Celosia Plant
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about the Celosia Plant
The celosia plant is a gorgeous flowering plant that adds impact to any backyard garden, arrangement, or bouquet. There are two major types of celosia. The plumed type of celosia plant grows huge spires that will stick up above all other plants or flowers nearby. The crested type of celosia plant takes on a twisted formation that’s always entertaining.
The celosia plant is native to some parts of Asia and Africa. You tend to find more celosias in tropical climates because they need the hot weather to thrive, however people in some cooler climates in the northern part of the United States also use the celosia plant as an annual bedding plant.
When you purchase seeds to grow your own celosia plant, keep in mind that there are several different varieties among the two major types of celosia. Some celosias will grow to be very tiny, and these are known as dwarf series celosias. The Jewel Box Mix is a wonderful variety of celosia plant that grows to be about four inches tall. It’s perfect for pretty much any gardening space you have. Another good variety of celosia plant is the Chief series, which will end up a little shorter than the Jewel Box variety.
If you’d rather grow very large blooms, opt instead for the giant variety. The New Look variety grows to anywhere between one and four feet tall. Celosias come in just about any color you can imagine, so be ready for some amazing beauty when it’s time for them to bloom. You can grow celosias in a flower bed, container, or as a border for your other plants.
The best place to grow a celosia plant is outdoors if your climate is around 70 degrees. Don’t worry if it’s cloudy after you put the seeds in the ground though, because celosia doesn’t need light until it actually sprouts and starts to grow. Make sure you leave plenty of run around your celosia when you plant it for the first time, because it’s a self-seeding plant that will spread rapidly across your flower garden.
As far as pests go, spider mites can be a problem for plants in warmer climates, but the one you’ve really got to watch out for is aphids. They love to eat celosias, so take precautionary measures against both of these two pests as your flowers grow. To prevent aphids from taking over your celosias, introduce some lacewing bugs to your garden. These insects will not harm your celosias, although they will fight off the aphids for you. If you’d rather try pesticide, try a systemic insecticide like Orthene.
After they bloom, you can even cut some of your celosias and bring them inside your home. They also dry very easily, and they’re very easy to work with in creating bouquets. The celosia plant even has medicinal uses, especially to relieve burned skin. Some people even use celosia to heal sores on many different parts of the body.