The days are getting longer and warmer, and more plants and flowers are blooming around town. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to start seeds and plan out your spring garden. Today I want to talk to you about how to grow cosmo flowers.
Cosmos are a fun and easy flowering plant to start with if you don’t have much experience growing flowers. They come in several colors, the most traditional being the variety that blooms beautiful white, pink, and red flowers.
Once you plant these flowers, they will keep blooming throughout the entire growing season for you to enjoy. Let’s get into learning how to grow cosmo flowers!
Planting Cosmo Flowers
You can start with a small plant or seeds to learn how to grow cosmo flowers, based on your experience or comfort level. My sister gave me a huge packet of wild cosmos seeds for my birthday last year. I am experimenting with how well they will grow in the ground in different areas of my patio border.
If you are a beginner at starting seeds, Jiffy makes great inexpensive mini greenhouse kits that already come with seed starting soil. You can also use eggcrates.
Don’t make the mistake I did and use regular garden soil just to save money. You will get little to no seedlings this way. A small bag of seed starting soil only costs a few bucks and will go a long way if you have a small space to work with like me.
There are larger, more expensive greenhouse kits you can invest in if you want. I like sticking with inexpensive and free ways to save money, hence all the eggcrates filled with dirt in my kitchen.
Once you have your mini greenhouse, fill each section with starting soil. Water until all the soil is saturated. Place up to 3 seeds in each section, so that the seedlings have plenty of room to grow.
Cover the seedlings with a thin layer of soil and add more water. If this is all you are doing, set your greenhouse in a place in your house that will get some light and the temperature stays moderate.
Labeling Your Cosmo Seeds
If you have more greenhouses or seeds you want to grow, its a good idea to label your seeds. I’ve grown several types of seeds and forgotten what they are after awhile! You can buy plant labels or make your own.
I make mine with toothpicks and clear tape. After wrapping some clearxtape around a toothpick, I use a Sharpie to write the name of the flower and stick it in the dirt.
You can always skip the above and buy cosmos plants at your local garden center. Plan out ahead of time where you are planting yours and how many you want to get.
Soil for Planting Cosmos Flowers
You may want to purchase soil for your new plants as well. I have potting mix and in-ground garden soil since I have plants both in pots and in the ground along the edge of my patio.
Dig a hole twice as large as your new plant. Place appropriate soil at bottom and mix with what is already there. Gently take your cosmos out of their container. Loosen up the roots to stimulate growth.
Place you new cosmos in the hole and make sure they are level with the ground. Fill the surrounding area with soil. Give the plant plenty of water so that it settles into its new home.
If your plant is growing blooms, add fertilizer to encourage more, bigger and brighter cosmo flowers throughout the growing season. Cosmos are pretty hardy, and if you don’t get to this part, you will still be able to enjoy plenty of cosmo flowers
Keep giving you new plant plenty of water so that it transitions well into its new home. Now you know how to grow cosmo flowers!
Your established cosmos won’t need much care. Water well and deeply at least once a week. Containers lose more water so water more if your cosmos are in pots.
Growing Cosmos in Pots
If you don’t have much space to grow your cosmos flowers in the ground, they grow well in pots. Make sure your pot is large enough so that plenty of flowers have room to grow and bloom.
Container plants generally need to be watered more often than plants grown in the ground, since they can get dry. Drill some holes in your pot so that extra water can drain out.
Cosmo flowers do not need too much fertilizer to thrive. Add a low-nitrogen formula (5-10-10) that has been diluted to your cosmos about once or twice during their growing season. Too much fertilizer will produce fewer flowers.
Caring for Cosmos Flowers
Once your cosmo plants are established, they don’t need much care to keep growing and blooming flowers throughout the summer season. Give them plenty of sun and some water and enjoy your cosmo flowers!
Types of Cosmo Plants
Just like with any other plant, there are plenty of cosmo varieties to choose from. Below are some of the more popular cosmo flowers you can grow.
Sensation Mix – These are the type of cosmos my sister gifted me. They come in a mixture of white, red, and pink (my favorite color!)
Chocolate Cosmos – These dark red cosmos smell a little like chocolate. These are a great choice if you live in USDA Zone 7.
Diablo Cosmos-These cosmos bloom orange and yellow flowers. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees love these flowers!
Dwarf Cosmos – These come in a variety as well, and are just a smaller version of regular cosmos.
Candystripe Cosmos-True to their name, these cosmos bloom flowers that are white with rose-colored edges. Grow them in a wildflower or garden bed with your favorite flowers!
Bright Lights – This variety of cosmos grow blooms in orange, red, and yellow.
Best Companion Plants for Cosmo Flowers
Companion planting is a great way to enjoy a variety of plants in your garden. Companion plants require similar growing conditions, making them easy to grow together.
Some companion plants that grow well with cosmos include:
- Zinnias
- Marigolds
- Lavender
- Sunflowers
- Tomatoes
- Vegetable gardens
Cosmos are known for attracting pollinators and beneficial insects as well.
Fun Facts About Cosmos
Below are some fun facts about cosmo flowers. You might surprise your friends and family about these facts as you learn and teach others how to grow cosmo flowers!
- The word Cosmos is from a Greek term meaning balanced universe.
- Cosmos seeds are some of the easiest to grow.
- Most cosmo flowers grow up to 3 to 6 feet tall.
- Cosmo seeds look like miniature pine needles.
- Most cosmo flowers can grow just about anywhere.
- There are 24 different species of cosmo plants.
Cosmo Flowers FAQs
Are cosmo flowers easy to grow?
Cosmo flowers are very easy to grow, even for beginner gardeners. They don’t take a long time to grow from seed, and come in many types and colors to enjoy.
Will cosmo flowers come back every year?
Cosmos are annuals, which mean they only grow for one season. These flowers are easy to grow and popular with gardeners, making them a favorite to grow in flower beds every year!
Are cosmos better in pots or ground?
Cosmos grow well in both pots and in the ground. It really counts on your gardening goals and how much space you have.
Should cosmos be cut back in the fall?
Cosmos should be cut back or removed completely in the fall, since most are annuals and will die off anyway.
How to Grow Cosmo Flowers
Are you as ready to grow cosmo flowers as I am? I have a bunch of seedlings ready to go. Let me know your thoughts on growing cosmo plants in the comments section below.
Dan Walker says
I recall my grandmother grew cosmos. I was always curious about everything and I actually remember asking her what the beautiful pink flowers were called. I recall the leaves reminded me of ferns for some reason. If I have time I just might add some of them in my plantings too….
Ann says
Their leaves do look like miniature ferns! I can tell the new cosmos apart from my other flowers because of their fern like leaves. They come in a variety of colors too. I highly recommend growing them. They are easy and fun to grow. Thank you for stopping by!