Relatively easy to care for and extremely decorative - that's how you could briefly describe the Celosia. The long version then contains a description of the different flower shapes and colors of this ornamental plant, which is sold commercially as a summer flower or houseplant.
How to properly care for Celosia?
Celosia care includes a sunny location without midday sun, regular watering without waterlogging, moderate fertilization and a warm winter. Pruning measures promote flower formation and can be used for dry bouquets.
Cockscomb or plume – the different flower shapes
The Celosia argentea and its subspecies usually have plume-like flower candles that are very decorative in their bright colors. These flower candles, which experts call cymens, are made up of countless small flowers. With the Celosia argentea var. cristata, a completely different flower shape has appeared, the so-called cockscomb. This pathological change has been bred ever since and is available in many varieties.
Planting celosias
Celosias like a warm location. It should be sunny, but not necessarily exposed to the blazing midday sun. The soil is best loose and humus-rich. Depending on your needs, you can mix in some well-rotted compost or sand to adjust the soil.
Watering and fertilizing
You should water the celosias regularly and fertilize them as needed. This means that with fresh potting soil you can usually do without fertilizer because it contains enough nutrients. If the Celosia is in nutrient-poor soil, add some potassium-containing liquid fertilizer (€18.00 on Amazon) to the irrigation water about every four weeks.
Cutting celosias
The celosias don't need to be pruned, but it doesn't harm them either. So you can use the extremely decorative flowers as cut flowers. At the same time, you promote the development of new flowers and extend the flowering period of your celosias. Because they retain their wonderful colors even when dried, celosias are ideal for dry bouquets. The leaves are even edible.
The Celosia in winter
Celosias are not hardy, as one might assume given their tropical and subtropical origins. Unlike most other summer flowers, however, they should not overwinter cool, but rather warm.
The most important care tips:
- sunny location
- not in the midday sun
- water regularly but not too much
- fertilize moderately
- winter warmly
Tip
If you need a large number of flowering plants on a fixed date, then sow celosias in good time. They germinate, grow and flower very reliably and “on schedule”.
