Gossypium herbaceum COTTON PLANT (10 seeds)

Cotton plant, also known as Levant cotton or Gossypium herbaceum in Latin, is a perennial herbaceous plant typically cultivated as an annual. It belongs to the Malvaceae family. Native to Asia, its growth is quite rapid, generally reaching a height of 1 meter by the end of the season.

Its flowering begins in the summer; the flowers are initially creamy-yellow and gradually turn pink.

The fruits are rounded pods (bolls) measuring 3 to 5 centimeters in length. When the heat arrives, the pod splits open, and the seeds—surrounded by fibers—are ready to be dispersed by the wind.

Cotton seeds are soft to the touch, black in color, oval-shaped, quite robust, and generally measure 7 millimeters in length.

The leaves are alternate and palmate-lobed in shape.

- Uses:

Industrial cotton is cultivated in many warm countries for fiber production. Its use is ancient; remains of fabrics made from this natural material dating back to approximately 3000 BC have been found in India.

It is an inexpensive, soft, warm, and comfortable textile fiber. The fiber derived from its fruit is easy to wash and versatile to use.

- Germination and Sowing of Seeds:

• The best period to sow cotton begins in May.
• Soak the seeds for 24 hours in lukewarm water.
• Bury them half a centimeter deep in a tray of fine potting soil or in individual pots.
• Water the culture gently with a sprayer.
• Place the planting in a greenhouse in a warm, humid spot at 30°C.
• Germination generally begins 2 to 4 weeks after sowing.

- Soil Type / Substrate:

To grow cotton tree effectively, it is important to use a well-draining, aerated substrate rich in organic matter.

- Exposure / Light:

It grows very well under bright light; an exposure in full sun is perfect.

- Temperature / Hardiness:

This Asian plant thrives when temperatures range from 20 to 35°C. Below this range, the plant stops growing. Remember to bring the plants indoors in winter, as this beautiful plant is frost-sensitive. Its USDA hardiness zone is 9a-12.

- Watering / Irrigation:

It needs regular water for the first 2 months; after that, watering once a week is sufficient in the height of summer. For pot cultivation, it is recommended to irrigate the base of the plant every 2 days.

- Multiplication / Reproduction:

The best way to reproduce it remains sowing. Cuttings are also possible by taking 15 cm shoots from the mother plant and rooting them using the "smothering" method (under cover) in a greenhouse.

- Pests / Diseases:

Several diseases and pests can affect its growth, including bacterial blight, aphids, and boll weevils.