How to grow scallops at home?

Celosia is a bright and spectacular plant that can be used to decorate any suburban area. Due to its unusual and, perhaps, even slightly exotic appearance, celosia is actively used in the creation of the most exquisite flower beds, giving them great expressiveness. But in order for these flowers to really please the eye, you should adhere to the established rules when growing.

Celosia comb flower

Brief description of the culture

Crested celosia (Celosia argentea f. Cristata), which is also called "cock's comb", is a representative of the Amaranth family, numbering about 60 species. This is a small plant (about 45 centimeters in height, although there are less tall species) with small flowers collected in large inflorescences. The inflorescences themselves, by the way, in their shape resemble an orange or purple rooster's comb, hence the name of the culture. The flowering period begins in mid-summer and ends around October.

Celosia silvery comb, photo

Medium-sized leaves can be golden, green, bronze or burgundy (it all depends on the specific variety).

Celosia silvery comb dwarf

Popular varieties of crested comb include:

• Impress (plants with dark green leaves and red flowers, the stem reaches 20-25 centimeters in height);

  Impress

• Imperialis (miniature variety with purple leaves (red veins visible), red shoots and dark red flowers);

  Imperialis

• Atropurpurea (the height of representatives of this variety also reaches 20-25 centimeters, the leaves are dark red, the inflorescences are red).

  Atropurpurea

Among the entire family of Amaranth florists, it is celosia that is distinguished, mainly due to its unusual shape and color.

Celosia comb: growing from seeds

The procedure for growing the described culture occurs in stages, we will consider the features of each of the stages in more detail.

Stage one. Choosing a suitable place

For flowers, it is important to choose the right planting site.

So, first, choose the best place. This may be an area sheltered from the wind and sufficiently well illuminated by the sun. The soil should be loose, with a low level of acidity and not very heavy, otherwise the plants will develop poorly and sooner or later die. If there is no black soil on your site, then first add a certain amount of sand to the soil.

Celosia reacts well to humus, so you can add it during preparation or directly during planting. Humus can be applied to any type of soil, since this fertilizer is unable to negatively affect the plant. When the site is selected and properly prepared, you can start planting seeds.

The use of humus will have a beneficial effect on plants.

Stage two. Preparing and sowing seeds

Due to the fact that celosia is extremely tender, it is recommended to pre-grow it as a seedling. If you live in a city, you can use various containers made of any material for this (they will be installed on the windowsill). Here it is imperative to maintain a temperature balance and not allow the soil to overheat / overcool.

Immediately before sowing, prepare the seed - keep it in a solution of zircon and epin (add 200 milliliters drop by drop of each of the preparations) for three to four hours - this will help soak the dense seed coat.

Biostimulants "Epin" and "Zircon"

Sow seeds in March-April in the previously made furrows (the distance between the latter should be about 1 centimeter). Do not do it too thickly, after sowing, do not sprinkle the seeds - just press them against the soil and spray with water using a spray bottle.

You can sow flowers in the snow

Note! There is another way of sowing seeds - we are talking about their even scattering over the entire area of ​​the previously loosened soil. This method is more convenient, especially since it takes much less time.

After that, cover the containers with glass or plastic and place them on the windowsill, but not in direct sunlight. The room temperature should be 22-25 degrees. Ventilate the room regularly, humidify and remove condensation. By the way, if you don't want to waste time picking in the future, you can plant the seeds in small individual pots.

Seed container covered with cling film

The first shoots should appear in about eight days.

Crop care

Stage three. Picking

When growing seedlings, take care of additional lighting - about five to six hours a day (the fact is that the daylight hours are still short during these months). If the seeds were sown in groups, and not in individual pots, then you will have to pick twice.

Seedlings of celosi

1. Carry out the first pick when each plant has two or three true leaves. Transplant the seedlings into the same soil in shallow containers (no more than an inch deep) five centimeters apart. As soon as the seedlings take root, add a solution of min. fertilizers (intended for flowering crops) of a complex type.
2. Carry out the second pick when the seedlings are strong enough. Move them into a cassette of greater depth, or, alternatively, carefully remove them along with a lump of earth and place them in individual pots (it is advisable to give preference to peat-humus). When the seedlings start, apply the same fertilizing as after the first pick.

Dive seedlings

Stage four. Disembarkation of the crested comb

When the heat is finally established, and the threat of frost at night has passed (as a rule, this is the end of May), you can start transplanting seedlings into open soil.

Step one. If the selected site was not prepared in advance, then start with its preparation. Dig up the earth, then add humus and some sand (if it is heavy), mix everything thoroughly and leave for seven days or more. A couple of days before transplanting, water the area with a weak solution of manganese - this will protect the plants from pests.

Prepare the soil in the flower bed

Note! If the acidity of the soil is increased, then liming it two to three days before transplanting.

In addition, one should not forget that fresh organic matter cannot be introduced into the soil under the cultivation, since the culture simply does not tolerate it.

Step two. After that, proceed directly to the transplant. Young plants are very fragile, so be careful not to damage them in the process. In the selected area, make holes for flowers (the distance between the plants should be about 30 centimeters, for dwarf varieties, 15 is enough).

Planting seedlings in the ground

Step three... Using a special spoon, remove the first plant along with the soil from the container and place in the hole. Distribute the roots carefully. Do the same with the remaining seedlings.

Step three. Fill the holes with your palm, and gradually. Do not tamp the soil too hard, but do not leave the "tubercle" (the latter will interfere with watering).

Compact the soil with your hands around the stem, as shown in the photo.

Note! In case of a high groundwater level on the site, drain the planting site before starting work.

Stage five. Further care

Care is not difficult, the main thing is to know about the weak spots of the culture: a plant in open soil can die even with minimal frost; moreover, it does not tolerate excess moisture. There are a number of important rules that will help you.

Table. Rules for the care of a crested comb

Watering	The ground should not be too wet, but it should not be allowed to dry out either, so abundant watering is not required in this case. Ideally, watering should be done every morning, but if the weather is too hot, it is best to do it in the evening. Otherwise, the root system can be damaged, causing shock to the plant. Water for irrigation must be settled, its temperature must correspond to the ambient temperature.
Fertilizer	It should be applied at least once a month, but many experienced growers assure that the development of cellosis is better only when one portion of fertilizer is divided into several. These small portions can be applied weekly to ensure that the required level of minerals in the soil is maintained (that is, this level will not be depleted or exceeded). The optimal feeding concentration is 15 grams per 5 liters of water.
Disease protection	The best plant protection is proper watering. If the "black leg", which is often observed in the early stages, nevertheless manifested itself (the lower parts of the stems turned black), then loosen the soil under the plants, sprinkle it with a lot of ash and, more importantly, minimize the amount of water applied during irrigation.
Pest control	Also, aphids can settle on celosia, which is usually fought with the following composition: 200 milliliters of vegetable oil and two teaspoons of liquid soap are diluted in two glasses of water. With the help of the resulting product, the plants are processed several times a day (it is preferable to do this in the evening). As for other insects and diseases, the comb celosia is quite resistant to them.

If you take these simple measures, then a real beauty will decorate your garden! The described plant will become the highlight of any collection and landscape exposition. The main difference between celosia is that it does not require special care, and this is extremely convenient for flower growers (especially for beginners).

Celosia comb yellow as a garden decoration

Important nuances of collecting plant seeds

To collect seeds, cut off three to four inflorescences that have already begun to fade, place them in a vase (only without water) and transfer them to an unlit room. As soon as these inflorescences are dry, shake them over a sheet of paper, collect everything that was poured, blow and fill in some kind of box. Inflorescences, by the way, can not be placed in a vase, but hung down with flowers and spread paper, where the ripe seed will be poured.

Celosia comb in a vase for collecting seeds

And what about in the winter?

As a rule, after flowering, the bushes are destroyed in order to plant new plants next winter. However, this culture is ideal for dry bouquets, so you can cut a couple of beautiful branches, clean them of foliage, bring them into the house, tie and dry in a dark room (it is advisable that there is good ventilation there). After that, place the branches in an empty vase to decorate your home with a bright flame of colors.

Celosia is a bright element of the composition

Video - Growing cellosis with seeds

Among domestic plants with decorative and healing qualities, celosia is far from the first place in popularity, however, the unique qualities of the flower are highly valued by professional gardeners. In the circles of Russian floriculture lovers, the most common is scallop celosia, which is also called velvet flower or cockscomb. First of all, the plant is distinguished by unusual inflorescences, which can have different shades. Although the decorative qualities of cellosis are best revealed in the summer, under the right conditions, it can also be grown in winter. In addition, the velvet flower is capable of producing a healing effect in the fight against certain diseases.

General information

Scallop celosia can be attributed to annual plants. It has erect green stems with a ribbed surface and ovoid leaves with pointed ends. Unlike the stem, the leaves of the scallop are smooth, and the shade can be not only green, but also dark purple. Paniculate inflorescences are formed by miniature flowers of different shades. By the way, the variety of rich and rich colors is one of the main decorative advantages that scallop celosia has. The height of the plant is 30-70 cm, allowing them to decorate both small home gardens and street flower beds. The flowering period lasts from mid-summer until the onset of frost. The seeds retain the ability to germinate for 5 years.

Landing place

Since the homeland of celosia is the southern countries, it is advisable to grow it in a sunny place that is protected from the wind. A slightly acidic and loose soil is preferable, but with special preparation, a good result is possible in heavy soil. In the second case, a little sand component should be added to the soil layer, which will ensure the looseness of the earth. In addition, scallop celosia reacts well to humus, and on any type of soil.

If you plan to land in open ground, this should be done in the summer - early June. This rule especially applies to young or non-acclimatized seedlings. In conditions of the slightest frost, the plant dies. But this does not mean that planting a flower is contraindicated in winter. It all depends on the conditions that can be created in the room. The only thing that prevents the full development of cellosis at this time is the lack of sunlight.

Temperature regime

If growing at home, then the optimal temperature in the room will be 18 ° C. Moreover, 14 ° C is the permissible lower limit. Oddly enough, scallop celosia, which is grown in the open air, is less demanding on temperature conditions and is able to tolerate higher rates. Although the boundaries of negative readings on the thermometer remain relevant in this case. Consideration should be given to the ventilation conditions. For example, if the temperature exceeds 25 ° C, then the room must be ventilated.

Growing by seeds

It is recommended to grow celosia by seeds, since propagation by cuttings is not able to provide the very aesthetic properties for which this plant is loved.

The optimal time for sowing is the end of March or the first days of April. Already a week later, the "cockscomb" sprouts. It is not necessary to sow thickly, it is better to observe intervals of 3 cm. The seeds are scattered over the moistened soil, and then covered with a film, which is removed a week after the first shoots are found.

Growing seedlings

This method is recommended for more experienced gardeners who are familiar with the care requirements of scallop celosia. Growing from seeds does not provide for special measures in the process of flower growth, but seedlings can give a satisfactory result only if the seedlings are carefully looked after.Among the mandatory care measures is to ensure the protection of immature young seedlings from the sun. In the household, a newspaper is usually used for this purpose, with the help of which young scallops are temporarily covered.

Seedlings are planted in a flower garden or on a flower bed with a certain step. For example, if you plan to plant large varieties, then the gap should be 30 cm, and if dwarf cellosia - 15 cm.But in most cases, scallop celosia is initially planted in one container and goes through the first stage of growth and development indoors. When the plant grows up, it should be dived into a pot up to 8 cm high.But it is best to initially plant the seedlings in separate pots - if in the future you plan to transplant into open ground, this approach will exclude possible damage to the root system.

Care and feeding

The main problem in caring for a scallop cockerel is the need to create greenhouse conditions. Breeders have bred many cold-resistant forms of the plant, but they also give the best decorative effect only in the optimal heat regime. It is important to note that the crested plant, which is grown and cared for on the balcony or in the home garden, is also very demanding. Firstly, access to the sun should be provided, and secondly, water supply should be regulated. It is not necessary to fill it, but it is necessary to moderately supply the roots with moisture.

In fertilization and feeding, cellosia is unpretentious. The best choice would be a metered supply of phosphate-potassium liquid fertilizer. Conversely, nitrogen fertilization is not recommended as it promotes increased green mass growth. If the dwarf scallop celosia is grown, then the leaves with such a diet will completely overshadow the inflorescences. Also, to maintain the healthy and flowering appearance of the scallop, its leaves should be regularly inspected and dried flowers removed.

Protection against diseases and pests

One of the most dangerous pests of cellosis is aphid, which affects both leaves and shoots. In the fight against it and other insects, aphicides effectively help. Common problems with immature young seedlings include black leg - to prevent this disease, again, watering should be controlled. It should be done in the early morning and only on sunny days. The plant is sensitive to weather phenomena; on cloudy days, watering procedures can be excluded.

If scallop celosia has nevertheless undergone the development of a "black leg", the soil should be loosened, covered with ash and watering should be minimized. The fact is that insufficient drainage or excess water can cause the development of fungal diseases. In addition, iron deficiency is dangerous, which leads to an increase in soil pH and deciduous chlorosis. Preparations with chelates (a type of iron compound) will help to cope with this cellosis disease.

Application

The main motivation for people who decide to start a scallop celosia is, of course, a decorative role. The plant looks attractive both as part of a flower arrangement in a flower bed, and as an independent decoration on the balcony. It is also one of the types widely used in the composition of ikebana. To do this, florists cut the flowers before seed formation and dry them in a cool, dark place to maintain their shape and shade.

It is famous for its cellosis and healing qualities. In folk medicine, it is used as a means to strengthen eyesight, treat blood diseases, to eliminate worms and heal ulcers in the oral cavity. The plant is of the greatest interest in specialist circles due to its ability to fight cancer and diabetes. In particular, the use of scallop celosia leaves for diabetes mellitus is widespread as an ingredient for salads, soups, side dishes, etc.There is another, more effective recipe that involves the use of dried cockscomb leaves. For cooking, you will need 2 tbsp. l. dried leaves and 1 cup of boiled water. The leaves are filled with water and infused for about 30 minutes. The intensity of taking such a tincture depends on the disease and its severity.

Scallops are quite whimsical plants, therefore, before starting to grow them, it is necessary to study all the necessary conditions for their growth.

The celosia crested plant grows in the tropical regions of the planet. And despite the fact that gardeners are very fond of scallop flowers, growing them is a rather troublesome event. This is largely due to the fact that not all climatic conditions are suitable for the life of the cellosis.

Typically, the plant is grown from seed. Almost all types of celosia are characterized by low frost resistance, which leads to the use of the seedling method. At home, containers can be used for planting seedlings. In a country residence, it is advisable to use a greenhouse or greenhouse. Cockscomb seeds are planted in March or April. The plant loves light, well-warmed areas by the sun, excluding the occurrence of drafts. Before planting seeds, you need to properly prepare the soil.

The difficulty of growing flowers is that celosia does not tolerate fresh organic fertilizers, so it is advisable to prepare the soil in a greenhouse in the previous season. Agrotechnics of preparation include the introduction of humus and bone meal. In dense and heavy soils, sand must be added.

Before planting, the seeds can be soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, which will reduce the risk of seedling disease. The soil in the greenhouse must be carefully spilled with boiling water or a thick solution of potassium permanganate. The seeds are small enough, but they rarely need to be sown, at a distance of at least 3 cm from each other.

It is undesirable to plant seeds in the soil; it is better to just spread them on top of wet soil and cover with a clean film. The film can be removed 7 days after the first shoots appear. Despite the fact that cockscombs are very fond of the sun, it can be destructive for young plants. Therefore, all seedlings should be shaded until they get stronger.

When the second leaf appears on young plants, you can make a dive by planting seedlings, but you can grow seedlings without diving. It depends on how often the scallops are planted.

During the growth of seedlings in the greenhouse, it is necessary to carefully monitor the soil moisture. Plants do not tolerate drying out of the soil and may die.

Therefore, it is necessary to water the seedlings often enough, while avoiding waterlogging, which is also detrimental to flowers, and only in the morning. In a greenhouse or greenhouse, seedlings must be grown until early June. It was then that persistently warm temperatures were established in many parts of the country. If the temperature drops below + 15 ° C, young plants may die.

Before planting celosia in open ground, you need to mark the rows for planting. So, the distance between plants should not be less than 15-20 cm, and in the case of growing large varieties - even more. It is necessary to try to remove the plant from the soil with a large earthen clod on the roots, then the damage to the roots will be minimal and the plant will take root better. The soil in the garden where the cockscombs will be planted must be prepared in the previous season by adding humus or organic fertilizers.

After planting in the ground, the bushes need feeding, but moderation should also be observed here. Over-feeding can lead to increased leaf growth and lack of buds. You need to feed the plants no more than 1 time in 20 days, using 15 g of complex mineral fertilizers per 5 liters of water.

If you follow all the rules of agricultural technology and competently approach the preparation of the soil, an amazing celion will bloom and delight with its unusual appearance all summer long.

The Amaranth family is distinguished by an amazing variety of decorative forms and colors. Each species of this large community is a whole world, fascinating and colorful. Today we will talk about one of its most interesting representatives - a plant called cellosia comb, whose bright decorativeness, multiplied by unpretentiousness, makes it possible to grow it in a garden plot, city flower beds, in park areas and houses on a windowsill, decorating everyday life with fireworks of colors and joy.

Description of the species

The genus celosium is represented by almost sixty species of flowering plant. Native to the warm tropical regions of the African, Asian and American continents, celosia exists excellently in the wild, and more recently in horticultural culture. Most often, crested, pinnate or spikelet celosia is grown.

Despite the fact that this culture is usually perennial, in the gardens of the temperate Russian zones it is common as an annual, since severe winters do not leave it a chance of survival. But as a houseplant, crested comb is excellent: almost undemanding to growing conditions, it blooms for a very long time. The stems of the plant are straight, highly branched and densely leafy. Inflorescences consist of small flowers, collected in scallops of bizarre shapes and sizes. Separately, we note the brilliance of these expressive colors. The palette of their shades is varied - from light yellow to copper-golden, from pink and purple to purple and orange. The seeds ripen in a polysperm box. The culture blooms in June and continues until the frost, and when grown indoors - until October-November.

Peculiarities

Distinguished by a magnificent color of flowers and a long flowering period, the plant is also appreciated by florists who work with a dry texture, since cut before the seeds ripen and properly dried, comb celosia does not lose either color or shape. It is a sure-fire element in any composition. Flowers should be dried in a dark, cool room, hanging them with inflorescences down.

The subtleties of growing

In Russia, the flower is cultivated as an ornamental annual not only when grown outdoors in garden plots and flower beds. Experienced growers recommend using the same algorithm of actions in home breeding: after a long productive flowering, the plant is removed from the pot, and the seeds are sown again in early spring. But more often, gardeners nevertheless decorate their site, because with its magnificent decorativeness, celosia is very easy to care for.

Regardless of where flowering is planned, at home or on the site, in February-March, flower growers sow seeds for seedlings. Since the plant is native to hot places, it will need a lot of heat and light for good development. But direct sunlight can cause burns on the leaves and significantly reduce decorativeness, therefore, they place containers with seedlings, and subsequently pots with adult plants, next to windows in the south or southwest direction so that there is enough diffused light. Celosia flower does not like comb-like drafts, this should be taken into account when installing a pot or planting it in a permanent place. The culture is also sensitive to sudden changes in temperature.

Choosing a landing site

An area well sheltered from the through wind and illuminated by the sun with light loose neutral or slightly acidic soil is considered ideal for planting a plant. Heavy soils are not suitable for the culture: without air access to the roots, it will develop poorly and wither. Coarse river sand is added to such soils. Last but not least is the soil fertility in the selected area.Chernozems are the best for celosia, but ordinary garden soil, dug up with high-quality organic matter (compost or humus), is perfect for growing a flower.

Celosia comb: growing from seeds

Novice growers should remember that seed growing is the best way to propagate a crop, since only with it all varietal characteristics are preserved. Therefore, it is preferred for the propagation of a plant such as cetacean. Growing begins with the seedling stage. The previously prepared containers are filled with a loose substrate, the seeds are sown in grooves at intervals of 1 cm, carefully sprinkled and moistened with warm water from a spray bottle. To create a more comfortable atmosphere, the containers are covered with glass or garden wrap, which are removed when seedlings appear.

In a room with seedling boxes, the necessary conditions are provided: they maintain a constant temperature, high-quality lighting, sufficient air humidity and ventilation. The hardened seedlings are dived, transplanted into separate containers. The culture is unpretentious and, with a certain care, tolerates transplantation quite easily. Celosia develops in a pot well, no worse than in an open flower bed, so growers often leave several copies of the plant for home cultivation.

Transfer to the ground

Transplanting seedlings into the ground is carried out when the threat of spring frosts has passed, since this southern culture is very sensitive even to slight recurrent cold snaps. The prepared and dug soil on the garden bed where the transplant is supposed to be fertilized with humus and treated with a solution of manganese or peat-humic fertilizers to disinfect the soil, since at first the root system of seedlings is very vulnerable to bacteria and pests that can weaken or destroy a young plant. When planting plants, take into account the presence of groundwater. If they come close to the intended area, then you will need to pre-drain the soil. Small crushed stone, expanded clay or stone chips are suitable for this. The final stage of planting is generous watering of young plants.

Celosia comb: care

Caring for the plant is not burdensome for the gardener. There are only a few necessary conditions, the fulfillment of which will ensure the high-quality development of the culture and its abundant bright flowering. Care comes down to ensuring the air permeability of the soil, loosening and removing weeds, as well as regular, but moderate watering. The basic rule is to keep the soil layer wet, to prevent drying out or waterlogging. The optimal time of day for watering is either early morning or calm evening hours if excessive heat occurs during the day. Water that has settled and warmed up in the sun is ideal.

Top dressing

Intense flowering and preparation for it requires significant strength and nutrition. Celosia is responsive to feeding, which is carried out in small doses every two weeks. A proven and reliable method of application is an aqueous fertilizer solution added to the water for irrigation. Usually they use complex mineral fertilizers (15-20 g / 1 m2), the range of which is very wide today. Regular application of them will ensure the normal level of nutrients in the soil, not exceeding the permissible level and not depleting the soil.

Diseases and pests

Often, ignorant gardeners cause problems with the development of cellosis by improper care, first of all, by an error in watering. The most common disease associated with poor quality care is blackleg, which develops from fungi in the soil and devours the delicate stems of young plants.Constant waterlogging provokes an ailment, and getting rid of it is quite difficult.

At the first signs of the appearance of this misfortune, watering should be stopped, the soil under the plants should be loosened well and mixed with wood ash, which will act as an adsorbent and support nutrition. Such measures can only help at the very beginning of the defeat. Neglected forms are incurable, it is better to remove heavily damaged plants as soon as possible, since the disease is very contagious. It manifests itself in a thinned stem, impaired sap flow and general wilting. Celosia comb at home also runs the risk of undergoing the described disease. It can also arise from insufficient ventilation of the room.

The ubiquitous aphid, which lives on the stems and tops of plants, does not bypass celosia. When these insects appear, insecticide solutions are used, the concentration of which is adjusted in accordance with the dosage indicated in the instructions attached to the products.

Iron deficiency can manifest itself as chlorosis. They get rid of it by treating plants with iron preparations.

So, all the necessary aspects for the cultivation of such a plant as comb celosia are highlighted. Growing and caring for her is a simple operation, all efforts are more than compensated for by the magnificent flowering of cute "scallops".