Comments on: Cosmos

By: mandy

mandy — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:36:47 +0000

please can you tell me if i have to cut them back to the ground now that they have finished flowering.

Hi Mandy
Cosmos is grown as an annual and the plant will die after a hard frost. They can reseed themselves in the area where they were growing. If you have a milder climate and longer growing season, you can deadhead(cut off) the spent flowers or trim the plants up to a node and it should give you another flush of bloom.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:18:38 +0000

I just started a packet of Cosmos from seed, I wasnt sure hoe many would start so I put good soil in a 1/2 gallon pot and started them all. Now there are all kinds in this tiny pot. So I guess im goining to try to sort them apart and plant them in my flower bed this afternoon. Perfect placce as it gets sun all day and the soil is hard light brown and not that great looking… we will see.

By: Jo-Anne Machacek

Jo-Anne Machacek — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:03:00 +0000

Is any part of the Cosmos edible?

Hi Jo-Anne
Cosmos is listed as being inedible.

By: Helen

Helen — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:57:55 +0000

I am in same situation as Lisa. The cosmos are grown in well drainage soil in PA. They have very healthy leaves, about 2-3 feet tall, no no blooms at all. I just feed them miracle-gro yesterday, which obviously is not a good idea.
So I shall neglect them for a while and I will see…

By: Ann O'Sullivan

Ann O'Sullivan — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:44:41 +0000

Planted a packet of seed of Cosmos on an open well drained stoney (impossible) area in Southern Ireland. Absolutely fabulous display (ht.6 ft.) of all colours including white, but no yellow. Can't find how to deal with seed heads to have seed for next year? Ann

Hi Ann When Cosmos flowers are done blooming, pick the entire flower head and dry. When completely dried, roll the seed head between your fingers and sort out the seeds from debris. Store and save the seeds in a marked envelope in a dark, dry, cool place. Some may even reseed outdoor on their own.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:21:57 +0000

8 weeks ago I started cosmos from seed and they are now bushy and about 3 feet tall. They are in excellent soil in the center of my perennial garden — I thought I could fill in with a few annuals. However, NO BLOOMS. From reading above, I now understand that perhaps the soil is too good? Since I’ve never grown cosmos before, I don’t know what to look for. They look very healthy, but only foliage thus far. When should I give up on them?

Hi Lisa
I wouldn’t give up just yet. Give them more time, if they get enough sun, they will eventually bloom. Be sure not to feed them and water little. They prefer a drier (stressful) soil. My cosmos are in medium soil and still no flowers.