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Planting pink cosmos is an easy and fun way to add a pop of color to any garden. By following these simple tips, you’ll be sure to have success.
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Planting
If you are looking to add a pop of color to your garden, consider planting pink cosmos. These flowers are relatively easy to care for and can add a splash of color to any garden.
Prepare the planting area
Start by finding an area in your garden that gets full sun. Cosmos flowers are very easy to grow, but they will produce the most blossoms if they get at least 6 hours of sun each day. The soil doesn’t need to be very rich, but it should be well-drained. Once you’ve found the perfect spot, use a shovel to loosen the top 12 inches of soil.
If your soil is heavy clay or sandy, mix in some organic matter to help improve drainage and add nutrients. Just about any type of compost or manure will do the trick. You can also buy bags of “soil amendments” at your local nursery or garden center. Mix in 2 to 3 inches of compost or manure and then use a rake to level the area.
Sow the seeds
To sow the seeds, mix them with sand in order to prevent them from clumping together. Once they are mixed, sow them on the soil surface and lightly cover with additional sand or soil. Be sure to water the soil well after planting. The ideal time to plant cosmos is in late spring or early summer.
Water the seeds
Water the cosmos seeds lightly after planting, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. The ideal soil temperature for germination is 21 to 27 degrees Celsius. Place the seed container in a sunny spot, and wait two to three weeks for the seeds to germinate. Once they have germinated, thin out the weaker seedlings, leaving the strong ones to grow.
Growing
The key to planting pink cosmos is to start with healthy plants from a reputable nursery. Once you have your plants, choose a sunny spot in your garden with well-drained soil. Prepare the soil by removing any weeds or debris, then loosen the soil with a rake. You want to make sure the planting hole is big enough for the root ball. Gently remove the plant from the pot and place it in the hole. Be sure to fill in around the plant with soil, tamping it down gently as you go. Water the plant well and add a layer of mulch around the base to help retain moisture.
Fertilize the plants
After your pink cosmos plants have grown for a couple of weeks, you can start fertilizing them. You can use a standard garden fertilizer or a water-soluble fertilizer. If you use the latter, mix it according to the manufacturer’s directions and apply it to the soil around the plants. Fertilize every two weeks or as needed.
Deadhead the flowers
As your plants bloom, be sure to deadhead the flowers. This means removing the spent Blooms as they fade. This will not only tidy up your plant, but it will also encourage more blooms. You can simply snap the Bloom off at the base of the flower or cut it back with a pair of sharp gardening shears.
Water the plants
Once you have your plants, it’s time to water them. Water the plants deeply and evenly, taking care not to overwater or let them dry out. The best way to know if your plant needs water is to stick your finger in the soil; if it feels dry, it’s time to water.
Enjoying
Few flowers evoke such a feeling of summer like cosmos. These daisy-like annuals are easy to grow from seed, and will reward you with months of color in the garden. They make great cut flowers, too. Read on to learn more about planting and caring for cosmos.
Cut the flowers for bouquets
If you’d like to cut the flowers for bouquets, wait until the plants are well-established and have plenty of blooms. You can cut the stems long or short, depending on the vase you’re using. Be sure to use a sharp knife or pruning shears, and cut at an angle so that the stem can take up water more easily. You can also deadhead the plants to encourage more blooming. To do this, simply snip off the spent blooms, being careful not to damage the new buds that are forming.
Enjoy the flowers in the garden
Peek-a-boo, I see you! The playful flowers of pink cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) peek out from behind other plants in the garden, as if they were trying to surprise you. But it’s impossible not to notice these annuals with their showy blooms in shades of pink, red, and white.
This carefree plant is a native of Mexico, and it grows just as easily in the United Kingdom as it does in the United States. Just give it a sunny spot in your garden, and before long you’ll have blooms that last from summer until frost.
