How to Grow and Care for Cockscomb

Cockscomb is a species of flowering plant named for its velvety, curling structures that resemble a rooster's comb.

A member of the genus celosia, it's a popular flower for its unique form, bright color, and longevity when cut for fresh or dried blooms, which may be red, pink, yellow, orange, or white. Cockscomb requires full sun and moist, well-drained soils to thrive.

Botanical Name	Celosia argentea var. cristata
Common Name	Cockscomb
Plant Type	Annual, perennial
Mature Size	12 in. tall, 12 in. wide
Sun Exposure	Full, partial
Soil Type	Loamy, moist but well-drained
Soil pH	Acidic, neutral
Bloom Time	Summer, fall
Flower Color	Red, pink, orange, yellow, white
Hardiness Zones	9-12 (USDA)
Native Area	South America, Central America, Asia, Africa

Cockscomb Care

Cockscomb is a relatively low-maintenance garden flower that will reward basic care with summer and fall blooms.

Deadhead spent flowers throughout the growing season to encourage new growth. Pinch back stems when the plant is between 8 and 12 inches tall. This will support branching and keep flowers a similar size.

Consider staking the flower stalks, as the heavy blooms may cause stems to fall over.

In most of the US, it's grown as an annual, though it can survive very mild winters as a perennial plant. Like other plants in the amaranth family, plants may self-seed and regrow the following season, even in temperate climates. Avoid this by deadheading flowers before they can set seed.

Light

Cockscomb grows best and blooms most profusely with at least eight hours of full sun per day. Plants can handle part shade conditions but may bloom less often without sufficient sunlight.

Soil

Plant cockscomb in moist, well-drained soil. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or coarse sand to improve drainage before planting. Cockscomb prefers slightly acidic soils high in organic matter.

Water

Water cockscomb regularly after planting to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. These plants can handle too little moisture better than too much, so err on the side of underwatering rather than overwatering. Water plants when the top 2 inches of soil have dried out.

Temperature and Humidity

Cockscomb prefers warm temperatures, thriving as an annual in cooler climates and as a perennial in hot climates. It can thrive in a range of humidity levels.

Fertilizer

Add a balanced, general purpose organic fertilizer to the soil or amend it with compost before planting cockscomb. After planting, feed the plant once per month with a fertilizer that's higher in phosphorus than nitrogen, which will encourage blooming.

Propagating Cockscomb

Cockscomb is easy to propagate by rooting stem cuttings in water. You'll need a healthy mother plant, sterilized scissors or pruners, and a clear glass or jar. Here's how to do propagate cockscomb.

1. Cut a 6-inch stem tip and remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting. Ensure that the cutting still has at least two sets of leaves.
2. Place the cutting in water, submerging the stem so that the area where the leaves were removed is below the water line.
3. Put the cutting in a warm place with bright, indirect light (but out of direct sunlight). Monitor the stem for root growth. When roots are about 1 inch long, you can pot up the cutting in soil and care for it as usual.

How to Grow Cockscomb from Seed

Cockscomb grows readily from seed, whether you're starting seeds indoors or direct seeding in the garden. Start seeds 10 weeks before your region's last frost date. In warm regions where this plant can be grown as a perennial, you can direct sow cockscomb seeds starting in mid-spring. Here's how to grow cockscomb plants from seed:

1. Fill seed flats with seed starting mix. For sowing outdoors, loosen the surface of the soil with a rake.
2. Plant seeds by placing them on the soil surface, one per cell for seed starting or at least 6 inches apart outdoors. Cover seeds lightly with a quarter inch of seed starting mix or soil.
3. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. For indoor seeding, consider using a plastic cover or plastic wrap over seed flats to retain moisture (remove the cover once the seeds germinate). Outdoors, water regularly but lightly to maintain moisture levels without disturbing seeds.
4. Use grow lights to provide bright conditions to indoor seedlings for 12 to 16 hours each day. Seeds should germinate in seven to 10 days if temperatures are in the 75°F to 80°F range.
5. After germination, cut back on watering a bit so that the soil can dry out slightly. This will help prevent damping off, which is caused by plant diseases that can affect seedlings in overly moist soil.
6. After about a month, when indoor seedlings have a few sets of true leaves, begin hardening them off to gradually accustom them to outdoor conditions. Wait until the temperature in your area is sufficiently warm.
7. Once cockscomb seedlings are hardened off and all danger of frost has passed, you can plant them in the ground or in containers outdoors.

Potting and Repotting Cockscomb

Since cockscomb is an annual flower, you're unlikely to need to repot it. Give plants plenty of room to grow to avoid stunted growth and the need to repot, which can damage the plant. Use a well-drained potting mix that contains coco coir or peat moss to retain moisture.

Ensure that the pot has several drainage holes, and avoid allowing the plant to sit in water. Cockscomb works well as a taller "thriller" in container plantings with multiple flowers.

Overwintering

Cockscomb can survive outdoors year-round in USDA hardiness zones nine through 12. However, it must be grown as an annual and replanted each spring or brought indoors for the winter in colder regions.

For plants to survive indoors, provide at least six hours of direct sun each day or use a grow light to simulate these conditions.

From: thespruce