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Unusual and spectacular comb celosia is a "fashionista" whose exotic beauty can decorate any flower bed. The upper edge of its lush velvety inflorescences is sinuous, shaped like a rooster's comb, which gave the second, popular name to this amazing plant. The color of the multiple small flowers of cephalic cephalic varies widely from bright yellow to dark red, causing a persistent association with tongues of flame. In its homeland, in the warm weather conditions of southern Asia, it is a perennial crop, while in temperate countries it is more often grown as an annual ornamental plant.
Celosia comb is great in the garden, grows successfully in pots and containers, and is great for cutting and drying. Its flowering period lasts all summer and ends only with the onset of frost. Currently, a number of varieties of crested comb are known, bred specifically for the needs of decorative gardening.
Description of scallop celusion
Silver comb celosia (popularly referred to as "cock's comb") is the most famous and widespread species of the genus Celosia of the Amaranth family.
Depending on the variety, this flower can grow from 35 to 70 cm long. Its stems are large, juicy, erect, branched, often accrete in several pieces. They can be green or reddish.
Leaves of cellosis cristate are alternate, whole, pointed at the ends. The plates are usually oval or elongated. They are green, burgundy, purple, variegated, or golden.
Small flowers of crested comb are collected in massive complex inflorescences, shaped like a dense spike, about 8 cm wide. The embossed convolutions along the upper edge give them the appearance of a cock's comb. You can see what the flowers of the crested comb look like in the photo:
The unusual shape of the inflorescences of the crested comb resembles a cockscomb
The palette of their colors is very rich: there are yellow, red, orange, scarlet, pink and even lilac varieties.
Celosia comb blooms for a long time: from the second half of June until the beginning of November.
The fruit of the plant is a box, inside of which there are many small seeds.
The best varieties
The variety of this exotic flower will help to introduce familiarity with its most popular varieties. Among them there are dwarf, medium and tall ones. They differ from each other in the size and shape of inflorescences, color of flowers and leaves.
Coral garden
The varietal series of the Coral Garden Celosia is represented by low plants, the length of the shoots of which usually does not exceed 30-40 cm.The bright colors of the "scallops" are from 10 to 20 cm wide, ranging from light yellow to deep fuchsia. The leaves are colored deep green. Most often, the seeds of this crested comb are sold as a mixture. The coral garden looks great when cut and dried.
Variety series Coral Garden impresses with a variety of colors
The empress
Luxurious Empress, or Impress (Empress), also refers to dwarf varieties of Celosia comb: the height of its shoots is usually 30 cm. Its distinctive features are dark green leaves and large burgundy-red "crowns". It is often grown as a balcony culture.
The burgundy-red "crown" of the Empress looks luxurious and majestic
Atropurpurea
Atropurpurea does not grow tall - only about 25-30 cm. It is characterized by an unusual coloration of the stems, combining green and pale pink tones. On the tops of the shoots, very large inflorescences of a rich purple-red color are kept. Leaves are oval, light green, with pink veins.
The beautiful Atropurpurea has unusual light green leaves with pink veins
Application in landscape design
Unusual and elegant "cockscomb" looks wonderful in any corner of the garden, which allows landscape designers to consider this flower a real find. The photos of crested comb on the flower beds below confirm this.
A bright, eye-catching plant fits perfectly into ridges and mixborders, looks great both in single and mixed plantings
Low-growing varieties of Celosia comb will help to create a picturesque border along a garden or park path
Tall varieties will become a picturesque element of a voluminous flower garden, perfectly combined with perennial shrubs, ornamental grasses or any other plants that have a less bright color
It looks very beautifully combed cellosis growing in a box or container.
Having planted several varieties of various colors nearby, you can easily get an elegant colorful flower bed that remains decorative for a long time
In addition, Celosia comb is excellent for cutting and floristic compositions from both fresh and dried flowers, since its inflorescences are able to retain their shape and color brightness for a long time.
Breeding features
You can propagate the crested comb in this way:
- By growing from seeds. The most common and easiest way. Assumes pre-sowing for seedlings, since the plant is extremely sensitive to the slightest frost, and therefore planting seeds directly in open ground in temperate climates is not practiced.
- By rooting cuttings. This method is less popular, since the cellosia grown in this way often loses its decorative effect, not always retaining the characteristics inherent in the variety. However, if desired, cuttings should be cut in the spring and placed in a container with a root growth stimulant for several hours. Then they need to be planted in a substrate diluted with sand, covered with a transparent cap and ensure regular watering. After a couple of weeks, the cuttings will grow roots. After that, they can be transplanted to a permanent place or, after waiting for stable warm weather, they can be rooted in a flower bed in the open field.
Growing comb cellosis from seeds
Since the seedling method of growing crested comb from seeds at home is recognized as the most convenient and popular, it is worth dwelling on it in more detail. Getting strong, healthy seedlings will not be difficult if you follow some simple rules.
Recommended timing
It is recommended to carry out sowing of crested comb on seedlings in the interval from February to early April.In this case, by the time the air temperature outside is stable at around + 15-18 ° C, the young plants will already be sufficiently developed to be planted under the open sky in a permanent place.
Preparation of containers and soil
It is convenient to use wide, shallow containers or boxes as containers for germinating seeds of cellosis comb. You can also use individual pots or peat tablets, which will allow you to avoid picking seedlings in the future.
The soil mixture should be loose, light and water permeable. This is easy to prepare by mixing garden soil with humus, sand and vermiculite.
Small seeds of cellosis comb in a dense shell must be treated with a biostimulant before planting
Seed preparation
Pre-sowing preparation of seeds of comb cellosis involves keeping them for 3-4 hours in a solution of a biostimulator (Epin, Zircon). Add 1 drop of the drug to a glass of water. This will help soak the dense seed shells and improve their metabolism.
How to plant seeds of comb cellosis for seedlings
The sowing of crested comb for seedlings is carried out as follows:
- A small layer of drainage is laid on the bottom of the prepared containers, then they are filled with a soil mixture.
- Moisten the substrate evenly with a spray bottle.
- The seeds are carefully laid out on the surface of the soil, without covering, but slightly pressing them into the ground.
- Spray the soil again with water from a spray bottle.
- Cover the containers with glass or transparent film and put them on the windowsill, where the seedlings are to grow.
Care of seedlings of comb cellosis
At the initial stage, caring for the crops of cellosis cristate implies the creation of the following conditions:
- maintaining the temperature in the room with seedlings at the level of + 22-25 ° С;
- providing a sufficient amount of scattered light - it is undesirable for a window sill with crops of crested comb be exposed to direct sunlight;
- performing regular, but moderate watering from a spray gun or pipette, which does not allow the soil to dry out or excessively moisten it;
- daily airing of crops and elimination of condensed moisture from the inside of the transparent cover.
Sowing comb-like seedlings on seedlings should not be crowded, it is necessary to leave the seedlings some space for growth
Planting and caring for comb cellulose in the open field
After the seedlings grow a little, having formed 3 true leaves, they should be transplanted into individual pots with a diameter of about 8 cm.Some gardeners advise making a pick of the crested comb, grown in boxes, twice, gradually increasing the size of the containers. Transplanting each seedling is carried out carefully, be sure to leave a clod of earth on the roots.
At the next stage, the celosia flower, or "cockscomb", is moved into the open ground and the plant is provided with the necessary care in a permanent place.
Transplant timing
The plant is transplanted to the garden plot in May or early June. An important condition is the absence of even the most insignificant return frosts and finally settled warm weather.
Site selection and soil preparation
A site, in all respects suitable for comb celosia, must:
- well lit by the sun;
- be reliably protected from strong winds and drafts;
- have a loose, nutritious, not very heavy soil with a low level of acidity.
Before transferring the seedlings of the crested comb to the open ground, it is necessary to prepare the bed:
- A week before the expected date of planting seedlings, the land on the site should be dug up, adding humus and, if necessary, a little sand.
- A couple of days before the deadline, it is recommended to spill the soil with a light pink solution of potassium permanganate in order to protect it from pests.
- If the soil is too acidic, it will need to be limed at about the same time.
With the onset of consistently warm weather, the grown cellosia comb can be transplanted to the site
Landing algorithm
Having prepared the site, you can proceed directly to planting the crested comb:
- First, dig holes for plants in the soil. The distance between individual specimens of tall varieties of crested crested varieties should be at least 30 cm, dwarf ones - at least 10-15 cm.
- Carefully remove each seedling from the container together with a clod of earth.
- Install in the hole, carefully distributing the roots.
- Carefully cover the hole with earth, slightly compacting the soil near the stem with your hands.
- Water the plant gently at the root.
Watering and feeding schedule
Further care for the crested comb on the site is extremely simple. It is very drought-resistant, but, on the contrary, does not tolerate waterlogging. Based on this, watering young plants at the initial stage of the growing season is advised regularly, but not excessively. Further, moisture is introduced into the soil only when necessary, that is, during the dry period, if it becomes noticeable that the leaves begin to turn yellow, and the lush "scallops" are gradually losing their decorative effect.
Celosia comb is good for feeding. However, you cannot overdo it with them either. For example, if there is an excess of organic matter and nitrogen in the soil, the shoots of the plant will be very elongated, and the flowering will be poor. It is advisable to use liquid complex mineral compositions (for example, for plants of the Amaranth family), dissolved in water, for feeding the crested comb. The schedule for their introduction is 2 times a month.
Pests and diseases
Of the diseases and harmful insects from which comb cellosis can suffer, first of all, the following should be noted:
- Fungal diseases. One of the most common and dangerous for comb cellosis is the "black leg". Its causative agent is a fungus of the genus Botrytis. The cause of the disease is an overly thickened planting of plants, excess moisture in the soil or in the air. First, the fungus occupies the base of the stem and develops there, preventing sap flow. Affected celosia comb begins to turn yellow, dry out and quickly die. Plants with signs of blackleg infestation must be dug up and burned, and the soil in the place where they were planted must be treated with wood ash. The rest of the specimens of crested comb need to temporarily stop watering. As a preventive measure, seeds and soil are disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate before planting.
"Black leg" - a fungal disease that occurs in comb cellosis due to waterlogging
- Aphid. Colonies of this pest, which feeds on plant sap, often infect the crested cellosis. At the initial stage of infection, treatment of the aboveground part of the plants with soapy water will help, as well as the search and destruction of anthills located near the beds, since ants contribute to the spread of aphids. If the number of insects is large, chemical insecticides are used in the fight against them.
At the initial stage, you can fight aphids using folk methods.
- Medvedka. These insects, living underground, often damage the roots of the crested comb, as a result of which the plant withers and dies.In order to combat them, it is recommended to shed the land on the site with water with dissolved insecticides, or, by mixing them with powdered sweet corn sticks, to seal the resulting gruel into the ground. Marigolds planted along the edges of the flower bed are considered a good preventive measure against the bear.
Medvedka is capable of gnawing the roots of cellosis, due to which the plant can quickly die
Cutting and collecting seeds
In order to collect seeds from flowers of scallop celosia, which can be planted next year, you should do the following:
- towards the end of the season, cut off several inflorescences that are already starting to fade;
- place them in a container (without water) and leave in a dark cool room;
- shake dried inflorescences well over the table, on which sheets of clean white paper are laid out;
- separate the seeds from the litter and put them in a tight paper bag or box for storage.
Conclusion
Celosia comb is a very decorative, bright and beautiful seasonal flower. Its strengths are spectacular, "exotic" appearance, rich palette of colors of bright inflorescences and leaves, undemanding care, long flowering period. In temperate latitudes, this tropical visitor is grown as an annual, but it is not difficult at the end of the season to collect seeds on their own in order to decorate the site with intricate “cocks combs” next year.
