Plume Celosia
Chief Mix Celosia is an open-pollinated variety that brings stunning diversity to the garden with its wide color range and uniformly branching plants. These bushy flowers mature in 90 to 120 days and excel as cut flowers, whether you harvest them fresh or dry them for long-lasting arrangements. Plant them in full sun with consistent moisture, spacing them 6 inches apart, and you'll have armloads of blooms perfect for bringing indoors.
Full Sun
High
10-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual
Moderate
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What sets Chief Mix apart is its exceptional versatility as a cut flower and its reliable, uniform growth habit. The wide spectrum of colors within a single mix gives you design flexibility without needing to plan separate plantings. Both Johnny's Selected Seeds and Territorial Seed Company recognize celosia's outstanding performance in fresh arrangements and dried flower work, making this variety as practical for the flower farmer as it is for the home gardener looking for reliable color.
Chief Mix Celosia shines as a cut flower for fresh arrangements and dried bouquets. Harvest stems when the flowers are fully developed with firm bases, then either display them immediately in water or hang them upside down in a dark, well-ventilated space to dry. The dried flowers retain their vibrant colors beautifully, making them ideal for wreaths, dried bouquets, and long-term floral displays that bring color into your home year-round.
Sow seeds indoors into 72-cell flats or similar containers 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. Celosia seeds require light for germination, so cover them very lightly with soil to hold them in place without blocking light. Maintain seedling temperatures between 63 and 68°F (17 to 20°C). Germination typically occurs between 70 and 85°F and takes 6 to 15 days.
Harden off seedlings gradually before transplanting after all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 6 inches apart in the garden. Transplanting is the recommended method for this variety, giving you more control over timing and plant placement.
Direct seeding is only practical in locations with a long growing season. Sow seeds 1/8 inch deep after your last frost date has passed.
For fresh-cut flowers, harvest in the morning when blooms are freshest and petals are just opening. Cut with a clean knife dipped in a 10% household bleach solution. Harvest when the flowers are fully developed and stems are firm at the base of the bloom. For dried flowers, harvest at the same developmental stage as you would for fresh use. Remove all foliage and hang stems upside down in a dark, well-ventilated location to dry for approximately two weeks.
Pinching is recommended early in the season to encourage branching and maximize flower production on these bushy plants.
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