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The flower known as the cosmos is beautiful. With a maximum height of 1 meter, it produces little flowers of colors that can be pink, purple or white, which brighten up the garden or patio from spring to early fall.

It is very elegant and easy to care for, so much so that it is a plant suitable for beginners. Even so, if you do not have any problem, I will tell you what care you must provide .

Origin and characteristics of the cosmos plant

The cosmos flower, whose scientific name is Cosmos bipinnatus , is a herbaceous plant native to Mexico that reaches a height of up to 1 meter . Its leaves are divided into linear-filiform segments, and sprout from a highly branched stem. The wonderful flowers have a yellow central disc with pink, purple or white peripheral ligules.

It is also known as mirasol, coreopsis or purple sunflower, and as a curiosity to tell you that it was introduced in Europe towards the end of the 18th century although, despite the popularity it had in its day, today it is rarer.

Varieties of Cosmos

There are many varieties, such as the Sensation that can reach a meter in height, the Versailles that does not exceed 45 centimeters, or the Daydream that produces white flowers with a pink center.

What care do you need?

If you dare to have a cosmos flower in your garden or patio, we recommend that you provide the following care:

Location

In order for it to grow and develop normally, it is very important that it is planted in a sunny location , as it is not well adapted to living in semi-shade. Nor is it a good idea to have it indoors, unless it is in a room with windows that let in a lot of natural light or a bright interior patio.

land

1. Pot : if we want to have it in a pot, it is advisable that the substrate has good drainage, as it can have mixing eg black peat with perlite in equal parts.
2. Garden : in the event that we are going to have it in the garden, we will not have to make any changes, since it is not demanding
   

Irrigation

the rest of the year. It is important not to wet the aerial part, that is, leaves, flowers, or stems in order to avoid problems.

If you are going to have it in a pot with a dish underneath, remember to remove the water that is 30 minutes after having watered since the roots do not like to have contact with stagnant water, and in fact they can rot easily.

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It is advisable to take advantage and fertilize the plant throughout the flowering season with fertilizers for flowering plants, or with guano (liquid, for sale here ), following the instructions specified on the packaging.

Multiplication

And if we need more specimens, we can multiply them by sowing their seeds in a seedbed during winter and spring following this step by step:

1. First, we will fill a seed tray (for sale here ) with universal or seed bed substrate.
2. Then, we will place a maximum of 2 seeds in each socket.
3. Next, we will cover them with a thin layer (no more than 0.5cm thick) of substrate.
4. Later, we will water thoroughly with a sprayer, or better, placing the seedbed inside another tray that does not have holes and filling it with water.
5. Finally, we will place everything outside, in full sun, and we will keep the substrate moist but not puddled.

Thus they will germinate in two weeks at a temperature of about 18ºC.

Plagues and diseases

It is quite resistant in general, but can be attacked by a whitefly or red spider . Both are insects that love dry and warm environments, so they are common during spring and especially in summer.

They feed on the cells of the leaves, although they can also be found on the stems. But it will not be difficult for us to control them, or even eliminate them, since, first, the plant is relatively small, and second, there are highly effective natural products.

From my own experience, what I recommend the most is diatomaceous earth (for sale here), which has the appearance of very fine and light white powder. It is composed of microscopic algae that contain silica, which once it comes into contact with the insect pierces it, thus causing it to die dehydrated.

In addition, it does not leave any residue, but precisely for that reason it must be used when there is NO forecast of rain. The way to proceed is simple: we wet the plant with water -obviously, when it is no longer in the sun-, and then sprinkle the diatomaceous earth on it.

If this product does not convince us, we can use potassium soap or insecticidal oil, which are also very effective.

Rusticity

It resists cold and frost of up to -4ºC , although it prefers warm and tropical climates. If you live in an area where winter temperatures drop a lot, have your cosmos plant indoors or in a heated greenhouse.

What is the meaning of the cosmos flower?

                                             @kellycruz

It is common for people to give or acquire certain flowers for the meaning assigned to them. The cosmos is one of them, since it is the symbol of modesty , integrity and also of peace .

Do you dare to have some Cosmos?

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