Product description
Cosmos are strictly herbaceous, half-hardy annuals that bring a soft, feathery texture to any planting scheme. They are exceptionally fast growers, completing their entire lifecycle in a single season by rapidly pushing up delicate, highly divided green leaves topped with wide, papery, open-faced blooms. Due to their bright, flat flowers act as perfect landing pads with easily accessible central pollen, they are incredibly pollinator-friendly and will have your baskets vibrating with solitary bees and hoverflies.
To force a Cosmos to bloom heavily, you actually need to treat it poorly by planting it in sandy, lower-quality compost rather than a rich, highly fertilised mix. They demand full, unfiltered sunlight and thrive on a bit of neglect, actively preferring their soil to dry out significantly before receiving a deep, harsh soaking. For the thickest, most spectacular display, ensure you pinch out the growing tips early on to encourage lateral branching, otherwise, they will simply stretch upwards and become hopelessly spindly.
Please Note: When purchasing plants, please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only. The plant will be supplied in a growers pot. Depending on season, some plants may be pruned back to encourage growth and deciduous plants may arrive without leaves.
Mexican aster
Cosmos Red Bedding Plants
Cosmos Red Bedding Plants
Product description
Cosmos are strictly herbaceous, half-hardy annuals that bring a soft, feathery texture to any planting scheme. They are exceptionally fast growers, completing their entire lifecycle in a single season by rapidly pushing up delicate, highly divided green leaves topped with wide, papery, open-faced blooms. Due to their bright, flat flowers act as perfect landing pads with easily accessible central pollen, they are incredibly pollinator-friendly and will have your baskets vibrating with solitary bees and hoverflies.
To force a Cosmos to bloom heavily, you actually need to treat it poorly by planting it in sandy, lower-quality compost rather than a rich, highly fertilised mix. They demand full, unfiltered sunlight and thrive on a bit of neglect, actively preferring their soil to dry out significantly before receiving a deep, harsh soaking. For the thickest, most spectacular display, ensure you pinch out the growing tips early on to encourage lateral branching, otherwise, they will simply stretch upwards and become hopelessly spindly.
Please Note: When purchasing plants, please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only. The plant will be supplied in a growers pot. Depending on season, some plants may be pruned back to encourage growth and deciduous plants may arrive without leaves.
Give your plants the best start
Garden Plant Size Guide
Plants in larger pots can be multiple years older than their smaller counterparts with more mature root systems and foliage. This makes them able to thrive as a full size plant in your garden quicker than smaller alternatives.
The most common size of pot that garden plants come in are 9cm/1L/3L/5L this is in reference to the diameter at the top of the pot.
9cm potted plants still remain the most popular cost effective option though, they just may take a little patience to allow them to grow into full maturity once planted in your garden.
Plant specs, care guide & tips
Key features
Specifications
When to plant
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Planting and period of interest times are general guidelines and may vary based on your location and conditions. For best results, consult local gardening resources.
Instructions
Top Tip
If you want a densely packed, spectacular bedding display, you absolutely must pinch out the growing tips of your young Cosmos plants before they start flowering. Simply snip off the very top of the main stem, which forces the plant to branch out laterally instead of shooting straight upwards. This single act transforms a thin, spindly weed into a sturdy, flower-producing powerhouse.
How to Water
Unlike other thirsty bedding plants, a Cosmos actually prefers to be neglected and kept on the much drier side of normal. Wait until the compost is almost completely dry before giving the basket a harsh, deep soaking. Treating them to constant, daily moisture will make them lazy and significantly reduce their overall floral output.
How to Plant
To successfully establish Cosmos bedding plants, use a poorer, sandy compost rather than a highly enriched potting mix. Plant in an area that gets absolutely blasted with full, unfiltered sunlight to encourage tight, highly disciplined growth. Planting them in overly rich dirt will only result in massive green stems and a frustrating lack of papery blooms.
