They gently sway in the breeze with their delicate flower heads and their intense color literally competes with the sun. So that you can enjoy the cosmos for a long time, you should think about tweezing them
Why and when should you tweeze the cosmea?
Pinching the Cosmea stimulates the formation of numerous branches, which lead to a bushier, more compact growth, better stability and a longer, more abundant flowering period. The best time for pinching is in May and June, when the plant is about 20 cm tall.
How does pinching the Cosmea affect its growth?
By trimming its main shoot, the Cosmea is encouraged to form numerousbranches. The branching results in their growth ending up looking bushier and more compact. Since the Cosmea then not only develops a long stem, but also several side shoots, it gains more stability and appears stronger in appearance.
What purpose does pinching the Cosmea serve for its flowers?
The many new branches formnumerous flower budswithin a few weeks. If the Cosmea were not tweezed, the flowers would be sparser. Pinching ensures a richer flower flora and, thanks to the many side shoots, also an overall longer flowering period. In addition, the side shoots are thinner than just the main shoot. This makes them much more suitable for removing cut flowers for the vase later.
When is it time to tweeze a Cosmea?
The time frame for pinching the cosmea is usually betweenMay and June This means that you should take action shortly after planting this plant. The following applies: the earlier the Cosmea is tweezed, the further down it will grow more compactly and form its flowers. Ideally it is about 20 cm tall at the time of tweezing.
Dahlias, strawflowers, snapdragons, roses and zinnias are also tweezed at around the same time.
How are cosmos tweezed?
When the time is right,capsthemain shoot of the Cosmea. Here's how to do it: Take a pair of sharp and clean secateurs (€14.00 on Amazon). Place the scissors above the axis of a leaf, approximately 2/3 of the way up the plant. The tip of the shoot is cut off. After a few days, new stems will form at this point. Attention: If side shoots have already formed, only cut off the main shoot. Also keep in mind that dry weather can have detrimental effects.
Is tweezing useful for all cosmos?
All cosmoses, regardless of the variety, can be tweezed. But be careful! Even though tweezing ensures more flowers for cosmos, it is by no means useful for all flowers. There are flowers such as cornflowers, gypsophila and sunflowers that should not be tweezed as they will stop growing.
Tip
Don't just tweeze for a long flowering period
Even after successful tweezing, you should trim your Cosmea regularly and in the right places. Use secateurs to regularly remove the wilted flowers during the flowering period. This saves the Cosmea from having to produce seeds and therefore strength. She thanks you by producing new flower buds.
