Kosmeya

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Kosmeya (lat. Cosmos) - an annual or perennial plant of the Asteraceae family, or Asteraceae. The homeland of cosmos is the tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America. Currently, there are 25 species. Another name for space. In Russia, only two types are widespread: double-pinned cosmeya and sulfur-yellow cosmeia.

Common species in Russia and their characteristics

Kosmeya is a graceful flowering plant with white, red, pink and purple flowers. Several types of cosmos are used as ornamental garden plants.

* Cosmos bipinnatus (Latin Cosmos bipinnatus) - the species is represented by plants 80-150 cm high. The stem is straight, highly branched. The leaves are pinnately dissected, openwork, dissected into filamentous lobes, oppositely arranged. The inflorescence is a multi-flowered basket, up to 5-10 cm in diameter, located on bare peduncles. Tubular flowers are yellow, ligulate - white, pink or bright red. The fruit is achene. The flowering of double-feathery cosmos is long, abundant, as a rule, takes place from June to September.

* Kosmeya sulfur-yellow (Latin Cosmos sulphureus) - the species is represented by plants up to 80 cm high. The stem is straight, densely branched. Castings are dissected into wider segments than in double-feathered cosmos. The inflorescence is a multi-flowered basket, up to 6 cm in diameter, can be golden yellow or orange in color. The fruit is an achene, has an elongated, slightly curved shape, often black, dark yellow, gray or brown in color.

Growing conditions

Kosmeya is a light-loving plant that needs intense lighting throughout the day. Some varieties are able to develop normally in semi-shaded areas. The culture is not demanding for soil conditions, but it prefers well-drained, moderately moist, loose and fertile soils. Kosmeya is drought-resistant and frost-resistant, easily withstands small frosts. The plant has a negative attitude towards cold winds and thickening.

Reproduction and planting

Cosmea is propagated by seeds. Sowing seeds is carried out in spring or autumn under a shelter. Seeds are sown in open ground in "nests", that is, 2-3 seeds per hole. It is not recommended to deepen the seeds. The distance between crops should be 20-40 cm, depending on the type of crop. With the appearance of the first two true leaves in the seedlings, thinning is carried out, leaving one plant in the nest.

Low-growing forms, heterotic hybrids and varieties with large inflorescences are desirable to grow through seedlings. In this case, sowing is carried out in early April in seedling pots or boxes (followed by picking). The crops are covered with plastic wrap and placed in a room with an air temperature of 15-17C. As a rule, sprouts of cosmos appear on the 8-14th day. Seedlings of tall forms in the phase of five true leaves are pinched, this procedure is necessary to enhance branching and a slight delay in flowering. Planting seedlings in open ground is carried out at the end of May.

Care

In general, cosmeia care is not difficult. It consists in infrequent watering, weeding, loosening of the soil in the near-stem zone, as well as in fertilizing and preventive treatments for diseases and pests. Observing all the rules of care, you can grow strong and healthy plants that will delight their owners with abundant and long flowering.

The culture responds positively to feeding, two feeding is carried out during the season: the first - in early spring, the second - during the budding period (double superphosphate and mullein). Tall varieties of kosmey need a garter to support, especially in open areas with strong winds.

The faded buds of plants are periodically removed, this procedure will stimulate the appearance of new buds and give the cosmos a more well-groomed appearance. In the fall, before the onset of frost, the plants are cut at a height of 12-15 cm above the soil level and mulched with peat.

Application

Kosmeya is a flowering ornamental plant used in group plantings. Looks great against a background with undersized shrubs with openwork foliage in rich shades. Kosmeya is grown on lawns and lawns, as well as near the walls of houses and outbuildings. Low-growing forms of cosme look great in pots on balconies and terraces. The plant is combined with vervains, carnations, phloxes, chamomiles, marigolds, rudbeckia, cineraria, salvia and dahlias.