Cosmic

Flowering Type: Facultative short day plant. Under short days, the plants will initiate and flower more quickly. Short day treatment will result in a more compact plant. 

Flowering Mechanism: High light intensity and warmer temperatures shorten the total crop time. 

Germination: Optimum conditions for seedling development, beginning on the day of sowing until radicle emergence. Expect radicle emergence in 5-7 days. 

Cover: Cover seed with vermiculite or substrate after sowing. 

Sowing method: 1-3 seeds per plug 

Media: pH: 5.7-5.9, EC <0.5. 

Temperature: 18-20°C (64-68 °F) until radicle emergence. Afterwards, ensure 16-18 °C (60-64 °F) during night and day. Once the roots reach the bottom of the cell, the temperature can be lowered to 14-16 °C (57-60 °F). At higher temperatures, the seedlings tend to stretch quickly. 

Moisture: Begin with a wet (4) until radicle emergence. In the second stage, alternate between wet (4) and moist (3). Once the seedlings are well established, further reduce the moisture level to moist (3) to medium (2). Allow the media to dry back before re-saturating. 

Humidity: 95-100% until radicle emergence, then reduce to 40-60%. Provide proper ventiliation and horizontal airflow to improve oxygen levels in the media. 

Light: Light is not required for germination and is optional during the plug stage. Supplemental lighting of 1,000-2,500 ft. candles (10,000-25,000 lx) improves the seedling quality, but keep short days for optimal results. 

Fertilizer: Fertilized water should not exceed an EC of 0.7. Begin fertilizing early at 50-75 ppm N using a complete balanced fertilizer. When the plants are well established, maintain an EC of 0.7-1.2 by feeding 100-175 ppm N per spray. 

Plug Bulking and Flower Initiation: Optimum conditions during the vegetative stage from cotyledon expansion to flower initiation. This stage is when the seedlings root to the edge of the plug. 

Growth Regulators: No growth regulators are required as growth can be controlled by temperature and moisture management. If needed, sprays of B-nine (daminozide) at 2,500 ppm can help control stretch in the plug. 

Fungicides: Preventative applications of fungicides are recommended under cooler conditions and low light levels. 

Media: pH: 5.8-6.2, EC 1.2-1.5. 

Light: As facultative short-day plant, keep the days short for early flowering. Day lengths above 14 hours help avoiding premature flowering. High light levels will shorten the crop time and produce the best quality. Light levels of 3,000-4,500 ft. candles (30,000-45,000 lx) are recommended. 

Temperature: Maintain an ADT (average daily temperature) of 16 °C (60 °F). Cool temperatures promote a stable, compact, well-branched plant habit in pots. An outdoor production is also possible, but Cosmos does not tolerate frost. 

Moisture: Cosmos requires a rather dry cultivation. High moisture levels or overwatering can cause root rot and black foliage. Alternate between moisture levels moist (3) and medium (2). Allow the media to dry back before re-saturating. 

Humidity: 40-60 % humidity is ideal. Providing good ventilation and horizontal airflow will help lower the humidity and dry back the media. Fertilizer: Moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly at 100-150 ppm N, using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and nitrogen levels. 

Growth Regulators: Not required, as growth can be controlled by temperature and moisture management. If required, apply light sprays of B-nine (daminozide) or Cycocel (chlormequat chloride) to control stretch. Avoid overdosing! 

Fungicides: Preventative applications of fungicides are recommended under cooler conditions and low light levels. 

Common Diseases: Root rot, powdery mildew, botrytis. 

Pests: Aphids, mites. 

Plug Crop Time
288 tray: 3-4 weeks

Finished Crop Time (from 288 tray)
Packs (1*): 5-8 weeks
10-12 cm (4-5"): 5-6 weeks
13-15 cm (5-6"): 6-7 weeks

*seeds per plug