Plant the seeds 0.25 inch deep and keep the soil moist but not saturated. These lovely pink feathery flowers can be directly sown or started inside 4-6 weeks before the last frost date. Be certain to harden off the seedlings after they have two or more true leaves. In this way they will avoid shock.
Care:
Fertilize or apply compost every other week. They prefer loose earth full of nutrients.The vibrancy of color comes from fertile soil - the better the soil the brighter the pink. This variety of celosia usually does not require staking due to its feathery blooms. The flowers can last up to a month, but then require deadheading to bloom again. They brown from the bottom to the top; when the bottom one-third of the flower is brown, snip it off at the base of the flower stalk. They have average water needs. These flower are great for arrangements and can last almost 2 weeks in the vase if the water is changed out routinely.
History:
While often associated with the East African Highlands, it is also native to parts of India, Indonesia, and the Americas. Known in Europe as "Velvet Floures Gentle" or "Flower Gentle," these plants were well-established in American gardens by the 1730s. For centuries, Celosia argentea has been cultivated for its leaves, which are boiled and eaten, often used in soups or stews in Indonesia, India, and Africa. The plant has evolved into three main types: crested (brain-like), plumed (feathery), and spiky.
