“I would rather have flowers in my hair than diamonds around my neck”
Flowers bring colours in our life. They give us hope like a shining sunray on a dark cloudy day. They differ in their appearance yet each and every blossom looks ethereal in their own different way. Flowers, which are one of the most beautiful creations of the Almighty are created on a purpose to spread smiles to the mankind through their sweet smell and attractive appearance.
COSMOS flower
One of these thrivers in beauty is a blooming ‘Cosmos’ flower.
Common name: Garden Cosmos
Botanical name: Cosmos bipinnatus.
Not surprisingly, the name Cosmos comes from the Greek word ‘kosmos’ which means ‘beautiful’ or ‘world order’. Cosmos flowers are often used to symbolize order and harmony, due largely to flower’s harmonious petals. It can also be viewed as symbolizing tranquility, peace, innocence and love.
Beauty of COSMOS
- Nature has rendered us with variety of flowers with vibrant colours that is re, yellow, orange, white and pink. Of course, What is beauty without colours?
- The leaves are simple, pinnate, or bipinnate, and arranged in opposite pairs.
- Have you imagined flowers with almost 6-feet height? This cosmos can grow up to 6-feet high sometimes more than a human being.
- Cosmos plants react to rich, fertile soil or an abundance of fertilizer by growing tall and leggy
Growing COSMOS in pots
When established, the plants can handle drought, poor soil conditions and general neglect. They even self-sow, this is truly a low maintenance plant.
For best flowering, choose a site that gets full sun as they perform best in medium moisture, well-drained soils, but they will perform adequately in dried soils as well. Most amazing fact about cosmos is one need not to water cosmos until there is a prolonged drought. They thrive under any humidity level. They typically germinate in 7-21 day at 75 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by flowering in about 50-60 days
Be COSMOS FRIENDLY
Let’s adopt some environment friendly methods of growing cosmos. Growing cosmos in a pot is very easy.
- Choose a pot at least 12 inches in diameter with several drainage holes in the bottom. Heavy pots are stable which can help prevent the plant from toppling.
- don’t use light weight plastic pots, If taken then place a layer of gravel in the bottom of the pot to add weight before filling it with potting mix.
- Scatter the seeds thinly over the surface of the potting soil and cover them with one-third to one-half inch of additional soil.
- When the seedlings are 4 inches tall, thin the plants by clipping out the unwanted seedlings with scissors.
- When your seedlings are off to a good start, set the pot in a good sunny location. Water container-grown cosmos when the soil is dry to a depth of two inches. Drench the soil and then allow the excess water to drain through. After about 20 minutes, empty the saucer under the pot. Pots that sit in sunny locations dry out quickly, so check the soil moisture daily.
. When growing cosmos in pots, a light feeding with slow-release fertilizer lasts through the entire season.
DECORATION WITH COSMOS
COSMOS are ideal for decorations and can be used as cut flowers in various arrangements. Cosmos also being rewarded as perfect species for attracting butterflies, humming birds and various insects which benefit a garden.
Benefits of COSMOS
Like any other flower, they have their own benefits and uses.
- They act like a magnet for bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects (lacewings, parasitic wasps, etc.).
- They are easy to grow and you get free seeds and save money that means eco-friendly also.
- They are edible and can brighten up your salad if grown organically.
- Moreover, these flowers can last upto 7-10 days then re-cut the stems and keep in fresh water
- If you want to colour your garden with fresh and bright blossoms with no maintenance at all, these Cosmos flowers are the ones you need to grow!
- Last but not the least, we all are aware of the fact that honey bees are essential for entire ecosystem function and cosmos attract honeybees hence, some things are made for each other like this amazing combination of honey bees and cosmos.