Asian Garden Celosia

Sow seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last spring frost. Surface sow or barely cover seeds with vermiculite, keeping soil at 68 to 78°F for germination, which typically occurs within 8 to 14 days. Once sprouted, reduce temperature to 65°F. Grow seedlings in roomy cell-packs rather than crowding them, as rootbound seedlings can flower prematurely indoors and delay transplanting success.

Transplant seedlings outdoors about 2 weeks after your last frost date, when soil has warmed and nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F. Space plants 6 inches apart. For later blooms in regions with longer growing seasons, sow directly outdoors instead of starting indoors.

Direct sow seeds outdoors approximately 2 weeks after your last frost date. Surface sow or barely cover seeds, keeping soil consistently moist until germination.

For fresh flowers to eat or brew into tea, harvest spikes when they are fully developed and vibrant in color. Cut stems at the base with clean shears, leaving lower branches intact to encourage new spike production. The flowers can be used fresh or dried for later use in herbal preparations.

No formal pruning is needed, as the variety naturally develops a well-branched, bushy form. However, pinching the growing tip early in development encourages even fuller branching and more flower production. Deadheading spent spikes throughout the season extends blooming and promotes branching from lower nodes.