Celosia belongs to the family Amaranth. The name translates literally as "flaming." And indeed, the inflorescences of this plant are similar to flame tongues of various shades. In nature, there are about 60 species of celosia.
The plant can be both annual and perennial. In a climate characterized by harsh winters, annual celosia is subject to cultivation, since it does not tolerate subzero temperatures and dies.
The stem of celosia is straight, with branches, ovoid leaves. Small flowers are collected in spikelet panicles. Shades of warm colors: yellow, red, pink, orange, golden, scarlet. After flowering, you can see the seeds collected in boxes.
Before planting, celosia seeds are soaked in a solution of zircon or epin for 4 hours. The procedure is mandatory, since each seed is enclosed in a dense shell, which must be softened in water. Celosia: planting from seeds, when to plant? The optimal seed planting period is late March or early April. Planted in small containers with nutrient soil on the surface of the substrate. Seeds should not be located close to each other, they do not fall asleep on top of the ground. They need to be watered by spraying water from a spray bottle. To maintain high soil moisture, the containers are covered with a film and placed on a windowsill for exposure to sunlight. The first sprouts will appear in about a week.
After the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings are dived and create regular additional illumination for it. If the seedlings have taken root after a pick, then it can be fed with any universal fertilizer.
Seedlings are transplanted into open ground when steady warm weather sets in, night-time freezing temperatures will pass. Usually this is the second half or end of May. Fresh organic fertilizer is prohibited from entering the soil - it is detrimental to celosia. Since the seedlings are still quite fragile, you need to handle it as carefully as possible. Low-growing species of celosia are planted at a distance of about 15 cm from each other, tall - 30 cm.
The plant does not require special care, but you need to know an important rule - permanently moist soil is destructive for it. It should be watered only on the driest and hottest days, when the leaves begin to fade and fall. Plus regular weed weeding. Feeding should also not be forgotten - celosia responds positively to fertilizers.
You want your summer to bloom, then you need to know what flowers to plant. Read about it here.
