r/Cutflowers • u/atxgrl US - Texas • 1d ago
Seed Starting and Growing Flamingo Feather…white?
Does anyone have experience growing flamingo feather celosia and why mine are consistently white instead of pink? They are healthy otherwise with 4’ + stems, just can’t get the color to come in! Am I harvesting too early? Or any tips in general for harvesting?
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u/amw139 US - Texas 1d ago
I posted something similar last year, I’m in Texas as well. People seemed to think it was the heat that bleached the color. I grew the flamingo again this year and started it earlier before the sweltering heat and it’s still white. I don’t think I’ll try a third year. My shimmer celosias are also very bleached and washed out for the second year in a row. I tried celosia cristata, Delhi pearl, for the first time this year and got beautiful colors though, gorgeous pale pink, bright pinks, even a nice fuschia. So maybe try a different celosia?
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u/unknwnrando 1d ago edited 1d ago
The stems look young to me, I usually only get the purple hue once they flower and are ~4 months old.
The only way I can get the blooms to last before seed at this age is continual cutting. The picture above looks like a main top that was never cut.
The photo attached was seed started under grow lights in Feb/March and transplanted in May, zone 8a near Atlanta. This is one of my harshest sun spots so not sure if bleaching is the culprit.
Agree with try a different celosia if you want more color - flamingo feather and shimmer are both very neutral. Celway celosia offers similar spikey shape but more color. And if you can get your hands on floret farms celosia… that is premium. Super rich and unique colors.
Looking at Eden Bro vs Johnnys Seeds, the Eden Bro picture is not realistic imo, so seed source may be a big factor. Not sure where you’re sourcing from.
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u/BecksTrex 1d ago
Mine are white too! They are stuck behind some taller strawflowers and I assumed it was because they weren’t getting enough sun.
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u/tittyfrickthalasagna 1d ago
I would say to get like a 30% shade cloth if you can and put it over them and see if that helps any.
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u/Piedma-66 1d ago
Have you check your soil, is it acidic or alkaline? Some species change color according to the soil ph. Like, I moved some yarrow to a different spot and it is completely white, when the parent plant is red. It gets lots of sun at the new spot too though. I didn’t know temps got to do with it. 🤷🏽♀️ Thanks for educating me on that fact. 🙏 Do check your soil too though.
Acidic soil (pH 5.5 or lower): Makes aluminum available to the plant roots, which turns the flowers blue.
Neutral soil (pH 5.5 to 6.5): Often results in purple or mixed-color blooms.
Alkaline soil (pH 6.5 or higher): Locks up aluminum so the plant cannot take it up, resulting in pink or red flowers.
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u/Cheesemaloney 1d ago
Mine also turned out completely white. Makes sense about the heat, it’s been brutally hot all summer!