Pot and bedding - Celosia cristata

New Entry 2009
Celosia cristata
"Amigo Red"
Flowering period: April - October

Height 25 - 50 cm
Spread: < 25 cm
Habit: Upright
Flower type: Spiked
Size: 5 - 10 cm
Leaf Color Dark
Placement: Sun
Water High to medium
Fertilizer need: Average
Typical use Pot and bedding
Plant type: Cut flower

Class New Entry 2009

CELOSIA CRISTATA, COCKSCOMB 'Amigo Red'

The newest colour in the 'Amigo' series, 'Amigo Red' brings a vibrant, crested red celosia to the market. An upgrade on this old garden favourite, 'Amigo Red' brings unique flower structure, unparalleled garden performance and unbeatable heat tolerance. At 15 cm 6'' tall, the 'Amigo' series is perfect for pack production. Quick crop times and increased uniformity throughout the series make 'Amigo' a grower favourite. Heat and drought tolerant, the new Celosia 'Amigo Red' is a must have in the landscape.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

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

Seed Form:   Coated Seed

Seed Count:   0 K/g

Sowing Time:   January-June

Sowing Method:   1 seed per plug

Germination:   Stage I: 7-10 days at 25 °C 77 °F; Stage II-IV: 11-20 days at 18-21 °C 64-70 °Fday temperature and 15-18 °C 59-64 °F 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.

Growing On:   4-5 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pack or 9-10 cm 4'' 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 °C 64-68 °F. At the end of the cultivation time decrease the temperature to 16 °C 61 °F. Avoid temperatures below 16 °C, 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.

All colors
    H4150C 'Amigo Magenta'
   H4160C 'Amigo Mahagony Red'
   H4230C 'Amigo Mix'
   H4170C 'Amigo Neon Rose'
   H4120C 'Amigo Yellow'

* Germination Stages (from seed to finished young plant)
Stage I: Starts with the radicle breaking through the testa. The roots are touching the medium. Ends with fully developed cotyledons.
Stage II: Starts from fully developed cotyledons. Ends with the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair.
Stage III: Starts from the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair and ends with 80% of the young plants being marketable.
Stage IV: All young plants are ready for sale and in the process of being hardened off. This stage lasts about 7 days.

Hint:
The cultural recommendations are based on results from trials conducted under Central European conditions. Different conditions in other parts of the world may lead to deviations in results achieved.