Zinnias come in many shapes, sizes, and colors (excluding blue) and are some of the toughest annuals you can plant. Zinnias are a favorite with pollinators such as hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies that land on the flowers and drink their nectar. Tall varieties are an excellent choice for cut flowers, with options that include cactus and quill-type blooms with long, narrow petals and pompom-type blooms that look like little spheres. Since zinnias come in a variety of colors, they work well in almost any flower arrangement.
While tall zinnias suit cottage and cutting gardens, their lower-growing, mounding or spreading varieties work well in containers. They also require less frequent deadheading than their taller counterparts.
| GENUS NAME | Zinnia |
| COMMON NAME | Zinnia |
| PLANT TYPE | Annual |
| LIGHT | Sun |
| HEIGHT | 1 to 4 feet |
| WIDTH | 1 to 2 feet |
| FLOWER COLOR | Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, White, Yellow |
| FOLIAGE COLOR | Blue/Green |
| SEASON FEATURES | Fall Bloom, Summer Bloom |
| SPECIAL FEATURES | Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance |
| ZONES | 10, 11, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| PROPAGATION | Seed, Stem Cuttings |
| PROBLEM SOLVERS | Deer Resistant |
Zinnias are warm-weather annuals that don't like cold weather or cold soil, so they shouldn't be set out or sown outdoors before the soil warms in spring.
For an early start, sow seeds indoors in pots filled with moist seed-starting mix four to six weeks before the last spring frost date. Cover them with 1/4 inch of soil (they need darkness to germinate) and put them in a sunny window until they are ready to transplant. They germinate in 7-10 days and should be at least 4 inches tall before being transplanted outside. When working with zinnias, never handle them by the stems—only by the rootballs.
When direct sowing outside in warm weather, cover the seeds with 1/4 inch of soil. The seeds germinate in 7-10 days. When they are 2 inches tall, thin them to 8-24 inches apart, depending on the variety.
Because they come from prairie settings, zinnias prefer full sun. This environment nurtures the best bloom development and helps keep the plants dry.
Native to grassland areas, established zinnias are tough plants that handle drought well. However, young plants need to grow in moist soil, so water deeply a couple of times a week. Don't overwater. Zinnias don't handle wet roots well.
Even though they grow best in well-drained soil high in organic matter, zinnias are tolerant of poor soils, including hard clay. Amend poor soil before planting for the best flower production.
Zinna seeds germinate between 70°F and 75°F. After germination, their preferred daily temperature is 75°F-85°F, although 65°F at night is acceptable. They aren't fond of high humidity but will tolerate it.
No matter where your zinnias grow (garden on container), they will benefit from a side dressing of 5-5-5 fertilizer when the flowers start to form. During the growing season, the occasional liquid fertilizer application helps them bloom all season long. Fertilizer is especially important in containers filled with a soilless potting medium. In all cases, follow the product instructions for the proper quantity.
Deadhead spent blooms regularly to keep the plant tidy and encourage additional blooms. To encourage branching and more flowers in tall varieties, pinch the growing tip from young plants. However, pinched plants will be shorter and may bloom later. No additional pruning is needed as these plants are annuals that must be replanted each year.
The shorter varieties of bedding zinnias are excellent container plants. Avoid the tallest zinnias for this purpose. Use a container that is at least 12 inches wide and 12 inches deep and fill it with well-draining garden soil enriched with compost. Sow a few seeds outside in a container immediately after the weather warms—thinning as needed later—or start seeds early indoors in a container and move it outside at the right time.
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