Why are my cosmos drooping?
Bacterial wilt is one of the classic cosmos flower diseases. As it might seem, it is a bacterial disease that causes stems to wilt at the base. The entire stem and flower will become infected and finally the root system. You must dig up the plant and destroy it, as there is no cure.
The primary cause of leggy seedlings is lack of sufficient light, either in brightness or proximity to the plants. This can happen when gardeners start seeds indoors, or when seeds are planted outside in a too-shady location.
At the most basic level, leggy seedlings are caused by a lack of light. It could be that the window you are growing your seedlings in does not provide enough light or it could be that the lights you are using as grow lights aren't close enough to the seedling. Either way, the seedlings will get leggy.
As you plant the Cosmos plants into the garden it is advisable to pinch out the growing tip of each stem. Pinching out involves squeezing the growing tip off between your finger and thumb. This reduces the plant size and will encourage the plant to grow side shoots giving bushy growth.
So now you know that cosmos seedlings become leggy because they are not getting enough light. Let's summarise what we have learnt above: Because of a lack of sunshine, cosmos seedlings become leggy. It's perfectly fine to plant seedlings lower in the ground.
Seedlings Falling Over And Dying After Sprouting
This is called damping off, and is caused by bacterial seedling blight. Damping off is the most common cause of seedlings dying after sprouting. Unfortunately, damping off happens so fast that there's really no way to save them once they flop over.
Unfortunately, when you move seedlings outdoors, there's a chance they may droop or wilt somewhat right after transplanting if some roots were broken or disturbed. To speed recovery, keep them quite moist and out of the sun for two days and then give filtered sun or half-day sun for two days.
Seedlings are considered leggy when they grow tall, spindly, and weak looking. The taller the seedling is, the weaker the stem. These seedlings are typically very fragile and may even appear yellow or whitish instead of green.
Water little and often, ensuring the soil never dries out completely. Drooping may result from over-watering. Too much water in the soil eliminates any air pockets from which the root can draw oxygen. Once this happens, the roots stop being able to absorb any moisture and nutrients.
Just sow seeds lightly—no more than 1/4-inch deep. Thin to 12–18 inches apart when seedlings are a few inches tall. Depending on the variety, cosmos can grow anywhere from 18 to 60 inches tall, so plan accordingly. If you are growing cosmos from seeds, be mindful that it takes about 7 weeks to first bloom.
Can leggy seedlings recover?
The good news is, leggy seedlings can usually be fixed before it's too late. I've transplanted hundreds of tall, floppy seedlings with success, most of which went on to recover and have normal, productive yields.
Once your seedlings have formed 2-3 pairs of leaves, you can pinch out the growing tips to produce bushier plants with more flowers. Taller varieties may need staking. Otherwise all varieties will flower for a long period if deadheaded regularly and fed with a liquid fertiliser.
Dividing & Transplanting: Cosmos are easily started from seed and transplanted into the garden. Their root system is rarely large enough to support dividing, so it's best to start new plants.
Cosmos take approximately 12 weeks to flower, and bees love them!
Try a mix of shorter dwarf cosmos varieties, such as the Sensation and Sonata mixes, grown from seed, or buy as seedlings and plant out from May, spaced about 11in (30cm) apart. Cosmos work particularly well in pots with zinnias. Use a light potting mix, in pots with good drainage and place in a sunny spot.
Cheerful, colorful Cosmos add height to your flower garden, but sometimes they take on a spindly appearance. Pinch out Cosmos early in the season to encourage them to form a bushier growth habit and produce even more flowers. In addition, pruning Cosmos after their summer bloom can cause them to re-bloom in the fall.
Plant seeds in prepared soil about 2 inches (5 cm) apart and one-half inch (1 cm) deep. Thin to 8 inches (20 cm) apart in all directions for dwarf varieties; allow 12 inches (30 cm) between very tall varieties.
It can take 7-14 days for your plant to start recovering from overwatering. If your plant is wilting from too much water, replant it. Discard any roots/fungi-infected roots using scissors.
There is never a guarantee that your plant can bounce back from overwatering. If your plant is going to survive, you will see results within a week or so. At this point, you can move your plant back to its original location and resume watering it as normal.
Don't Use Sugar Water for Transplant Shock
Or, the roots were damaged during transplanting and they cannot take up sufficient water and nutrients. Sugar water does not do anything to help plants with transplant shock, and it can make it worse. Often, plants recover on their own.
Why are my seedlings struggling?
Germinated seeds may not sprout due to various reasons, the most common of which are dry potting soil, aged seed, inappropriate temperature, or excess water in the soil. Seedlings can even have stunted growth due to incorrect pot size, inadequate nutrition or pests.
Seedlings should be watered once a day or every other day, depending on how much sun and heat they get. Remember that seedling roots are fairly close to the surface and they're growing in a small amount of media, so they don't need a deep soak the way larger plants do.
Stakes. A simple stake, made from wood or metal, should be placed in the ground when the seeds are first planted, or the plant is first put into the ground. They could be a straight stake, or have a circular support, known as plant support rings.
Recovery time may vary from plant to plant. It depends on the age, type of the transplanted plant, soil type, and climatic condition of the planted location. In the seedlings stage, it will take up to 2-3 weeks, but in matured plants or trees, it will take up to years.
Transplant shock can last from two weeks to five years, depending on the plant or tree you're growing. This can cause temporary stagnation of growth or flower and fruit production. The longer the transplant shock remains, the higher the chances of the plant dying.
Symptom. Leaf scorch is a common symptom of transplant shock. Leaf scorch first appears as a yellowing or bronzing of tissue between the veins or along the margins of leaves of deciduous plants (those that lose their leaves in winter). Later, the discolored tissue dries out and turns brown.
It depends on why your plant is wilting. Different causes require different responses. If you've under watered your plant or have extremely low humidity, you can add water more and/or raise the humidity level around the plant. If you've overwatered, wait until the soil dries out before you water again.
If a plant is overwatered, it will likely develop yellow or brown limp, droopy leaves as opposed to dry, crispy leaves (which are a sign of too little water). Wilting leaves combined with wet soil usually mean that root rot has set in and the roots can no longer absorb water.
Initially place seedlings outdoors in a sheltered spot – protected from wind and direct sun. Each day following, expose plants to another 30-60 minutes of filtered sunlight. Work your way up to giving plants direct morning sun, followed last by noon-day sun.
Once seedlings are 3 or 4 inches tall with a good supply of true leaves, I pinch them back. You can use scissors or pruning shears, but thumb and forefinger work just fine. While your seedlings are growing indoors, toughen them up by man-handling them a bit. Regularly run your hand over the tops of the little plants.
What does an overwatered plant look like?
When a plant is first becoming overwatered, leaves turn yellow. If soil doesn't have a chance to dry out before you water again, leaves start to wilt. When overwatering is the problem, wilted leaves are soft and limp. (If too little water is the issue, wilted leaves are dry and crispy.)
When plants have too little water, leaves turn brown and wilt. This also occurs when plants have too much water. The biggest difference between the two is that too little water will result in your plant's leaves feeling dry and crispy to the touch while too much water results in soft and limp leaves.
Cosmos plants need full sun to bloom. Even the hint of shade, can restrict flowering. Also, to encourage more blooms, you need to deadhead the old blooms. For faster blooms, prune between the main stem and a leaf.
Keep the surface of the soil moist, watering daily with your spray bottle if needed. Ideally, keep the seeds warm while they're germinating, at a temperature of at least 60°F.
Which Container Is Best? Because cosmos are very drought tolerant and heat loving, their roots tend to reach rather deeply. A vessel of appropriate size should allow at least 12 inches of depth and be equally wide, or wider.
Some varieties of cosmos plants can have stunted growth if they're planted near a plant that does not support them. Light: Cosmos is a plant that requires an environment with good access to sunlight to grow optimally. They can even thrive in the hottest of the environment on earth.
Excess Water. Since cosmos are native to Mexico, they are used to dry, humid soil conditions. In fact, they thrive in drought-like conditions. So overwatering is often a big reason for a reduction in blooms.
Osmocote is one of the most popular and well-respected fertilizer brands and when it comes to cosmos fertilizers you can't go wrong with this plant food. What you'll love about this product is that it is easy for beginner cosmos gardeners. All you need to do is apply it once every 6 months.
If the bloom is removed, the plant tries to make another flower to start the process all over again. Deadheading cosmos after the blooms start to fade will rejuvenate the plant and cause it to bloom over and over again, up until the autumn frost.
“If a plant has been severely underwatered, a quick way to revive it is to let it soak in water for a few hours,” says Vickie Christensen, master gardener and plant doctor at Léon & George. “Many plants go from droopy and sad to beautiful, lush and perky in just one day with this method!”
How often do cosmos need to be watered?
Keep the surface of the soil moist, watering daily with your spray bottle if needed. Ideally, keep the seeds warm while they're germinating, at a temperature of at least 60°F.
Water regularly until plants are established or if it is unusually dry. Make sure you don't over-water cosmos; over-watering and over-fertilization can lead to plants with fewer flowers. Cosmos can tolerate dry soil, even in a hot, arid, sunbaked spot.
Cosmos can suffer with what's known as fusarium wilt, which is a fungal disease. Fusarium wilt causes discoloration of the stems and foliage, as well as stunted growth. If your cosmos has fusarium wilt, lift out the plant from the roots and dispose of it.
Once they've sprouted and have two pairs of leaves, transplant into individual 7cm pots and grow on under cover. In May, harden them off for a week by placing in an open cold frame or on a patio, before planting them out where they are to flower.
Damping off is the most common cause of seedlings dying after sprouting. Unfortunately, damping off happens so fast that there's really no way to save them once they flop over.
Most plants leaves will begin to wilt when they need watered. As long as the leaves have not become crunchy, they will perk up within a few hours. If the plant is still wilting a day after you've watered it, it could be wilting due to over watering.
- Stop watering. It's obvious, but don't give your plant any more water, no matter how much it wilts.
- Move it. If your plant is in a bright window, move it to spot with less light. ...
- Double-check drainage. ...
- Add air. ...
- Repot. ...
- Mist wilted leaves. ...
- Water when dry. ...
- Give it a week.
Light: Cosmos prefer full sun conditions, except in extreme heat where they can tolerate part shade. Soil: Prepare the garden with loose, weed-free soil. Cosmos prefer dry, arid soil over wet conditions.
Do not fertilize cosmos. Nutrient rich soil produces plants that are weak-stemmed (floppy), late blooming and flower sparsely. Avoid soil that have been heavily amended with fertilizer and compost.
Lack of light
If your plant is not getting enough sun it will wilt because it can't absorb enough light to feed itself. Solution: Try moving the plant somewhere a little brighter. Be gentle, so just shift it a little closer to a window. Don't go straight from deep shade to a sunny window.
Do drooping plants need water?
Although many plants appear wilted in the afternoon, that doesn't always mean they need water. Wilting is an adaption that many plants use to reduce water loss during the hottest part of the day. A wilted leaf has less surface area exposed to sunlight and therefore will not lose water as quickly.