The enchanting Celosia draws from a pool of varied inflorescences. The floral spectrum ranges from colorful fluffy flowers to feathery lightweights and fancy cockscombs. How good that there is agreement among the multi-faceted Brandschopf varieties, at least with regard to cultivation. Read precise answers to frequently asked questions here.

The Celosia impresses with its strong colors

care tips

Don't let the different inflorescences irritate you. Irrespective of whether the head of hair is presented with feathers, tufts or cockscombs - the care program is the same for all varieties. How to do it right:

  • If the substrate has dried, water moderately with lime-free water
  • Fertilize the bed organically every 4 weeks from May/June to September
  • Fertilize smuts in the pot every 2-3 weeks
  • Cut off wilted flowers and yellowed leaves

For a Celosia in a planter, there are good prospects of a perennial cultivation. Put the flower away in autumn to bring it through the cold season either warm and light or cool and dark. Water to a lesser extent depending on the light and temperature conditions.
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Which location is suitable?

Reserve a sunny, warm and sheltered spot for your brandy that cannot get under the blazing midday sun. Ideally, this place is under an eaves, an awning under the protection of tall deciduous trees, so that splashing rain does not affect the pompom flowers. Your Celosia is completely happy when it can stretch out its roots in fresh, humus-rich and slightly acidic soil.

When is flowering time?

The different flower shapes as clusters, feathers or crests result from a genetic change within the Celosia genus. This whim of Mother Nature gives us a wide range of magnificent Brandschopf varieties, which nevertheless delight us with their blooming splendor over a uniform period from June to October. Clean up wilted flower heads as soon as possible, and the next buds will unfold within a few days.

Properly cut Celosia

Simply cut off the withered flowers on your tuft. In this way, the neat appearance is retained. At the same time, the next buds can take off unhindered for their colorful appearance. The same applies to yellowed or drawn-in pages. Thanks to their lush branching, Celosia can easily do without a few flower stalks so that they decorate the home as a vase decoration. On top of that, the exotic plant provides dimensionally stable material for a long-lasting dry bouquet. To do this, cut off the shoots immediately before they are in full bloom in order to dry them upside down in an airy place.

Pour Celosia

Pour a smack moderately. Specifically, this requirement means that you only use the watering can when the soil has dried well. Allow the water to run slowly onto the root ball to stop in time when it no longer absorbs moisture. Spoil your Celosie with the soft water she knows from her tropical home. Hard tap water contains too much lime and causes the pH value to jump into undesirable alkaline regions.

Fertilize Celosia properly

With an organic fertilizer you cover the nutrient requirements in the bed from May to September in an exemplary manner. Work leaf compost, horn shavings, (32.93€) bark humus or well-seasoned horse manure lightly into the soil on a monthly basis and water extensively with soft water. A liquid rhododendron or azalea fertilizer in the flower pot is suitable for your head of hair, as this is tailored to the requirements of an acidic substrate.

hibernate

The perfect basic conditions for a healthy wintering are discussed controversially among hobby gardeners. The fact is that a Brandschopf is not hardy, but still has a lifespan of several years. You are therefore welcome to experiment with Celosia in a planter. That is how it goes:

  • Grant in autumn when the thermometer falls below 10 degrees Celsius
  • Place the plume on the bright windowsill in the living room, at normal room temperatures
  • Overwinter optionally in a partially shaded to dark location at a cool 12-14 degrees Celsius

Whichever variant you choose, please water less according to the changed conditions. A light, warm hibernation requires the addition of a little liquid fertilizer every 6 weeks.

multiply Celosia

Sowing is the only viable propagation method for the tropical smut. So that the plant does not completely exhaust itself with the growth of seed heads, we recommend purchasing certified seeds from specialist retailers. Sow the fine seeds in March to simply press them down to germinate in the light. In the heatable indoor greenhouse, keep the seeds constantly moist with lime-free water at 20-23 degrees Celsius. Germination begins within 8 to 14 days. Please separate the seedlings only when they have at least 2 pairs of leaves.

Celosia in the pot

For pot culture, we recommend bog or rhododendron soil as a substrate, as this meets the desire for a slightly acidic pH value. A drainage system made of potsherds prevents waterlogging, covered with an air- and water-permeable fleece to prevent silting. Pour a head of water moderately until the first drops run into the coaster. From June to September, apply a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants every 2-3 weeks. If you put the pot away in autumn, the Celosia will continue to bloom on the bright, warm windowsill or rest in the dark, cool winter quarters.

Is Celosia poisonous?

You can confidently cultivate Brandschopf species and varieties in the family garden, because the plants are not poisonous. In fact, the leaves are rich in protein and vitamin C, so they are grown as a vegetable in Africa or Indonesia. The yellow flowers even contain plenty of dopamine, so that consumption puts you in a good mood. In modern cuisine, Celosia flowers are often used to decorate food and drinks.

Beautiful varieties

  • New Look: Innovative Celosia variety with deep red flowers over dark foliage and compact growth; 30-40cm
  • Clear Chrystal Rose: Premium strain that showcases red-edged leaves and red buds; 40-50cm
  • Deep purple: violet fluffy flowers are enthroned above lush green leaves in beds and tubs; 60-70cm
  • Lilliput: A colorful mix of red, orange and yellow tufts for the summer garden; 30-40cm
  • Amigo Rot: Delicate cockscomb with red flowers, ideal for edging beds and balcony boxes; 20-30cm

Category:

Indoor plants