cosmos stubbornly refuses to bloom
 

I haven't planted cosmos in several years. I planted the dwarf variety 3
years ago, and have just enjoyed the chance reseeding (the dwarf variety
seems to reseed a bit less prolifically than the taller varieties). This
year, I have many plants of various sizes, from 6 inches to about 2 feet
tall, all of which have been blooming for the past month or more - however,
I have one plant which has a huge healthy central stalk, numerous strong
healthy branches, and not only no flowers, but not a single flower bud. It
is about 2 1/2 feet tall by now, less than a foot from other cosmos which
have been blooming for weeks. I would say that the central stalk on the
non-blooming cosmos is nearing 2 inches in diameter, and is practically
becoming woody. Since we sometimes have a killing frost in mid-September,
I'm starting to think that I won't see a single flower off that plant. Has
anyone else had that kind of a cosmos experience?

"gregpresley" wrote in message ...
I haven't planted cosmos in several years. I planted the dwarf variety 3
years ago, and have just enjoyed the chance reseeding (the dwarf variety
seems to reseed a bit less prolifically than the taller varieties). This
year, I have many plants of various sizes, from 6 inches to about 2 feet
tall, all of which have been blooming for the past month or more - however,
I have one plant which has a huge healthy central stalk, numerous strong
healthy branches, and not only no flowers, but not a single flower bud. It
is about 2 1/2 feet tall by now, less than a foot from other cosmos which
have been blooming for weeks. I would say that the central stalk on the
non-blooming cosmos is nearing 2 inches in diameter, and is practically
becoming woody. Since we sometimes have a killing frost in mid-September,
I'm starting to think that I won't see a single flower off that plant. Has
anyone else had that kind of a cosmos experience?

After composting and soil improvement in my yard for the past 25 years
I can't grow cosmos either, my soil is too rich.
Cosmos prefer poor soil to bloom well- but I bet you have a ton of
pretty foliage.

I don't have the answer, but I got a cosmos just like the one you describe
in a batch I bought on closeout from a garden center. All the others in the
pack grew nicely. The one just turned into a huge bushy weed. I noticed it
seemed a bit hairier than the ones that flowered, though the leaves were
similar enough.

I pulled it out to give the others more room.

-- Jenny - Low Carbing for 5 years. Below goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes,
hba1c 5.7 .
Cut the carbs to respond to my email address!

Jenny's new site: What they Don't Tell You About Diabetes
http://www.geocities.com/lottadata4u/

Jenny's Low Carb Diet Facts & Figures
http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/

Looking for help controlling your blood sugar?
Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/...0Diagnosed.htm


"gregpresley" wrote in message
...
I haven't planted cosmos in several years. I planted the dwarf variety 3
years ago, and have just enjoyed the chance reseeding (the dwarf variety
seems to reseed a bit less prolifically than the taller varieties). This
year, I have many plants of various sizes, from 6 inches to about 2 feet
tall, all of which have been blooming for the past month or more -
however,
I have one plant which has a huge healthy central stalk, numerous strong
healthy branches, and not only no flowers, but not a single flower bud. It
is about 2 1/2 feet tall by now, less than a foot from other cosmos which
have been blooming for weeks. I would say that the central stalk on the
non-blooming cosmos is nearing 2 inches in diameter, and is practically
becoming woody. Since we sometimes have a killing frost in mid-September,
I'm starting to think that I won't see a single flower off that plant. Has
anyone else had that kind of a cosmos experience?

I've had the same experience. One year I had cosmos plants that grew huge
but wouldn't flower. I tried adding flower fertilizer, Potassium something
I think it was, and breaking off the roots near the plant, but they would
not bloom.

I agree with the idea that the soil is too rich. When I first started my
garden and the soil was poor, cosmos flowered well. Now my soil is
enriched. However, the year mine wouldn't flower, I looked around the city
and saw other gardens in which the cosmos was flowering poorly, so I'm not
certain of my explanation, maybe it was just the weather.

"gregpresley" wrote in message
...
I haven't planted cosmos in several years. I planted the dwarf variety 3
years ago, and have just enjoyed the chance reseeding (the dwarf variety
seems to reseed a bit less prolifically than the taller varieties). This
year, I have many plants of various sizes, from 6 inches to about 2 feet
tall, all of which have been blooming for the past month or more -
however,
I have one plant which has a huge healthy central stalk, numerous strong
healthy branches, and not only no flowers, but not a single flower bud. It
is about 2 1/2 feet tall by now, less than a foot from other cosmos which
have been blooming for weeks. I would say that the central stalk on the
non-blooming cosmos is nearing 2 inches in diameter, and is practically
becoming woody. Since we sometimes have a killing frost in mid-September,
I'm starting to think that I won't see a single flower off that plant. Has
anyone else had that kind of a cosmos experience?

I planted some a few years ago, they were great. I don't think they have
ever rebloomed. My job ended June 30 and I've spent more time in the
gardens this summer, and I have a ton of little plants, all 12" or less,
and no blooms. I purposely didn't weed them out thinking I'd have a mass
of colorful blooms this summer.

We do have good soil but that doesn't explain why they bloomed the first
year and never again, does it?


Diane
Zone 6

No it doesn't, but I believe the original poster and I had large plants that
wouldn't bloom, a different mystery.

"Diane" wrote in message
...

I planted some a few years ago, they were great. I don't think they have
ever rebloomed. My job ended June 30 and I've spent more time in the
gardens this summer, and I have a ton of little plants, all 12" or less,
and no blooms. I purposely didn't weed them out thinking I'd have a mass
of colorful blooms this summer.

We do have good soil but that doesn't explain why they bloomed the first
year and never again, does it?


Diane
Zone 6

Diane, cosmos are annuals, so I wouldn't expect them to rebloom - only to
self-sow themselves so that a new generation could bloom the following year.
I'm wondering how you have little seedlings around if the cosmos hasn't
bloomed the past few years....
"Diane" wrote in message
...

I planted some a few years ago, they were great. I don't think they have
ever rebloomed. My job ended June 30 and I've spent more time in the
gardens this summer, and I have a ton of little plants, all 12" or less,
and no blooms. I purposely didn't weed them out thinking I'd have a mass
of colorful blooms this summer.

We do have good soil but that doesn't explain why they bloomed the first
year and never again, does it?


Diane
Zone 6

In article ,
"gregpresley" wrote:

Diane, cosmos are annuals, so I wouldn't expect them to rebloom - only to
self-sow themselves so that a new generation could bloom the following year.
I'm wondering how you have little seedlings around if the cosmos hasn't
bloomed the past few years....

Damned if I know! Maybe I should take a pic. But they sure loke like
little Cosmos plants. I thought it was my moonbeam spreading *way* out
but they are a bit different. I think I have the good camera with me so
I'll grab a pic and send you the link later.

Thanks!

Diane

In article ,
Diane wrote:

In article ,
"gregpresley" wrote:

Diane, cosmos are annuals, so I wouldn't expect them to rebloom - only to
self-sow themselves so that a new generation could bloom the following year.
I'm wondering how you have little seedlings around if the cosmos hasn't
bloomed the past few years....

Damned if I know! Maybe I should take a pic. But they sure loke like
little Cosmos plants. I thought it was my moonbeam spreading *way* out
but they are a bit different. I think I have the good camera with me so
I'll grab a pic and send you the link later.

Thanks!

Diane



OK, here's the foliage, anyone?

http://old-homes.net/pix/ours/flowers03/IMG_1040.jpg

Thanks!

Diane

The pic could be cosmos foliage - it's hard to tell with the ends weighted
down with water. I suppose it's possible that some seeds survived
underground for several years and germinated when the soil was disturbed,
although I wouldn't normally think of cosmos seeds as being that persistent.
(Usually hard-coated seeds like grains and beans seem to have a longer
"shelf-life".) There are a few other plants with very fine thread-like
foliage, including nigella. Have you ever planted that? (Just thinking out
lout).
"Diane" OK, here's the foliage,
anyone?

http://old-homes.net/pix/ours/flowers03/IMG_1040.jpg

Thanks!

Diane

In article ,
"gregpresley" wrote:

The pic could be cosmos foliage - it's hard to tell with the ends weighted
down with water. I suppose it's possible that some seeds survived
underground for several years and germinated when the soil was disturbed,
although I wouldn't normally think of cosmos seeds as being that persistent.
(Usually hard-coated seeds like grains and beans seem to have a longer
"shelf-life".) There are a few other plants with very fine thread-like
foliage, including nigella. Have you ever planted that? (Just thinking out
lout).

No, it doesn't sound or look familiar. Sorry, I didn't think about the
water. That area gets full souther sun against a white house and my
dryer vents nearby. However last winter was pretty hard and I almost
lost all my roses, so I would be surprised as well if they lasted

Considering it's September I guess I'll rip them out and plant real ones
next year. I really liked them.

Oh, I do have a Coreopsis Moonbeam nearby but it doesn't look *quite*
the same as that.


Thanks,

Diane

On Wed, 1 Sep 2004 12:19:56 -0700, "gregpresley"
opined:

The pic could be cosmos foliage - it's hard to tell with the ends weighted
down with water. I suppose it's possible that some seeds survived
underground for several years and germinated when the soil was disturbed,
although I wouldn't normally think of cosmos seeds as being that persistent.
(Usually hard-coated seeds like grains and beans seem to have a longer
"shelf-life".) There are a few other plants with very fine thread-like
foliage, including nigella. Have you ever planted that? (Just thinking out
lout).
"Diane" OK, here's the foliage,
anyone?

http://old-homes.net/pix/ours/flowers03/IMG_1040.jpg

Thanks!

Diane


Are you sure this is not threadleaf coreopsis?






Need a good, cheap, knowledge expanding present for yourself or a friend?
http://www.animaux.net/stern/present.html

In article ,
escapee wrote:

lout).
"Diane" OK, here's the foliage,
anyone?

http://old-homes.net/pix/ours/flowers03/IMG_1040.jpg

Thanks!

Diane


Are you sure this is not threadleaf coreopsis?

I do have moonbeam in the same area but it's a *little* different. Do
they spread seeds? The main plant still comes up in the same place. If
it is coreopsis, would reseeds not rebloom?


Thanks,

Diane

On Fri, 03 Sep 2004 23:23:31 GMT, Diane
opined:

In article ,
escapee wrote:

lout).
"Diane" OK, here's the foliage,
anyone?

http://old-homes.net/pix/ours/flowers03/IMG_1040.jpg

Thanks!

Diane


Are you sure this is not threadleaf coreopsis?

I do have moonbeam in the same area but it's a *little* different. Do
they spread seeds? The main plant still comes up in the same place. If
it is coreopsis, would reseeds not rebloom?


Thanks,

Diane

Any plant has the ability to re-seed, if it makes seeds. Since 'Moonbeam' is a
hybrid, it may have re-seeded, but did not have the characteristics of the
'Moonbeam.'





Need a good, cheap, knowledge expanding present for yourself or a friend?
http://www.animaux.net/stern/present.html

In article ,
escapee wrote:

On Fri, 03 Sep 2004 23:23:31 GMT, Diane
opined:

In article ,
escapee wrote:

lout).
"Diane" OK, here's the foliage,
anyone?

http://old-homes.net/pix/ours/flowers03/IMG_1040.jpg

Thanks!

Diane


Are you sure this is not threadleaf coreopsis?

I do have moonbeam in the same area but it's a *little* different. Do
they spread seeds? The main plant still comes up in the same place. If
it is coreopsis, would reseeds not rebloom?


Thanks,

Diane

Any plant has the ability to re-seed, if it makes seeds. Since 'Moonbeam' is
a
hybrid, it may have re-seeded, but did not have the characteristics of the
'Moonbeam.'


Thanks! Since my issue is apparently not cosmos-related, I'll bow out of
this thread. And I'll plant more cosmos next year as well. :)


Diane