If you’re looking for a vibrant, beginner-friendly plant for your garden, Zinnias are a great choice. With large blooms and a variety of color and size options, these beautiful flowers are easy to grow and harvest. They will look beautiful in your garden and in a vase! If you’re ready to plant, here’s everything you need to know about growing zinnias.
If you’ve ever strolled through a flower garden or even the flower counter at your local grocery store, then you’re probably familiar with Zinnia flowers. Known for their vibrant colors, these flowers are a popular choice for both gardeners and florists.
Not only do zinnias come in a variety of colors and sizes, they are also known for their prolific flowering. West Coast Seeds recently sent me some zinnia seeds, so you can bet I’ll have a zinnia growing here soon.
So if you’re like me and like to decorate your dining room table with freshly cut flowers, these plants can be a great addition to your arrangements all summer long. If you prefer to leave your petals outside, you can even grow Zinnias in pots.
These hardy, low-maintenance plants are perfect for newbies looking to grow something beautiful and an old standby for more experienced gardeners.
Meet Zinnia
Zinnia flowers can be recognized by their round, full blooms. every color under the sun. It is these bright colors that gave them their original Aztec name, which means “plant that harms the eyes.” Native to Mexico and Central America, these flowers were named zinnia after German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn, who brought the plant to Europe in the 1700s.
Nowadays, zinnias are popular for many reasons. Their variety of colors and sizes make them a versatile medium for florists and an aesthetically perfect choice for gardeners looking to curate their flower beds. They can also help improve the overall health of your garden because of them attracts pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds and butterflies.
If you want to take advantage of this easy-to-grow flower, there are many Zinnia varieties to choose from. One of my favorite flower varieties is the Oklahoma Salmon variety. As their name suggests, these Zinnia plants come in pale pink and peach hues, making a lovely, warm addition to any garden or bouquet.
If you’re looking for a more vibrant flower, the Golden Flame Zinnia may be for you. Its gradient of yellow, orange, and burgundy evokes a fiery sunset. The Queen of Flowers is another popular Zinnia family, with striking green, red, and purple varieties.
How to grow Zinnia flowers
Zinnias are known as the gateway flower to cut flowers because they are easy to grow and tolerate cutting. If you are looking to start a cut flower garden, this is the perfect place to start.
When and Where to Plant Zinnia Flowers
If you live in a warm climate, you can plant Zinnia seeds directly into the ground as long as you wait at least two weeks after the last frost. In Canada, I like to start Zinnias indoors. When the sprouts are 3-5 inches tall, they can be planted outdoors.
I find that my Zinnia seeds germinate FAST. They must be Move outside within three weeks of germination, otherwise, they may become longer. Zinnias tend to be one of my last flowers to sow indoors.
They love heat and sunlight, so you shouldn’t plant them in the ground until the weather starts to warm up.
Whether you start them indoors or plant them directly in the ground, your soil should be well-drained and have a neutral pH. Place zinnia seeds a few inches apart and Press them about ¼ inch into the soil.
Light
Zinnias need full sunlight, so be sure to place them in a bright spot in your garden or yard. They need the least 8 hours of daylightBut more is even better for these light-loving plants.
I have planted them in partial shade in the past and the slugs started munching very quickly.
Water
While mature Zinnia plants can survive mild drought, Hydrated plants produce the most impressive flowers. Once chrysanthemums are planted in the ground, they can be watered deeply once a week.
If you choose to keep them in a pot, give them water when you notice The top inch of soil is dry.
Cut
Pruning is key when learning how to grow Zinnias as they are considered cut and reblooming flowers. This means that the more you prune, the more chance the plant has of growing and producing more flowers.
When the stem reaches about 10 inches, you can start pinch their heads. Harvesting Zinnia flowers is also a great way to encourage growth. If you want to save the flowers, remove them when they begin to droop or wither.
Common pests and diseases
Zinnias are fairly pest resistant, but common pests such as aphids and spider mites can sometimes cause damage. Lighter colored varieties are more susceptible to pests and diseasesso you may want to harvest these flowers earlier in the season to avoid damage.
A more common problem with zinnias is powdery mildewespecially in hot, humid areas. Leaving extra space between the seeds can help avoid this problem by allowing for more air flow. If your zinnias are affected by powdery mildew, a baking soda and vinegar solution can be a simple, natural remedy.
How to Grow Zinnias in Containers
If you have limited outdoor space or just like to garden in containers, growing zinnias in containers is a great option. Start by choosing a suitable pot. I recommend choosing a pot that is about the size of at least 12 inches to accommodate the growth of your zinnias. Make sure it has drainage holes.
Pour soil into the chosen pot, making sure to moisten the soil before adding the seeds. Zinnia seeds should be spaced several inches apart and gently pressed into the soil. Within two days to a week, your seeds should begin to germinate.
After 4-6 weeks, you can place the pot in a sunny spot on the porch, garden or yard, watering more when the first 2.5 cm of soil dries.
How to cut Zinnias
You can test whether your Zinnia is ready to be cut by paying attention to the stem. Gently shake the stem, holding it about 8 inches away from the flower. If it curls, your flower is not ready to be cut. If the stem is stiff and straight, cut from the base of the stem.
When cutting, bring a bucket of water with you so you can put them in water right away when you harvest the flowers. Cut in the morning, as this is when the plant gets the most water.
Zinnias are considered “dirty” flowers, so adding a drop or two of bleach to the water can help keep it clean.
Once you place them in the vase, your echinacea will flower beautifully for 7-10 days.
Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Zinnia Flowers
Zinnia is an annual plant, so you will need to plant new seeds each spring. Luckily, they’re easy to care for once you learn how to grow zinnias, and the vibrant flowers are well worth replanting.
You can also save seeds from your previous echinacea plants and it’s quite easy. Once the flower head is almost dry on the stem, cut it and let it dry completely on the counter. Separate the paper seeds from the flower heads and petals and store in a cool, dry place for next spring.
If you want zinnias to bloom all summer, I recommend interplanting. In early summer, plant a new crop every 2 or 3 weeks. This will give you zinnias steadily throughout the season. Also, remember to cut branches regularly to encourage new blooms.
Pruning is key to Zinnia care and can help achieve the look you desire. When your Zinnia plant grows to about 10 inches, you can pinch the tip of the stem. This will help achieve the bushy look you desire.
Although this may seem counterintuitive, cutting back zinnias will help stimulate growth, so be sure to thin the plant when it begins to bloom. If you don’t plan to cut flowers for arrangements, regularly remove dried flowers.
Rabbits do not usually eat these flowers, especially Elegant Zinnia And Z. augustofolio Varieties. In fact, Zinnia flowers are known to repel rabbits, so if you have a problem with rabbits snacking in your garden, growing Zinnias may be a helpful solution.
Zinnias are truly one of the best cut flowers to grow, they are easy to grow and produce a lot of fruit. If you have any further questions about how to grow zinnias, please leave them in the comments below.
More cut flowers to add to your garden!
