Do You Want To Plant Cosmos Flowers

Plant cosmos flowers to enjoy cheerful pink, white, red and yellow blooms over tall, feathery foliage all summer long. Cosmos flowers are ideal for a butterfly or bird garden and are a natural companion for vegetables in organic gardens as they attract these pollinators. They make superb cut flowers and look right at home growing randomly in wildflower gardens. It is easy to grow cosmos flowers from seed, although nurseries stock seedlings in early summer. When they are happy, cosmos flowers self-seed freely, offering you a profusion of blooms between June and October year after year.

About Annual Flowers

Annual flowers such as cosmos grow from seed, bloom, set seed and die within the course of one growing season. Poppies, sunflowers and impatiens are examples of other annual flowers. Self-seeding occurs when flowers that have bloomed and set seed distribute their seeds in the area. Wind, weather and animals can help distribute annual seeds. As you become familiar with growing cosmos flowers, you will recognize the shoots they send up the following spring. You can then determine whether you want to keep the new cosmos in the location where they sprouted or attempt to move them. Moving self-seeded annuals can sometimes be tricky, as they prefer to grow where they plant themselves. But, it is worth a try, especially if cosmos self-seed in a location where they will cast shade over other plants in the garden.

Height

Cosmos flowers can grow from one to four feet tall. Place them in the middle or towards the back of borders that contain shorter plants. You can grow dwarf varieties of cosmos nearer to the front of border. Dwarf cosmos are also suitable for small pots. Standard cosmos flowers' relatively tall height makes them a good choice for adding drama to a garden. You can mix them with other tall plants, grasses and wildflowers to create a lush field of colorful blooms that are especially eye-catching when they blow in the wind.

Light

Cosmos flowers require full sun. They will not bloom prolifically in partial shade and will not bloom at all in shaded areas. Consider the location where you want to plant cosmos carefully to ensure that the flowers will get enough sun to bloom.

Moisture

Cosmos flowers thrive in moist, well-drained soil. It is especially important to water seedlings that have just sprouted to ensure that they do not dry out. Once plants are established, rainfall is generally adequate to meet their needs. However, plants will die if they do not get enough water. Do not overwater plants or they will become waterlogged and die. Planting cosmos in areas with loose, well-draining soil provides the best moisture conditions for their growth.

Containers

Container gardens benefit from the addition of cosmos flowers. Ensure that tall varieties of cosmos flowers have a large pot with adequate support so that tall stems do not blow over or snap in windy or harsh weather conditions. Dwarf varieties are well-suited to containers. Choose pots that contrast with the happy red, pink, white or yellow blooms. Try growing hot pink cosmos in large, cobalt blue pots in clusters on both sides of a sunny patio staircase for a warm, tropical feel. Consider all-white dwarf cosmos in rich cocoa glazed ceramics as part of a mixed container arrangement that includes red roses in larger pots glazed in earth tones placed against a backdrop of white clematis growing up a trellis.

Combinations

Create a butterfly garden by combining cosmos with flowers such as zinnias, sweet pea, lilac, bee balm and sunflowers. When choosing flowers to combine with cosmos consider varieties that feature colors and growing habits that suit your taste and space requirements and need the same light and moisture conditions as cosmos. A cosmos-heavy wildflower garden is easy to enjoy when you plant it near outdoor seating areas and below windows where you can view them from inside. Hot pink cosmos seem to glow in late autumn; try mixing them into your vegetable garden to keep the show going until the first frost. They look especially great when mixed with asparagus plants, as asparagus sends up frothy leaves similar in texture to the cosmos plants. The blooms can keep the asparagus patch attractive well after you have picked and eaten the last spears of the vegetable. "Chocolate" cosmos blooms are a dark red that appears almost brown. They look handsome in a brown and cream garden that includes other austere features such as a mix of low-growing ferns, "chocolate" hucheras and Japanese maple trees.

Planting
It isn't necessary to start cosmos seeds indoors. Select an outdoor location with full sun and good drainage. Prepare the soil by loosening it to a depth of at least one foot and enriching it with a small amount of organic matter such as compost. Plant seeds in late spring after all danger of frost at a depth of twice to three times the length of the seeds a distance of several inches apart and cover them with soil. Tamp down the soil to ensure that seeds are making good contact. Water seeds, keeping them moist but not soaked until you see the first shoots. Thin the seedlings to a distance of about 12 inches to ensure that each cosmos plant has plenty of room to grow. Allow only 8 inches between plants for fast coverage but be aware that the plants may eventually become crowded and inhibit each other's blooms. Make sure to plant cosmos seeds in positions north of shorter plants that also require full sun, or you risk that the taller cosmos will cast shadows over them and inhibit their growth. You can also find seedlings in nurseries at the beginning of summer. Transplant seedlings into a sunny prepared spot in the garden and water them thoroughly to encourage them to set root.

What Is A Cosmos Flower?

Cosmos are a type of flower that belongs to the genus cosmos. The flower buds grow between 2 and 4 inches in diameter. They come in many different colors and petal variations. Cosmos are an herbaceous flowering perennial that grow from 3 to 6 feet tall. They bloom twice a year and grow in the spring. Cosmos an easy flower to grow and keep alive.

Cosmos are very easy to grow. They sprout from seeds in less than a week, and bloom within 14 weeks.
Transplanting
Transplanting cosmos is extremely easy to do. They do well in full sun, but they die within the first frost.
Scent
Cosmos have a very floral sweet scent. Chocolate cosmos can be recognized by their distinctive sweet smell.
Variations
There are many color, petal and size variations. Cosmos resemble other perennial flowers such as carnations, daisies and a basic four-petal flowers.
Planning
The gardener may want to plan ahead with several different types of cosmos. Planting from seeds or transplanting baby cosmos makes no difference--they both will be equally successful.
Designing
Mixing other perennials with the cosmos will ensure a colorful garden with lots of texture and variations.
Sowing
Sow seeds in the summer, right before blooms die. Dry them out and save the seeds for next year.

Simple Flower Arrangements

When it comes to flower arrangements we feel as if this subject can be exploited on and on because there are many things that need to be mentioned. The model of the small flower decorations is extremely diverse and the specialists keep a common note- the refinement, here are some models of contemporary flower arrangements for tables that should inspire you into organizing the perfect wedding and we’re sure that you’re going to appreciate these pretty much.

The flowers can take the most diverse shapes when it comes to a compact flower arrangement. Practically, the design doesn’t know any limits. You can choose decorations under the format of a floral globe, under the format of a pyramid or even like an umbrella dressed totally with flowers.
The carnations, roses and chrysanthemum are most likely to be used in such an arrangement. The main advantage is that you can play clearly with tones, shapes and volumes. Such a decoration can cost, but, it costs more than a simple vase and an accessorized bouquet.

Many designers suggest that you apply for a tall flower arrangement that can be really easy to accessorize. Even the vase used can be a special element of décor: you can apply for a mosaic vase made of many colored glass threads and colored in the same time, or a crystal vase in which you place shells, flower petals or slices of citrus. The flowers used can be tall as well. The orchids, the roses, the peonies or callas can be perfectly used for a tall piece of décor.
Even if we’re speaking about tall flower arrangements, or on the contrary of really small ones, the flowers in glass vases are really popular. From the décor you won’t see missing candles that emphasize the flowers more. Such a flower arrangement implies the usage of a single type of flower and the design is rather simple. The options start from orchids and callas in different dimensions and they end up with roses or lilies. The original tones can be given by the model of the container, its color and the accessories used- fruits, candles, ribbons and so on….

No matter on what type of flower arrangements you decide to apply for, make sure that you take into consideration the pieces of advice offered here in such a manner that you end up with a really interesting wedding that is adorned with a good sense and with style. We’re certain that all these things that we’ve shared here with you are going to turn out really useful and it’s a real pity not to apply for them.