How to Grow and Care for the Celosia or Cockscomb Flower in Containers
Intro: Celosia flowers, also called woolflowers or cockscombs, have unusual flowers that can bloom up to 10 weeks. These flowers can have red, pink, purple, gold or bicolored blooms. When many celosia flower blooms are next to each other, they collectively resemble fire, which is why the genus name Celosia, meaning burning in Greek, was chosen. The common name of cockscomb comes from the bloom’s resemblance to a rooster’s comb. Not all celosia flowers look this way – there are many shapes, colors and sizes (from 6 inches to 2 feet). And each blossom is made up of many tiny flowers, which is why this flower will produce numerous small seeds and keep sprouting in your plant containers with no extra effort on your part. Celosia flowers also look great in vases and bouquets, so you can bring their beauty indoors.
Scientific Name: Celosia spp.
Plant Type: Herbaceous flower, mostly grown as an annual
Light: The cockscomb flower requires full sun to do best.
Water: Keep the celosia flower's potting soil moist, but not wet.
Zone: In zones 10 and 11, this flower can be grown as a perennial plant in container gardens. In other zones, the celosia flower is usually grown as an annual flower. Celosia species do not tolerate cold.
Fertilizer: Fertilize the celosia flower once a month. These flowers thrive with a rich potting soil, so you may want to include compost or a fertilizer with a high amount of nitrogen.
Pests and Diseases: Spider mites and aphids may become a problem insect pests with celosia flowers.
Propagation: This plant drops its seeds and will quickly take over a container (and maybe even nearby plant containers!). To propagate this flower, collect the seeds and start the seeds indoors. Thin out the celosia sprouts so they are about 8 inches apart and plant young flowers outdoors after the last frost has passed.
Misc. Info: Some Celosia species are used for food or medicinal purposes. Before using your celosia flower for anything other than just for viewing in the container garden, research your particular cockscomb species and variety.
