Bud or spent flower?

karenandjesslqEBf_sh

I’m new to gardening, could someone advise how to tell a new bud from a spent flower?  In certain plants they can sometimes look very similar when the petals have dropped off and I don’t want to cut off a new bud when deadheading. Thanks.

AnniD

Welcome to the forum 

Could you give us some idea of the plants you're referring to please? It helps with the advice given. 

karenandjesslqEBf_sh

Mainly Cosmos, I’ve got several large containers of them, thank you 

Eustace

Cosmos buds will have a thin yellowish covering over them whereas the spent flowers will be brownish without the thin layer. HTH.

Silver surfer

Welcome to the forums.

Cosmos flower bud....see link.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cosmos_bipinnatus_flower_bud.jpg

more..

https://www.google.com/search?q=cosmos+spent++flower&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwj7_LGq7rzzAhVZMRoKHWuJA9AQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=cosmos+spent++flower&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDDoICAAQgAQQsQM6BQgAEIAEOgYIABAHEB46CAgAEAgQBxAeUP-bAlj7uwJgn8sCaABwAHgAgAGbCYgBzCCSAQs0LjIuNS0xLjEuMpgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=OExhYfuALNniaOuSjoAN&bih=595&biw=1280&client=firefox-b-d#imgrc=VFnFTdhRYU0pCM