Celosia Amigo Grower Fact

CELOSIA CRISTATA, COCKSCOMB Amigo

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Annual

Familiy, Origin:Amaranthaceae, tropics from Africa and South America

Sitelocation:Full sun

Garden Height:15 cm, 5,91 inch

Crop Time:Plug crop:4-5 weeks; Flowering pots: 10-11 weeks from sow to flower

Sell Period:up to May

Seed Form:Coated Seed

Seed Count:1333 K/g

Sowing Time:January-June

Sowing Method:1 seed per plug

Germination:Stage I:7-10 days at 25 ˇăC; Stage II-IV: 11-20 days at 18-21 ˇăC day temperature and 15-18 ˇăC night temperature. Use media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-6.0. Requires light for germination. Cover seed lightly with vermiculite after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet.

Plug Culture:From Stage II* reduce the moisture, but the plug should not dry out. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,75 EC. Start fertilization at 50 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased up to 150-200 ppm.

Growing On:4-5 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pack or 9-10 cm pot.

Media:Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 15-30 % clay, 1-1,5 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-6.0.

Temperature:Grow at 18-20 ˇăC. At the end of the cultivation time decrease the temperature to 16 ˇăC. Avoid temperatures below 16 ˇăC, because Celosia needs warm temperatures to grow.

Fertilization:Moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 150-200 ppm nitrogen, using a potassium and phosphate balanced fertilizer (N: K2O-Ratio: 1:1,5). Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times.

Cultural Hints:Cultivate plants firstly slightly moist and later dry. Avoid an inhibited and stressful cultivation (in particular low temperatures or nutrition deficiency), because the flower initiation may start before plants have reached sufficient size and thus the plant quality decreases.