Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Chief Mix' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Chief Mix Cockscomb, Mixed Crested Cockscomb (Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Chief Mix').
More about celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix'
About Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Chief Mix'
Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Chief Mix' · also called Chief Mix Cockscomb, Mixed Crested Cockscomb · flowering
Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Chief Mix' is a tall crested cockscomb producing large, velvety brain-like flower combs in a mix of red, gold, rose and orange. A heat-loving warm-season annual, it blooms from midsummer to frost on sturdy stems prized for cutting and drying. It needs full sun, warmth and free-draining soil.
Plant type: flowering
The reasons celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' and get the feeding right with the celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Chief Mix' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Chief Mix' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' flower?
Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Chief Mix' blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' bloom?
Give celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' normally bloom?
Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Chief Mix' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' flowering?
Feeding celosia argentea var. cristata 'chief mix' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Chief Mix' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Chief Mix' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Chief Mix' fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 2023 bloom guides in the Growli library