Cosmos plants!!!

I have many Cosmos plants dotted about the house. Some are in small plugs that I suspect now need to be potted on.

What size of pot should they be in prior to being planted outdoors? Some are already in 7cm pots. Are these big enough?

These plants will remain indoors for another month huh?

 

The 7cm plants will be fine until planting out in the back half of May

 

Cosmos esp benefit from being “pinched out” Kriss
Above the top pair of leaves take out the top leading shoot. This will produce more branching shoots and sturdier plants. Keep turning those plants to keep them growing upright. Keep on the dry side too...cosmos don’t like being too wet
I like to pot them on a few times before planting out so they usually end up in 1 litre pots before then. I also pinch them out again when first planted out

 

Thanks.

I have about 30. Should I discard the half dozen weird looking ones or will they grow up big and strong just like the others? I have a weird 2 lead one!! And a couple of curly ones!

 

Hang on to them all...nothing to lose. Just remember, keep on the dry side

 

Love these flowers, so easy to grow. waiting for after May 13th here to put the seeds in a long planter and leave outside for them to do their thing.

 

I grew them last year and some became enbelievably big and full of flowers. I’ve avoided the dwarf ones this year and can’t wait to see them in a few months!

 

Also @kriss any of the tall lanky seedlings I pot on deep,it works for me.

 

Yes agree with lolimac, I too plant a little deeper every time I repot.
The white cosmos Purity grew well over 6’ last year despite pinching back. However, they were sturdy and self supporting because of it

 

I may as well use this thread for a couple of questions I trust you guys will know.

Pic 1 is Cat mint cuttings. Some have taken well and began growing, others have died back. Should I pot them on or not risk damaging the new roots. The cuttings were popped in there 2/3 weeks ago.

Pic 2 is Osteospernum. They were plugs bought online but they all just seem to be growing as a single stem. Do I pinch out the top? I can’t see where the side shoots would come from!

 

Cat mint is very easy....when you see roots emerging from the bottom of the pots then repot or plant out as a group.
The osteospermums look fine. Pinch the very tops out; you won’t hurt or hinder them at all.
At this time of year, esp during the next 3 to 5 weeks they will all grow fast

 

Side shoots form where the leaves below where you have pinched meet the stem. Watch closely and you will see. Nature is awesome.

 

I have a couple more weird than that ! They can grow very curly, as stated above I plant these quite deep .

 

So... should I be thinking about potting on or even hardening off this week? It’s really warm in Scotland this week! Some are very small though, ones that weren’t in the sunniest windows.

 

Kriss, I am not home at the moment but I will post a picture of some of my cosmos plants ASAP. They are much more bushy than yours are mainly because of being pinched several times. Here they are in 3 litre pots, been hardened off and are ready for planting out.
However, I would put those plants outside during the daytime for a few days and bring them back indoors overnight.
Be careful not to overwater though