My Cosmos doesn\'t grow tall

I sowed Cosmos Purity and Cosmos Daydream in mid April.
Now, 6 weeks later, they are less than 10 inches, but I already see some tiny buds forming.
How come they don't grow tall?
Did I sow them too late? (South-Mediterranean / Southern-Californan climate).
Thank you.

Thumbnail by natashka Thumbnail by natashka

Btw They get plenty of sun and the soil is well-draining.
I water them once a day in the morning.

This message was edited May 31, 2020 5:57 AM

San Leandro, CA(Zone 9b)

I looked up Cosmos Daydream, WOW a beauty! I looked them up to see if they were dwarf types. They are not.

I have grown cosmos but am no expert. I wonder if watering daily is too much. Cosmos are really easy and can be neglected while still doing well. So I wonder if you are being too kind to them.

Have you fertilized a lot? They do not need much.

Once a plant buds, they tend to put their energy into flowering, they tend to stop growing a lot. I wonder why they are budding up so early.

Maybe, (hopefully) a cosmos expert will come by. If they were mine, I would cut them back, all buds off, I would give them some nitrogen fertilizer (yes, I remember I said they need little) which might jump start foliage growth.

Have you grown other things in that spot? I just wonder if other plants get stunted there too. Do you have other places you can try growing them?

I wish I could be of more help to you.

Thank you Kell, for your ideas.

I didn't fertilize them, but the first 3 weeks the seedlings were in pots before I transplanted them. Now they grow in 'poor soil'. Poppies and Statice are doing very well in that area, so I thought it would be good soil for cosmos too.
(Btw The combination of Red Poppies and Deep Purple Statice was gorgeous this April/May).

It's the first time I grow cosmos. When I saw a picture of the Daydream, I immagined my summer garden full of this beauty, so I am a little disappointed that mine don't grow.
I don't understand. When I search online, I only find info on when your cosmos grows too tall instead of too small.

I could try to pinch the buds. There is only one tiny bud per plant. I also could try to give a bit of nitrogen fertilizer. Thanks.

Hi Kell, I tried to skip the watering for one day, but that didn't work.
After a warm day, some cosmos were hanging a bit, and after I watered them in the evening, they looked fresh again.

I am still wondering why they already get buds, even if they are less than 10 inches tall. Anyone?


This message was edited Jun 2, 2020 2:45 AM

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