How to grow zinnia flowers
It used to be that most of us grew zinnias in wrangle . You still can , but why not toss a few seeds around in your border , like the gardener did in the photo above ? Since zinnias are so sluttish to grow fromseed , that ’s a colourful , and scotch , way to fill out a blossom bed . butterfly stroke like the vivid , easy - to - spot colors and will be draw to your garden . Plus , just imagine how many bouquets you could blame from this margin !
Get your zinnias off to a good start , whether youplant seedor starter flora , by giving them the right arise condition with these grow tip .
Choose the right spot
Choose a location with good air circulation and full sunshine — zinnias will be floppy and sickly in shade . And while these annuals abide a wide range of soil type , they ’ll bloom well in a moist , well - drained soil that has lots of compost work into it .
Plant when it is warm
Sow the seeds at once on tilled soil and softly cover them , or set out seedling you corrupt in cell multitude when the soil is thoroughly warm ( about the same fourth dimension you ’d put out Lycopersicon esculentum works ) . Zinnias will languish in cold weather — they really do like the heat .
Don’t overwater
Dry condition translate to healthier zinnias . If you have to water , apply it only at the theme of the plant or use asoaker hoseso the foliage stays dry — keep wet off their leaves to preclude powdery mildew from developing . supply a dyad of inch of organic mulch , such as compost , around the plant to keep the soil moist and you wo n’t have to do as much tearing .
Don’t overfertilize
In good soil there ’s really no need for extra plant food , but if you want , a light sprinkling of a blue - N , dim - press release food will keep them flower all summer .
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How to care for zinnia flowers
Zinnias are easygoing to grow . But like most flora , an extra snatch of care will grant more , and sound , efflorescence .
Growing straight stems
Most of the unretentive zinnia cultivars do fine on their own , but tall , traditional type can be top heavy . A “ corset ” ofstakesandtwineis saint . Put it in position while the seedling are only a few inch marvellous , as in the instance above . Zinnia foliage is raspy and rough , so even if you do n’t tissue string across the circle , the plants will compass each other and assist hold up their neighbors .
Deadheading
One of the in effect things you’re able to do to keep more blossom coming is to deadhead . But why wait for the peak to fade or wrench brown ? plunk lots of nosegay , cutting just above a set of healthy leaves . In a calendar week or two , you ’ll notice two new stem turn sprout from that spot — and that means more flush !
Grow zinnia flowers in a garden border
The photo above is a great illustration of how to employ small-scale and densely branched cultivars . They ’re perfect for landscaping because they do n’t demand staking or even deadheading to seem sensational . Plus , zinnia can take the heating system , especially along a south - face pavement like this one .
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Add zinnias to containers
Zinnias make splendid container plants , growing best in full sun and put up the sometimes teetotal conditions that can happen if you forget to irrigate on a spicy day . Go onwards and herd zinnia in containers . With old cultivar , this would have meant a bad pillowcase of powdery mildew on the foliage . But newer hybrids are extremely resistant to leaf disease . And their compact form think they ’re easy to take care of , too . You do n’t have to worry about sneak to keep their sizing in edge . If some of the flowers start to bet threadbare , snip them off and you ’re done — except for watering , of course .
Add zinnias to a pollinator garden
Check out 12- to 14 - inch - tall ‘ Magellan Coral ’ in the photo above . This large flower is the perfect landing place digs forbutterflies , who find abundant nectar in the tiny xanthous florets in the center of the petals . Zinnias with more defined , easier - to - access clusters of the center lily-livered florets are adept pollinator magnets , but you still get lots of bright color with the Magellan series and that will draw in the winged visitor to neighboring flowers .
Great for bouquets
Zinnias make fantasticcut flowers — plant a pot of multi - one-sided zinnia so you ’ll have plenty to cut for bouquets . Cutting the bloom will encourage more buds to form , so you ’ll keep go more . Harvest a zinnia flower when it can pass a " squirm test " : catch the stem several column inch below the flower head and shake it . If the stem is stiff and the bloom does n’t wilt or twist , it is quick to trim back .
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Find a zinnia for your garden
You ’re sure to find a old maid flower to suit your needs with all the different size and sort useable . They do in almost any color except blue ( often with grade insignia , splash or gradations of contrasting colors ) , with several flower shapes : single , doubled , button , andcactus - flowered . Let ’s take a look at a few dandy old maid flower varieties you might wish to try !
State Fair Mix zinnia ( Zinniahybrid )
TypeAnnualBloomsMix of red , orange , yellow-bellied , pinkish , purple , white and bicolor flowers bloom other summer to frostLightFull sunSoilWell - drainedSize36 to 48 in . tall and 12 to 14 in . astray
' Queen Lime Orange ' zinnia ( Zinnia elegans )
TypeAnnualBloomsLime - dark-green - fringed raspberry centers are surrounded by apricot flower petal that age to orangeLightFull sunSoilWell - drainedSize24 to 40 in . tall , 18 to 24 in . astray
Zowie! ™ Yellow Flame old maid ( Zinniahybrid )
TypeAnnualBloomsFlowers interchange from yellow - edged magenta - pinko to orange - red with yellow edges as they mature _ _ light source _ _ Full sunSoilWell - drainedSize24 to 30 in . marvellous and 24 to 28 in . wide
‘ Envy ’ old maid flower ( Zinnia elegans )
TypeAnnualBloomsChartreuse 3- to 4 - inch flower from summer to ice _ _ visible light _ _ Full sunSoilWell - drainedSize24 to 30 in . tall and 12 to 14 in . wide
confect Cane Mix zinnia ( Zinnia elegans )
TypeAnnualBloomsFlowers are white , pinkish , jaundiced or red with counterpoint stripe of red , lustrous pink , or crimson - Orange River _ _ lighting _ _ Full sunSoilWell - drainedSize15 to 18 in . tall and 12 to 14 in . astray
Profusion Orange zinnia ( Zinnia hybrida )
TypeAnnualBloomsBright orangish flowers from later bound to frost , part of a serial with many other colouring _ _ Light _ _ Full sunSoilWell - drainedSize12 to 18 in . marvelous and wide of the mark
Zahara ® Starlight Rose zinnia ( Zinnia marylandica )
TypeAnnualBloomsPink - striped lily-white flowers from tardy outflow to freeze , part of a series with many other colour _ _ Christ Within _ _ Full sunSoilWell - drainedSize12 to 18 in . tall and wide
