CATDOLL : CATDOLL: How to grow cosmos

It can be sown all year round. However, due to the limitation of flower usage conditions, the largest amount of flowers are used during the two holidays of May Day and National Day. Since the sowing of cosmos requires the temperature to be higher than 15℃ (or there are heating and insulation conditions), the sowing period in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is generally from August to November. The south with a warm climate can sow all year round, while spring sowing is popular in the north. If you are raising seedlings in early spring, you should pay attention to ensuring a certain growth temperature and try to avoid growth stagnation. Loose artificial media should be used for sowing, bed sowing and box sowing for seedlings, and plug trays can be used if conditions permit. After disinfection, cover slightly after sowing. The suitable temperature for cosmos to germinate is 22~24℃.

Additional information:

Originated from Mexico. Distributed in Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan and other places, it grows in hillside grasslands, forests, or gardens at an altitude of 750-1600m. It has medicinal value. The whole plant of cosmos can be used as medicine, harvested in summer and autumn, used fresh or dried. It is bitter and flat in nature. It has the effects of clearing heat and dampness and relieving cough. It is used for cough, dysentery, sudden cough, toothache, wind-fire eye pain; it is used externally for mumps and breast pain.

It grows in hillside grasslands and forests at an altitude of 750 to 1600 meters, or is cultivated in gardens. It likes sunlight, but it can also bloom in semi-shaded areas. It is not very demanding on soil. It is resistant to transplanting, grows quickly, and is easy to cultivate and manage.

Reference: Maidenhair - Baidu Encyclopedia

First, the method of planting peacock grass

The seeds of cosmos are relatively small and generally do not need to be processed before sowing. They can be sown directly. The seeds should be evenly spread in the soil. Be careful to make sure they are evenly distributed and not sown too deep. Then cover them with a thin layer of soil. After sowing, shade measures should be taken. Before the seeds germinate, the soil should be kept moist and watered frequently to promote faster and better germination of the seeds.

Second, plant in suitable soil

In fact, cosmos has a strong adaptability and does not have very high requirements for soil. However, you still need to pay attention to planting it in loose and fertile soil. Such an environment is very good for seed germination and is also conducive to later management.

Third, choose the right time to sow

The best time to sow cosmos seeds is from November to March of the following year. This period is more conducive to seed germination and growth. If sown in winter, cosmos will bloom in March of the following year. Of course, due to different climates in different places, the sowing time will definitely vary and vary from place to place.

Marigold is an annual herbaceous flower of the genus Tagetes in the Asteraceae family. The plant is relatively short, with a height of 20-40 cm, a compact plant shape, many branches in a clustered shape, and a purple stem. The leaves are opposite, pinnately divided, with lanceolate lobes and obvious oil glands on the leaf margins. The capitula is terminal, the outer circle of the flower is dark red, and the inside is yellow, so it is also called red and yellow grass. Due to repeated hybridization between species, in addition to red and yellow, pure yellow and orange varieties have also been cultivated, as well as single-petal and double-petal varieties. The flowering period is from May 1st to October 1st.

Maidenhair is highly adaptable and prefers a warm and sunny environment. It is relatively drought-resistant and has no strict requirements on soil and fertilizer. Maidenhair is relatively cold-resistant and can withstand the invasion of early frost. There are fewer flowers in the hot summer. The seedling period is short. It only takes 70 days from sowing to flowering. Seedlings can be raised in the greenhouse without heating in early spring, and planted in the courtyard, flower bed or potted after the late frost.

Flowers for the May Day and National Day celebrations are sown in a greenhouse or indoors in mid-February. After one transplant, they are transplanted in a 20 cm diameter flower pot. After the late frost, they are removed from the box and planted in the open field. There are few flowers in midsummer, so they can be cut short. After the beginning of autumn, flowers can bloom again on the top of the new side branches, and they can also be left uncut, but the plants will be loose.

Varieties are prone to degeneration due to hybridization. Marigolds not only have single-petal, double-petal, different-color, and different-height varieties, but also have marigolds of the same genus. Natural hybridization between them is also prone to degeneration. Varieties with good color should be selected, sown and planted separately, and kept at least 100 meters away from other varieties. Seeds should be harvested and stored separately.

Maidenhair has medicinal and health-care effects. Its flowers and leaves can be used as medicine, which has the effects of clearing away heat and reducing phlegm, replenishing blood and relieving menstruation. It can treat whooping cough, tracheitis and colds. Residents in the Caucasus region of Russia often eat marijuana, which has the effect of prolonging life.

Since the red sage cannot withstand the low temperature of May Day and the early frost of October, the hot summer heat can make most plants half dead. Therefore, cosmos has gradually become the main flower in flower beds and gardens. Its orange and yellow flowers are very eye-catching. It adds a lot of vitality to the place where it is planted. Its role and value have attracted the attention of many garden workers.

The germination rate of cosmos seeds is low, and the germination rate is only 10%-30% using ordinary sowing methods. To plant cosmos, you should first use boxes, pots and other containers to grow seedlings, and fill them with sandy loam to create a soft and breathable germination environment for the seeds. Sow the seeds directly on the soil surface, cover with straw or newspaper to make it in close contact with the soil. Use a watering can to water frequently, and do not let the topsoil dry. After the seeds germinate, remove the covering.

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The peacock arrowroot potted plant should be planted in loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic loam rich in humus. Generally, it can be mixed with 3 parts of leaf mold, 1 part of peat or sawdust, and 1 part of sand, and a small amount of bean cake as base fertilizer. Avoid using heavy garden soil. When potting, first pad the bottom of the pot with 3 cm thick coarse sand as a drainage layer to facilitate drainage.

Sufficient water should be given during the growing period, especially in summer and autumn. In addition to keeping the pot soil moist, water should be sprayed on the leaves frequently to cool down and keep them moist. It requires a high air humidity, preferably 70% to 80%. Avoid dry air and dry pot soil, but do not allow water to accumulate. Water should be controlled after late autumn to help it resist the cold and survive the winter. Keep a dry environment in winter. If it is too wet, the leaves at the base will turn yellow and scorch, affecting its ornamental value.

During the growing season from May to September, it should be placed in a shaded or semi-shaded place, maintaining a light transmittance of 40%-60%, avoiding direct sunlight. Excessive light or dry air can easily cause the leaf edges and tips to burn and the leaf patterns to become dull. However, the light should not be too weak. If it is placed in a dark room for a long time, the temperature is low and the light is insufficient, the growth will be weak, which is not conducive to the formation of leaf color and the loss of the unique metallic luster of the leaves. Direct sunlight through glass is acceptable in winter.

Fertilization matters

When the peacock arrowroot lacks fertilizer, the plant will be obviously short, the leaf color will be dull, and the golden luster will not be bright. Apply thin liquid fertilizer once every 20 days during the growth period. The ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium should be 2:1:1, which can make the leaf color bright and shiny. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer. For example, spraying 0.2% liquid fertilizer directly on the leaves every 10 days is extremely beneficial to germination and growth. Stop rotating fertilizer in winter and summer.

Note the change of seasons

The peacock arrowroot likes high temperature and humidity. The suitable temperature for growth is 18℃-25℃. It likes humid air. It grows fastest from May to October when the temperature is above 20℃. In the low temperature season from October to April of the following year, it should be moved to a greenhouse for wintering in the north. The winter temperature should not be lower than 15℃, otherwise the leaves will be dark, the leaves will curl, and the leaf tips will turn yellow. If it is slightly frozen, the environmental conditions will be changed in time, and new leaves will still be produced in the next spring. If it is severely frozen, the leaves will wither and die one after another, or even the whole plant will die. If the temperature difference between day and night is large, you can use plastic film to cover the pot or use a glass box to keep warm and moisturize. Wash the leaves once a month with warm water to maintain the color of the leaves. Every spring, when the temperature rises steadily to 20℃, you can change the pot once. When changing the pot, you must add new culture soil, cut off the residual roots and dead leaves, and replant to facilitate growth.

Disease prevention

Peacock plant has fewer diseases and pests, but if ventilation is poor and the air is dry, scale insects may cause damage. It should be sprayed with 1500 times of malathion to prevent and control it.

Control of Peacock Arrowroot Leaf Spot Disease

The leaf spot disease has yellow-brown lesions. In the early stage of the disease, small yellow spots form near the edge of the leaf or in the center of the leaf, and gradually expand and deepen in color to yellow-brown. There is a relatively obvious halo around the lesions. As the lesions expand, the leaves gradually dry up and shrink, and eventually fall off and die. The pathogen is the spores of the ascomycete Deinococcus. The cause of the disease is high temperature and humidity, poor air circulation, too densely placed plants, many weeds and rotten leaves in the cultivation environment, excessive nitrogen fertilizer application, and leggy plants. Those with young and tender tissues are more susceptible to the disease.

The prevention and control method is to strengthen fertilizer and water management, appropriately increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and apply less nitrogen fertilizers to promote the growth of plants and enhance their own resistance. Remove diseased and damaged leaves and weeds in time to reduce the source of infection. Plants should not be placed too densely, and proper ventilation and light transmission can reduce the humidity of the environment to reduce the incidence of diseases. Spray pesticides for protection when the disease occurs. The pesticides are: 50% carbendazim 600 times to 800 times liquid; or 75% thiophanate-methyl 600 times to 800 times liquid; 50% mancozeb 500 times to 600 times liquid, once every 7 to 10 days. Various drugs should be used alternately to prevent the bacteria from developing drug resistance.

It can be sown all year round. However, due to the limitation of flower usage conditions, the largest amount of flowers are used during the two holidays of May Day and National Day. Since the sowing of cosmos requires the temperature to be higher than 15℃ (or there are heating and insulation conditions), the sowing period in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is generally from August to November. The south with a warm climate can sow all year round, while spring sowing is popular in the north. If you are raising seedlings in early spring, you should pay attention to ensuring a certain growth temperature and try to avoid growth stagnation. Loose artificial media should be used for sowing, bed sowing and box sowing for seedlings, and plug trays can be used if conditions permit. After disinfection, cover slightly after sowing. The suitable temperature for cosmos to germinate is 22~24℃.

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Herb and flower series: calendula, marigold, national chrysanthemum, aster, emperor chrysanthemum, pansy, lavender, cockscomb (torch, a pen), sage, vinca, four-season petunia, cosmos, milkwort (purple leaves and white flowers, green leaves and pink flowers), sunflower (purslane), kale (two colors), canna, cosmos (three colors), begonia, petunia (four colors), morning glory, pansy, February orchid, sage, coleus, zinnia (step by step), African impatiens, geranium, etc.

Perennial grass flowers (ground cover grass flowers) series: Dutch chrysanthemum, rudbeckia, ground cover chrysanthemum, verbena, golden flame spirea, medal chrysanthemum, silver leaf chrysanthemum, Beijing chrysanthemum, lavender, hanging bell willow, sage, veronica, false dragon head, phlox, clustered phlox, eight-treasure sedum, red-leaf sedum, Panax notoginseng sedum, loosestrife, large-flowered daylily, golden baby daylily, iris, hosta, variety rose, climbing rose, floribunda rose, globe amaranth, amaranth, yarrow, kochia, ground cover dianthus, multicolored dianthus, Iceland poppy, etc.

Aquatic plant series: lotus, bowl lotus, water lily, loosestrife, pickerel grass, lily flower, variegated reed, variegated reed, variegated cattail, variegated water plantain, big cattail, small cattail, calamus, flower calamus, golden-edged calamus, arrowhead, Alisma, aquatic swallowtail, green-leaf water plantain, jade belt grass, foxtail grass, variegated miscanthus, fine-leaved miscanthus, purple dew, Siberian swallowtail, dwarf cattail, etc.

Greening seedling series: wax wax tree, golden privet, red leaf barberry, euonymus fortunei, red yew, red prince weigela, forsythia, euonymus, hibiscus, red leaf peach, green leaf peach, holly, poplar, boxwood, cypress, cherry, hibiscus, crape myrtle, purple leaf plum, locust, Robinia, crabapple, pomegranate, cherry tree, hawthorn tree, etc.