Container Celosia Can Really Look Fantastic – But Don’t Let Yours Become Root-Bound
Chris is a gardening writer and nature enthusiast. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2022 with an MA in Psychology. Chris works with the Leeds Green Action Society, helping their food cooperative by growing various fruit and vegetables on their two allotments in Hyde Park, Leeds.
Reviewed By ROY NICOL
Roy is a Professional Gardener and Horticultural Consultant, specialising in large garden year-round maintenance and garden development. He is an RHS Master of Horticulture and uses his research in the application of no-dig methods in ornamental garden settings. Roy has been a Professional Gardener for more than six years and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, Professional Gardener's Guild and Association of Professional Landscapers (Professional Gardener).
IN THIS GUIDE
Celosia is a colourful and visually exciting plant that looks fantastic in any garden or outdoor space.
A lot of budding gardeners ask whether it’s possible to grow this vibrant specimen in pots – so let’s take a look.
Can You Grow Celosias In Pots?
Short answer: yes.
You’ll need to choose the right pot and the right compost, and follow some care guidelines to give your celosia the best chance to thrive, but yes, you can.
You can either grow celosia in pots indoors all year round or keep them in pots outdoors to enable an easy transfer indoors once the weather cools off.
The size of the celosia in pots will depend on the container size and the variety.
Growing in pots means that, over time, the plant’s roots will take up more and more space, which slows the growth and, if not repotted, will eventually begin to damage the plant.
Depending on your variety, you can expect a maximum size anywhere between 6-30 inches in height.
Choosing Containers
When choosing a pot for your celosia, bear in mind the maximum size of the plant.
You should aim for something at least 20cm in diameter, and with a similar depth, as this will give the plant plenty of space to grow.
The pot should have adequate drainage in the form of holes at the base.
This ensures that the soil will not stay waterlogged, contributing to the ongoing health of your celosia plant.
Plastic pots or those made from harder materials will be OK.
“Fibre clay is a good option as it is strong, light and made from a sustainable material,” says Professional Gardener and Horticultural Consultant Roy Nicol.
If you’re growing your celosia in pots outdoors, the weight of the compost and the pot combined should be enough to keep even plastic pots from blowing away in inclement weather.
Choosing Compost
Celosias likes potting compost with a loamy base.
“Therefore, the loam-based John Innes No2 compost would be suitable,” Roy shares.
If you’re using soil from your garden, these plants prefer soil with plenty of organic matter and a pH level somewhere between 6-6.5.
Make sure to remove weeds and their stems if you’re using garden soil, as these opportunistic plants will happily start growing again in your pot.
Avoid sandy soil with low nutrient content if possible.
Potting Up Cockscomb
Growing celosias in pots is easy.
If you’re growing from seed, let them sprout in a propagator or somewhere warm indoors, then move the seedlings into a pot.
Water gently but regularly, and fertilise once every fortnight during summer.
If you’re transferring a celosia from another pot, fill it to a couple of inches below where you want the surface to be, then hollow out the centre, making a hole big enough to insert the celosia.
Pat down the soil around it and then add another couple of centimetres to the surface.
Water immediately and allow to drain.
How Many Can You Plant Per Pot?
You can grow more than one celosia per pot, but we’d recommend sticking with one at first to get a feel for how much space the plant will eventually take up.
As you’ll see in the next section, root-bound celosia is something to avoid and having more than one plant in your pot will accelerate the rate at which this happens.
Pot-Grown Celosia Care
You should never let celosias become pot-bound, as this will hinder its ability to grow.
You can check occasionally by gently pulling the celosia and its soil away from the container and seeing whether roots are visible at the edges.
If they are, or if roots are ever visible from the holes in the bottom of the pot, repot the plant into a bigger pot immediately.
Water regularly, allowing the soil to drain between waterings.
Use your finger to feel a couple of inches below the soil before watering – if it feels wet, hold off for a little while.
Pouring liquid fertiliser in your celosia pot every couple of weeks during summer will help the plant to thrive.
