Cosmos seeds and planting!

I think I'm right in saying that Cosmos are natives of Africa so they can probably survive without daily watering.

 

Of course

 

I'm interested to know which varieties you are growing ( being nosey really )
I've grown 'purity' for a few years, without much luck it's probably been my negligence
This year I'm growing fizzy picotee and bright lights. Bright lights seem so much more sturdy, picotee are still delicate but coming on nicely

 

Cosmos are from Mexico and Central America.
They were introduced into Africa as a weed.

 

One variety i have in F1 Apollo - Cosmos | Floranova

 

One of arguably the top 2 of 25 I’ve grown was destroyed by the winds!!!!!! Arghhhh!!!

It was tucked behind a wall and I stupidly thought it was safe! It snapped at the base!

Is it a total right off or miraculously is someone going to say “actually, you can....”

 

Has it actually snapped off at the base Kriss? If so, then yes it is a write off. Otherwise cut cosmos back by half or more and tie to short cane.

 

Yea... it’s hanging on by a thread. I take it pruning back to a leafless stump will kill it....

...compost heap?

 

Yep. Compost heap. Learning curve Kriss? Next year pinch them back hard for a robust plant

 

If the plant has snapped off at the base and the root system is still intact in the soil, why won't it regrow ?

 

Good question Lucius, plants normally don't , not a clue why ? One for our gurus .
I have not grown Cosmos for a few years . The last ones I grew were the Gazebo variety. They grew that big that they would break under their own weight . So @kriss staking the more exposed ones may be advisable. Lovely flowering though

 

Ok, it might Lucius . Often though when annuals are damaged like this they seem not to
However, if it did it would likely struggle for a few weeks occupying space that something else could.
Yes, staking would help with cosmos but it tends to encourage even more legginess.....much better to pinch plants back a few times to make self supporting sturdier plants I think