Content
Celosia is a spectacular plant of the Amaranth family, striking in its appearance. Its incredibly bright, luxurious flowers are similar to panicles, the comb of a rooster or bird feathers. They are the same bright color and soft to the touch. From Greek, the name of the flower “Celosia” is translated as “burning, fiery, blazing.” Growing celosia seedlings from seeds at home is a somewhat troublesome task, but the result is worth it. Flowers glowing with a variety of colors will adequately decorate any flower bed or flower garden.
The genus of celosia has about 60 different varieties, each of which has its own advantages and exclusive appearance.
The nuances of growing celosia seedlings
Growing celosia from seeds at home is the most convenient and effective way of propagation. It allows you to get strong and healthy seedlings earlier than when sowing seeds in open ground. In flower beds, seeds take a very long time to germinate, whereas at home, the first shoots will appear within 1-2 weeks.Thus, seedling cultivation allows for earlier flowering.
How to sow celosia for seedlings
Celosia seeds can be bought at a flower shop or collected with your own hands. The seeds of the flower are very hard, which makes their germination process difficult. Therefore, before sowing, it is recommended to soak them for several hours in a growth stimulator solution. You can also use water with sugar for this. Also, before sowing, the seed material must be treated with a weak manganese solution. This preliminary procedure will protect plants from fungal diseases and blackleg infection.
In the circle of gardeners, celosia is also known as “cockscombs”, which differ in the shape of the inflorescences - spikelet, comb and pinnate
When to plant celosia seeds for seedlings
The timing of sowing celosia seeds for seedlings will vary, depending on the region of cultivation. Approximately sowing work begins at the end of March and beginning of April. Thus, before planting in the ground, the seedlings will have time to grow and get stronger. It is not recommended to sow seeds at a later date.
Selection of container and soil preparation
You can sow celosia seeds in boxes or low containers. Planting containers must have drainage holes. The soil must be specially prepared before sowing.
The substrate for sowing should consist of:
- turf or leaf soil (3 parts);
- sand (1 part);
- humus (1 part);
- vermiculite or perlite (1 part).
Adding charcoal to the soil mixture will help protect plants from diseases. After all the components are mixed, the substrate must be treated with a hot solution of potassium permanganate (weak). Sphagnum moss or vermiculite should be placed at the bottom of the planting container.The prepared soil mixture is poured on top, not reaching the top by at least 2 cm.
Planting Celosia Seeds
Celosia seeds are planted by scattering them over a moist soil surface. A sheet of paper folded in half will help sow the seeds evenly. Then the seeds will fall out in a thin stream. Then they must be distributed at intervals of 3 cm from each other. This can be done using a toothpick.
There is no need to press the seeds into the soil or sprinkle them on top, since they are very small and may simply not germinate. The top of the crops is sprayed with a spray bottle and covered with film or glass. Then the containers are placed in a well-lit place, on a windowsill, for example. The first shoots can be seen after 5-7 days. Immediately after their appearance, the cover must be removed.
How to grow celosia from seeds
Growing celosia from seeds as a photo will be successful if you follow the basic rules of care. The plant is light-loving, tolerates replanting well and easily adapts to new growing conditions.
Growing celosia from seeds is the only acceptable method of propagation in mid-latitudes, since the plant is not suitable for wintering in open ground
Microclimate
Celosia seedlings grown from seeds at home must be illuminated. For this you can use special lamps for plants - halogen or fluorescent. Seedlings should receive sufficient lighting for at least 5-6 hours a day. Young celosia seedlings must be protected from scorching sunlight, which can burn and destroy fragile seedlings.
The temperature in the room in which seedlings are grown should not be lower than 22-25 °C.The film or glass must be removed once a day to ventilate the crops, spray if the soil dries out and remove condensation.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Celosia seedlings do not tolerate drought. Watering should be sufficient, but at the same time moderate. It is recommended to water the seedlings in the morning, in good sunny weather. Watering must be done with caution, as the root system of weak seedlings may rot.
The seedlings are fed 2 times - immediately after picking and 2 weeks before transplanting into open ground. Frequent feeding is undesirable, as this can significantly delay flowering.
Picking
Growing celosia from seeds involves picking, and it is recommended to plant the seedlings in peat cups. This procedure is carried out so that the seedlings have enough space for full development and so that when transplanting them to a permanent place, the young roots are not damaged. The diameter of the containers for picking should be at least 7-8 cm. Seedlings begin to pick after the appearance of the second pair of leaves.
Transplantation into the ground
Grown and strengthened seedlings, 2-2.5 months old, are planted in open ground. Before transplanting, seedlings must be hardened off by regularly taking the planting containers out into the open air. Every day, the time the seedlings stay outside must be increased.
Young celosia seedlings are afraid of even a slight drop in temperature, so it is necessary to choose the right time for transplanting plants into open ground. The optimal period is considered to be the end of May and the beginning of June, since the threat of return frosts at this time is minimal. Seedlings should be transplanted in warm weather. In a new place, the plants take root very quickly, and already in mid-June, early July, the transplanted celosia will bloom.
When and how to collect celosia seeds
Celosia blooms from mid-June to early October. At the end of flowering, the plants begin to bear fruits, which are a round multi-seeded box. Celosia seeds are black, shiny, round in shape.
They begin collecting seeds by selecting the most beautiful fading inflorescences. Then they are placed in a vase or other glass container (without water), which is placed in a dark room. As soon as the inflorescences are completely dry, they need to be “trotted” over newspaper or paper. All spilled seeds should be dried and stored in a paper bag. You can also not put the cut shoots in a vase, but simply hang them with the inflorescences down over a sheet of paper. As the seed pods dry, ripened seeds will fall out.
1 gram contains about 800 celosia seeds, which remain viable for about 5 years
Conclusion
Growing celosia seedlings from seeds at home is practiced by many gardeners. The species is valued for its exotic beauty, long budding period and ease of care. Celosia flowers and stems will be a worthy decoration for any flower garden.Even after the end of budding, the plant does not lose its decorative effect. By listening to all the tips and recommendations, even a beginner in the flower business will be able to grow it at home without spending much effort.
