How to Grow Zinnia Flowers

How to Grow Zinnia Flowers
The Gardener's Network

Zinnias are a really neat flower They come in a wide variety of colors with large, profuse blooms. They are truly an easy to grow annual flower. Zinnia offers many colors and mixed blooms to choose from. Flowers will bloom from mid-summer all the way until frost. They are good for indoor arrangements.

Variety abounds!

Zinnia comes in many varieties with at least one variety to fit everyone and for every need. There is a profusion of colors, multi-colors, and hues. Colors include, white, yellow, orange, red, rose, pink and multi-colored blooms. There are miniature and giant varieties ranging in size from about a foot for miniatures to giant varieties that can grow over three feet tall! You can select the color and size that is perfect for your flower garden. If you are planning a container garden, make sure to include some miniature zinnias.

Propagation:

Zinnias are grown from seed. Zinnia seeds can be directly seeded into your flower garden or seeded indoors for transplanting later. We recommend planting Zinnias in pots and containers indoors, then transplanting them outdoors. This allows you to make the proper spacing and not have to thin seedlings.

Sow Zinnia seeds early in the season and cover lightly with soil. Water thoroughly once. They germinate easily and will grow quickly, producing their first of a continual display of blooms by mid-summer.

Transplant Zinnias into your garden after the last frost date for your area. Spacing depends upon size with miniature varieties spaced four to six inches apart, and Giant varieties one to two feet apart.

How to Grow Zinnia Plants:

Zinnias like rich, well drained soil, but are very tolerant of average to slightly poor soils. Improving your soil quality will produce much healthier plants and flowers, so add plenty of compost. Add a general purpose fertilizer once a month.

Once your Zinnia plants are established, they should grow well. Soil should be moist, but not wet. Water them during dry periods, once or twice per week.

Add mulch around the plants for appearance and to keep weeds down.

Around mid-summer, your plants will begin to produce flowers and will continue to do so up to the first frost. You should remove dead flower blooms to encourage new growth and new blooms. Improve appearance of Giant Zinnias by trimming back stems that have grown long or gangly, but do not over trim them.

Zinnias are annuals and are susceptible to frost. They may survive the first light frost with only a little damage. They will not survive a hard frost or freeze.

Cuttings for Indoors:

Giant Zinnias have long stalks for flower vases and other arrangements. Cut the stem low, check for insects hiding in the flower, on the stem and under the leaves. Bring them indoors and place in water immediately.

For miniatures, use a small container or vase and cut stem a couple inches long. Bunch up a variety of colors for an eye-appealing arrangement. Add a small sprig or two of Baby's Breath.

Insect and Disease:

Zinnias are somewhat resistant to insects and disease. If insect or disease problems occur, treat early with organic or chemical insect repellents and fungicide.

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