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Find out how to plant and grow chocolate cosmos flowers in your garden with these helpful tips!
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Introduction
If you love chocolate, you’ll adore chocolate cosmos flowers (Cosmos atrosanguineus). As their name implies, these beautiful blooms have a rich chocolate fragrance that’s truly intoxicating. They’re also quite easy to grow, making them a great choice for both beginning and experienced gardeners. Best of all, they make wonderful cut flowers, so you can enjoy their heavenly scent indoors as well as out.
What You’ll Need
-One or more chocolate cosmos plants
-Potting soil
-A pot or container
-A sunny location
Planting chocolate cosmos is easy, and they make a great addition to any garden. These beautiful flowers are perfect for adding a touch of chocolate flavor to your favorite desserts, and they’re also a delicious way to enjoy the fresh flavor of chocolate.
When choosing a pot or container for your plant, make sure it has drainage holes in the bottom. Cosmos thrive in well-drained soil, so it’s important to make sure excess water can easily escape.
Fill your pot or container with potting soil, and then remove the plant from its current pot. Gently loosen the roots before placing it in the new pot. Fill in around the plant with more potting soil, and then water thoroughly.
Place your pot in a sunny location, and keep an eye on the soil. Chocolate cosmos like to be kept moist, so be sure to water as needed to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Once your plant is established, you can begin enjoying its delicious chocolate blooms! Cut flowers can be used fresh in salads or as a garnish for desserts, or you can dry them and enjoy them as part of a bouquet.
Planting the Chocolate Cosmos Flowers
Chocolate Cosmos flowers (Cosmos atrosanguineus) are annual plants that originate from Mexico. They get their name from their deep chocolate-colored blooms which appear in summer and last until the first frost hits in autumn. These unusual flowers are very fragrant and make excellent cut flowers. If you want to add some Chocolate Cosmos to your garden, read on for tips on how to plant them.
Chocolate Cosmos can be started from seed, but they are also available as transplants from some nurseries. If you are starting with seeds, sow them indoors about 6-8 weeks before the last frost date in spring. Use a sterile seed starting mix and plant the seeds 1/4 inch deep. Keep the soil moist but not soggy and provide bottom heat of 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit if possible. The seeds will germinate in 10-14 days.
Once the Chocolate Cosmos seedlings have several sets of true leaves, they can be transplanted into 4-inch pots filled with rich garden loam. Transplant them outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and they have had a chance to harden off for a week or two first. Space the plants 18 inches apart in an area that gets full sun and has well-drained soil. After planting, water them well and mulch around them with straw or shredded leaves to help retain moisture in the soil.
Chocolate Cosmos will bloom best if they are given some fertilizer during the growing season. A balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer can be applied once a month during the active growth period (April through August). Be sure to follow the package directions for rates based on the size of your plants.
With proper care, your Chocolate Cosmos flowers should bloom from summer until frost kills them back in late autumn or early winter. At that time, cut back any remaining plant material to about 4 inches above ground level so that it doesn’t harbor diseases or pests over winter.
Caring for the Chocolate Cosmos Flowers
Planting chocolate cosmos flowers is not difficult, and they are low-maintenance plants. They are an annual plant, meaning they will live for one growing season and then die. However, they self-seed readily, so you will likely have them come back the following year without having to replant them. Chocolate cosmos will do best in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. They are not particularly fussy about soil type but prefer it on the sandy side.
Water your chocolate cosmos regularly, especially during hot, dry spells. Cosmos are not drought tolerant plants and will wilt quickly if they do not have enough water. Fertilize your plants every few weeks with a general-purpose fertilizer to keep them looking their best. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continued blooming. You can also cut the plants back by half after they have bloomed to promote a second flush of flowers later in the season.
Enjoying the Chocolate Cosmos Flowers
The chocolate cosmos flower is a beautiful and fragrant bloom that is perfect for adding to bouquets or enjoying on its own. Chocolate cosmos flowers are easy to grow and maintain, making them a great choice for beginner gardeners. With a few simple tips, you can have these lovely flowers blooming in your garden in no time!
Chocolate cosmos flowers are best planted in the spring, after the last frost has passed. They can be started from seed, but it is often easier to purchase young plants from a nursery. Once you have your plants, simply prepare the soil by tilling it and adding some compost or manure. Then, plant your chocolate cosmos flowers about 18 inches apart. Water them well and keep the soil moist throughout the growing season.
Once your chocolate cosmos flowers start to bloom, you can enjoy their beauty indoors or out! These stunning blooms make lovely additions to bouquets, centerpieces, and other floral arrangements. They also look beautiful when planted in mass as part of a border or foundation planting. Wherever you choose to enjoy them, simply sit back and enjoy the beauty of these sweet-smelling flowers!
