Since they are easy to grow and produce lots of flowers, zinnias are popular with bees, birds, and people alike. Some species of this plant produce long-blooming, daisylike flowers in a variety of colors, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Zinnia Flower Types
Zinnias come in a wide variety of colors, sizes, petal shapes, and even patterns. According to Fine Gardening, which prefers the hybrid “Cut & Comes Again,” it’s possible to grow Zinnia pumila “Cut & Come Again” to over three feet in height.” Flowers can have single, semidouble, or double petals and come in a variety of colors, including yellow, pink, red, lavender, and others.
Another hybrid with 2- to 3-inch white or yellow flowers with thin red, pink, or bronze stripes or speckles is the Peppermint Stick zinnia (Zinnia Elegans ‘Peppermint Stick’). They can reach a height of 2 ft. when fully grown, and they bloom from late summer to early fall. These zinnias, like many others, are frequently used in floral arrangements.
With its 16- to 24-inch long stems, the Color Crackle Zinnia haageana (‘Color Crackle’) is a stunning specimen. Mexican zinnias are a common name for these plants, which are native to Mexico. The plants grow to a height of about 2 feet and spread out to about 1 foot.
Planting Site Selection and Preparation
- It’s critical to pick a spot that receives plenty of direct sunlight.
- Later in the season, foliar diseases like powdery mildew can be avoided with better air circulation.
- While zinnias can thrive in a wide range of soil conditions, the ideal soil should be rich in organic matter and well-drained.
- A pH of 5.5 to 7.5 is ideal for soil.
- The flowers will grow faster if the soil is amended with compost. Educate yourself on the topic of soil amendments and planting-ready soil.
Zinnias: How to Plant Them
Depending on the variety, plants should be spaced 4 to 24 inches apart. (Many common varieties are planted 2 feet apart in rows and 6 inches apart within rows.) See the seed packet’s back for variety-specific instructions.
Sow zinnia seeds only about a quarter of an inch deeply.
Most varieties of zinnia seedlings will appear within four to seven days, but the blooms will not appear for several weeks to several months (depending on planting site and climate).
Tweak the spacing of seedlings when they reach three inches tall so that they’re 6 to 18 inches apart. Powdery mildew is less likely to form as a result of this.
Planting Zinnias in a Pot
Zinnias are popular in bouquets because each stem usually produces only one flower at the top, making them ideal for use in floral arrangements. Pruning, on the other hand, is a great way to increase the number of these stunning blooms. Trimming these plants is easy if you start when they are 8 to 12 inches tall, as Floret Flowers explains. Cut off the top 3 to 4 inches of the plant just above a set of leaves with a pair of sharp pruners. As a result, a greater number of flowers are produced.
Cut off only a few large flowers at a time when working with the flowers. It is possible to harm the health of your zinnias by removing too many of their stems. To prevent the spread of disease, sterilize your pruning shears with alcohol and wear gardening gloves. Cutting below its leaves, look for strong stems.
Taking Care of Zinnias to Extend Their Blooming Season
More blooms can be yours if you take good care of your plant. Prune two medium-sized stems together below where they are connected to encourage the zinnia to produce more flowers. As a result, more flowers may spring up in their place. Deadhead wilted or brown flowers whenever you see them, as this redirects the plant’s energy away from maintaining the dead flowers and toward producing new flowers. Composting can be beneficial as well.
Zinnia’s care is detailed in the Old Farmer’s Almanac. After the danger of frost has passed, they should be planted, and they need full sun to thrive. They prefer soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5 that is well-drained and rich in organic matter.
Zinnias reward you with colorful blooms if you keep the soil moist but not soggy, and if you deadhead the flowers regularly. As annuals, zinnias can’t be counted on year after year. You can sow the seeds of the season’s final blooms once they have matured. New zinnia plants may poke their heads above ground in the spring of the following year.
A Checklist of Necessities
- Alcoholic swab
- shears for pruning
- Gloves for the garden
Species to Consider
Dreamland Series cultivars produce full-sized flowers on compact plants. Zinnias with fully double flower heads, up to 4 inches across in a wide range of colors, are dwarf and compact. The stems are 8–12 inches tall.
Plants in the Thumbelina Series have weather-resistant, single or semi-double flower heads that come in a variety of colors. Petal diameters range from 1-1/4 inches to 6 inches, and the stems can be as long as 6 inches.
Large, double flowerheads measuring 3 inches in diameter characterize the State Fair Series, one of the tallest and largest in the collection. Stems can reach a height of 30 inches.
Wisdom and Humor
- Hanging baskets look great with these narrow-leaved zinnias, and they also make lovely dried flowers.
- Zinnias are said to evoke memories of long-lost friends.
