How to Care for Celosia Flowers

Celosias, sometimes referred to as cockscombs, produce showy flowers that add spectacular color to your garden or home. No one knows exactly where celosias originated, but gardeners have grown them in North America since the 18th century. Although Chinese herbalists have used celosias to treat blood diseases, they have no history of use as an herb in Western culture. Celosias will reward the gardener who gives them a reasonable amount of care with an attractive display of colorful blooms.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

• Fertilizer
• Garden hose
• Fungicide
• Insect repellent
• Containers

Garden

1. Plant celosia on a site with full sun in a nutrient-rich soil to produce larger flowers. Place small celosias 18 inches apart and larger ones 18 to 24 inches apart.

2. Make sure the soil is warm. Celosias prefer a soil warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the soil moist but not wet.

3. Pinch back the first blooms to promote more branching and more flowers.

4. Water the plants consistently during drought conditions or dry spells. Apply an all-purpose fertilizer one or two times per month.

5. Watch for aphids on celosias’ leaves. Wash them off with a hose if you find only a few insects. Apply fungicide or insect repellent in case of a significant infestation.

6. Wait patiently for your celosias to bloom. Celosias typically do not produce flowers until 90 days after planting.

Pots or Containers

1. Choose a low-growing variety to grow in pots. Put 12 seeds in a 6-inch or 8-inch pot or 16 seeds in a 10-inch or 12-inch pot.

2. Place the containers indoors or outdoors as your prefer. Ensure the plants receive eight to 10 hours of sunlight every day.

3. Wait eight to 10 weeks for your plants to blossom.

Tips & Warnings

• Grow container celosia with other flowers that prefer the same conditions if you want more floral variety.

• Avoid spacing the garden plants too close together. This inhibits growth and produces smaller flowers.