Growing zinnia is easy and SO rewarding ! Not only are they gorgeous and colourful , they also attract pollinators .
In this post , you’l hear everything there is to know about zinnia works care , including tips for piddle , sunlight , dirt , fertilizer , pruning , and much more !
I farm zinnia in my garden every year , and perfectly have sex them ! Every sentence I look out my window , they are one of the first things that catch my eye .
Dwarf varieties of zinnias in the garden
In my opinion , these beautiful and resilient flowers are a must for every garden ! If you ’ve never grown zinnias before , you should definitely add them to your inclination .
They are an old fashioned garden staple , and their popularity is understandable . These day , you’re able to find them in all shapes , sizes , and colors .
In this detailed old maid care guide , you will see everything you need to grow these incredible blossoms in your garden every summer .
Table of content
Information About Zinnias
Zinnia , which is both the Latin and vulgar name for this flora , is native to Mexico . You probably wo n’t be surprised to learn that they belong to to the daisy fellowship of flowers .
These fast - grow plant ambit in height from 6 to 36 inches . The midsummer explosion of colourful , abundant blooms continues up to the first hard frost in the fall .
Not only are the blooms gorgeous , they also attract hummingbird , bees , and butterflies , which really adds to their overall appeal .
Hardiness
Zinnias are a dependable annual works , which think of they complete their life cycle within one growing season . They are not perennial in any fix .
This flora have intercourse hot weather condition , and will not tolerate the coldness at all . Once these peach come in tangency with freezing temperatures , they will fail .
In warm climates , zinnias can reseed themselves as one-year wild flower . But the respite of us must replant them every twelvemonth .
luckily , they mature quickly , so you’re able to delight them for several month no matter where you live .
Flowers
Once they reach maturity , zinnias will bloom continuously until frost vote out them , or they occur to the oddment of their lifelike lifecycle .
The best part is that the blooms come in a rainbow of colors . They also make grotesque cut flowers that will last for several day in a vase or arrangement .
You may also notice that the shape of the flowers can be dissimilar , depending on the motley you pick out . Basically , there are three dissimilar petal arrangements to look for …
Different Types Of Zinnias To Grow
The best part about growing old maid is that they hail in several beautiful form , and a wide range of colors .
There are too many types to create an exhaustive inclination . So here I will heel some of the more exciting and notable ones you might require to judge …
Benefits Of Growing Zinnias
In case you have n’t guessed it yet , old maid are one of my favourite flowers to grow in my garden . But , if you ’re not convinced yet , here ’s a list of all the wonderful benefits they have to extend …
How To Grow Zinnias
To successfully develop zinnias , it ’s important to be intimate where and when to plant them . So before I get into the elaborated fear educational activity , here are some quick planting tips …
Where To Grow Zinnias
Since they are so unsubdivided to uprise , some people use old maid flower to fill vacant speckle throughout their garden , or devote entire beds to them .
Dwarf assortment also do very well in pots and container , and are wonderful for adding pops of people of colour to a cheery pack of cards , balcony , or patio .
These bouncy plant will perform well in challenging conditions . But for best final result , select a full sun web site that has fast - drain soil .
When To Plant Zinnias
Since they are not cold hardy , wait to institute zinnia until after all chance of frost is gone , and the soil has warmed in early summer .
It is not beneficial to plant them early , because the cold will stunt their growth , and a later spring frost could kill them .
Zinnia Care & Growing Instructions
The great news is that zinnia plant guardianship is extremely well-off . These rugged plants are heat and drouth - tolerant , and will brave cool temperature after in the fall as well .
Water
Though they can tolerate dry weather , zinnias still need regular lacrimation to support healthy growth . deficient water will result in smaller plants with fewer blooms .
So , plan to water them once or twice per hebdomad during dry spells , but do not impregnate the soil . They do n’t like stimulate wet feet , and overwatering will apace belt down them .
Overwatering is n’t normally an topic in the garden , but can be a trouble in locoweed and containers . Always see to it the soil before you water .
It ’s better to appropriate it to dry between watering , and then give the plant life a decent , cryptic beverage . If you struggle to get it right , I recommend buying an inexpensivesoil moisture meterto make it super easy .
Sunlight
Zinnias thrive in live , sunny conditions . So plant this one in the full sun if you could . They produce more flush when they get at least 6 - 8 hours of lineal fair weather every day .
you may grow them in part shade , as long as they get at least 4 hours of sun day by day . However , keep in thinker that they will not bloom as copiously if they get too much nicety .
Soil
The good news is that zinnias are not too picky , and will produce in almost any character of soil . But they do prefer fertile soil that is full of organic matter , and also fast - draining .
High - lineament soil that is robust in hummus and constitutive matter will result in level-headed , more robust plants and flowers . you could improve your beds withworm castingsorcompostto ameliorate the character .
Always forefend planting zinnia in areas where water pools . But , for easy - draining ground , you’re able to addperliteor coarse sand to increase the drain .
In container , use a respectable quality outdoor potting mix , and always be certain to constitute them in a flowerpot that has fair to middling drainage holes .
Fertilizing
Since zinnia works grow an unbelievable amount in one time of year , they will do intimately when fed regularly with a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus .
Start by amending the territory withslow - going granulesat planting sentence . Then top - dress them 2 - 3 more times during the summertime .
you may also supplement monthly with awater - soluble plant food , or an organiccompost tea , to leave them with all the nutrient they necessitate to thrive .
Learn more about exactlyhow to fertilize your flower bed here .
Disease Control
One of the most thwarting matter about old maid plant caution is dealing with disease and mildew consequence . Powdery mildew can become a job in moist , warm , humid weather .
Bacterial foliage spot can also attack zinnias . Symptoms include reeking lesions that turn brown then black . It thrives as a event of water collecting on the leaf .
The effective newsworthiness is that these disease only assault the leafage , and do not affect the blossoms . you could process the leaf with anorganic fungicideat the first sign of disease .
But , since the leafage is passably quotidian , and the plant are short - subsist , you may just opt to stomach it , rather than treating them .
you could also forestall disease issues by giving old maid flower plenty of way for tune circulation , and water at the base of the plant to keep the leaves dry .
Pest Control
Spider mites can have leafage harm , but it is only necessary to spray them if the expiration starts to impact the overall wellness of the industrial plant .
If you bring the flowers indoors , carefully inspect them for mark of spider soupcon . This will prevent bringing these pests into your home base , and infest your interior plant .
An added benefit to growing zinnias is that they are tolerant to cervid and cony . So , if your garden is plagued by furred pests , these are a neat alternative for you !
Pruning & Deadheading
No matter which miscellany you grow , all zinnia will gain from being pruned and deadheaded on a regular basis . Doing so will result in fuller plants , and gross ton of new buds .
The more you prune the flowers , the bushier the flora will develop , and the more peak you will get . So cutting them for vases and arrangements has a threefold benefit .
Deadheading also advance unexampled bloom of youth . Once the bloom fade , squeeze or hack them off to prevent seeds from take form , which takes vigour away from the plant life .
Zinnia Propagation
It ’s super simple to spread zinnias from cuttings or from seed . If you want to examine settle cuttings , then take 3 - 4″ long non - bally stems , and strip off the lower leave .
Dip the cut ends inrooting hormone , stick them in a lightweight soil medium ( ora seedling mixture ) , and place them in a humid locating until you see novel growth .
Or you may start the seed indoors 6 - 8 weeks before last frost in natural spring . you’re able to even save the seeds from you garden to grow your favorite diverseness year after twelvemonth .
Troubleshooting Zinnia Care Problems
Yes , it is easy to maturate zinnias . But sometimes you run into difficulty , and you have no musical theme what is wrong , or how to fix it !
So , in this department , I ’m run to help you trouble-shoot some of the most common old maid attention problems , and give you baksheesh for fixing them .
Yellow Leaves
This is most likely cause by a lack of nutrient , but could also be from overwatering .
If you suspect a alimental want , set off feed them with anorganic liquid fertilizer . Otherwise , check that the soil is never wet or soggy .
Leaves Turning Brown
Could be from under tearing , or sunburn on new plants . Never permit the soil to dry out out completely .
If your new starts or seedlings have browned leaves , then move them to a shady spot , and slowly introduce them to full sunshine over the next few weeks .
Black Leaves
If there are black smear on the leaves , then it ’s credibly infected with bacterial foliage spot , which can be prevent by observe the leaf dry .
Otherwise , if the leaves suddenly turned smuggled , then it was probably due to freeze or freezing temperatures .
White Powder On Leaves
When you see whitened spots that look like pulverization on the foliage , then it ’s probable powdery mildew .
Once infect , you ca n’t get disembarrass of it . But you ca nt plow the leaf with anorganic antifungal agent , and water at the base to slow the spread .
Zinnias Won’t Bloom
There are a few reasons why zinnias wo n’t blossom , or do n’t have many bud . It ’s because of either too much tad , improper lacrimation , or lack of nutrients .
verify they are in a gay location , that the soil dry slightly between waterings , but never bone dry , and that you feed them on a regular basis .
FAQs About Growing Zinnias
Do zinnias come back every year?
No , old maid are true annual industrial plant that will only live for one time of year . However , it ’s not rare for them to reseed themselves in mild climates , making it seem like they are growing back every year .
How long do zinnia plants last?
Zinnia plants will last until either a hard freeze kills them off in the fall , or they come to the final stage of their born lifespan . Since they are annual plants , their lifespan is broadly speaking about one year .
Do zinnias need full sun?
Though they do execute well in full sun , old maid can survive in partial wraith . They just wo n’t blossom as profusely when they get less sunshine .
How do I keep zinnias blooming?
The best style to keep zinnias blooming incessantly is to prune or deadhead them ( i.e. : remove the faded bloom ) on a regular basis .
Do you pinch out zinnias?
Though certainly not required , pinching ( or deadheading ) zinnias is a big room to keep them stocky , and also encourages more buds .
How long do zinnias bloom?
When generate the good growing conditions , zinnias will bloom from mid - summer all the way through gloam . In affectionate mood , they may flower well into the winter .
Growing zinnias is a fun fashion to add color and cut back flowers to your garden . The gorgeous bloom are resistless to people , as well as pollinators . Once you see just how effortless old maid are to care for , you ’ll require to meet your garden and summer containers with them .
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