Once upon a time, this amazing flower was introduced to us from the subtropics and tropics of America, which is familiar to everyone who was a schoolboy, because it is grown almost in every school. Cosmeyu can grow near the house, especially since it is not difficult.
Botanical description
Cosmea (Mexican aster, beauty, cosmos, Cosmos) is a herb from the Astrov family (Compositae), which belongs to the genus of annuals and perennials. Translated from the Greek, this name means "decoration", probably because these unpretentious flowers can decorate any flower garden with them. In appearance, the kosmey resembles a bush up to 1.5 m high, dotted with flowers with a diameter of about 10 cm, which are shaped like a daisy. Flowers are painted in white, pink, yellow, red, burgundy shades, middle - yellow. Petals can be located in one or several rows. Stems thin, branched, straight. Leaves are small, similar to needles, collected in small bunches, but do not prick. Cosmea blooms from June to September, the fruits are seeds.
The most common types of cosmea:
- Kosmeya dvuhpiperistaya, in which the petals are separated by two veins on the feathers.
- Kosmeya is sulfur-yellow, with petals of bright yellow or orange color, which are collected in inflorescences with a diameter up to 6 cm. Poorly tolerates cold summer.
- Kosmeya is blood-red (black), with petals of dark red color and chocolate smell. Very thermophilic flower.
- Cosmera terry, in which the petals are collected in several rows, looks like an aster.
Did you know? From the flowers of this plant are very beautiful bouquets that stand in water for up to two weeks.
In florists, not only the appearance of the cosmea is valued, but also resistance to diseases and pests. This plant tolerates the neighborhood with other flowers and plants.
Landing time
Propagated by cosme can be direct sowing in open ground or seedling method. It is worth noting that the flowers planted through seedlings, bloom earlier.
Sowing in open ground
The period from the end of April to the beginning of May is suitable for growing cosmee from seeds in open ground, that is, you need to plant when the cold nights are over. The air temperature on the day of planting the seeds should not be lower than +18 ° C and higher than +25 ° C. The first shoots may appear within a week after sowing. In the open ground can be planted in the autumn, closer to winter. In the autumn, the kosmey also reproduces by self-sowing.
Check out a selection of the best plants for the bedroom, children's room and office.
Seedling method
Through the seedlings, as a rule, stunted and perennial plant varieties are planted. At about the end of March, plant seeds should be planted in specially prepared containers. Somewhere in 10 days after sowing the first shoots begin to appear. Ready seedlings are planted in open ground in late May - early June.
Planting a cosmea by direct seeding
To plant a cosme, simply select the place, prepare the soil and seeds and provide a little care.
Choosing a place
Cosmea is good to plant near fruit trees to lure butterflies that pollinate the garden.
Important! Cosmea - photophilous plant, so it should be planted in a well-lit place, avoiding windy areas.
It can also be planted as a hedge. If you like motley flower beds, this plant is simply indispensable, as multi-colored flowers give a flower bed a brightness and liveliness. With the help of these flowers, you can close from the eyes of problem areas in the hedge, unfilled areas of other plants. Sometimes the cosme is planted in the gardens in order to lure there the gold-eyed, which destroy the aphid, mealybug, thrips. Low-growing varieties of plants (for example, sulfur-yellow) can be planted on the balcony. Also, the flower looks good when making a border. Keep in mind that this plant is tall, so it is best to plant it behind other plants.
Soil and Seed Preparation
Before planting a flower, it is necessary to drain and loosen the ground well. You can simply sprinkle the seeds on the ground, then lightly sprinkle them on the ground, but try not to get too deep under the ground, otherwise the seedlings will germinate for a long time.
Important! The soil in which the plant is planted, do not need to fertilize unnecessarily, it can cause the growth of stems and leaves with a small number of flowers.
You can still dig holes in the ground before planting at a distance of up to 35 cm from each other. In each hole no more than four seeds are dipped. The pits should not be too deep - up to 1.5 cm.
Cosme Care
If the planting of the cosme is done in the open ground, the care for it involves watering, feeding, thinning and weeding, getting rid of pests. The flower does not require frequent watering, but each watering should be abundant - about 3 liters of water for each. Watering is better in the evening, after the heat subsides, making sure that the water falls on the leaves and inflorescences. Sown plants should be thinned to provide access to sunlight and, as a result, large flowers in the future. Also need to prune dried shoots and wilted flowers. It should be cut and the upper part of the plant, then the side will grow new stems.
Familiarize yourself with the subtleties of growing flowers such as: Surfinia, Begonia, Pelargonium, Calibrachoa, Marigolds, Dahlia, Verbena, Hortensia, Zinnia, Lobelia, Chrysanthemum, Geranium, Peony, Lily and Tulip.After a week from the day of thinning, the cosmey needs to be fed and continued feeding until inflorescence appears about once every 2 weeks. We need to weed the young flower from the weeds, the adult fights the weeds itself. If you planted a perennial plant, for the winter shoots need to be cut to 15 cm in height and cover with coniferous branches. The plant can be exposed to aphids, then it should be sprayed with a special solution, as well as snails, which can be collected by hand or treated with drugs. From diseases, the flower is exposed to fusarium when the leaves begin to turn yellow and fly around. Treatment of the disease is carried out with the help of fungicides.
4. Growing of cosme through seedlings
To grow a plant through seedlings, it is necessary to go through three stages: prepare the seeds and the soil, plant and provide proper care for the seedlings, transplant into open ground.
Seed and Substrate Preparation
Already in August, the plant seeds can be collected weekly. To obtain seeds, the largest flowers are chosen and the buds are tied with gauze, then the seeds will not fall to the ground when ripe. The fact that the seeds are ripe, shows their color - it becomes darker. Cosmee seeds do not spoil up to two years. But you need to know that in the process of flowering the plant is cross-pollinated with others, so it may not grow the sort that was planted before. Soil for seedlings need to be well loosened, slightly fertilized and wet.
Did you know? One gram of cosme seeds contains about 200 pieces.
It should be noted that the plant can multiply well by self-seeding, scattering ripe seeds, so in the next season you can again get a motley beauty.
Sowing and caring for seedlings
To plant the seedlings, 3 seeds of the plant are planted in small pots. Seedlings need to be watered a little, do not sprinkle with earth, and cover with foil, and put in a warm room (not below +18 ° C) with good solar lighting. Water the seedlings need no more than 1 time per week, but plenty. After germination, seedlings will start to give leaves, then the seedlings can be transplanted into a larger container so that the roots can develop freely. If you want the bush to grow to the sides, the top of the stem can be cut off after the leaves appear.
Planting seedlings in open ground
In open ground, seedlings should be planted after reaching 6-10 cm in height. You should not keep the seedlings at home for too long, it may not move the transplant into the open ground. In order to land the seedlings, it is necessary to dig holes about 30 cm each a few days before planting. Planted seedlings should be in the evening. Before planting pits plentifully watered. Those varieties of plants that belong to the tall, it is better to tie up, then the thin stems can stand against the wind. Kosmeya is an unpretentious plant that can grow even an inexperienced florist. It will delight you with colorful beauty all summer, and even in the beginning of autumn.
