowers for indoor enjoyment.
Celosia is an excellent choice for the cut flower garden, with it’s beautiful flowers and ease of care.
Consider growing this annual flower and unique plant in your garden this year, and enjoy the splash of color and joy it will bring. You won’t regret it!
Have you ever tried to grow celosia for the cut flower garden? Be sure to leave a comment below to share your experience!
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