

When they’re about 45cm tall, nipping out the main buds encourages them to branch out and grow bushier. Zinnias are half hardy and won’t like cold night time temperatures so don't be tempted to plant them out too soon.Īs they develop, support the tall varieties with canes and string or with pea and bean netting stretched horizontally. Once the risk of frosts has passed it's time to plant them up in good garden soil or compost containing John Innes No 2. Just be aware that mail-order plug plants can be shaken up in the post, and end up getting bruised which can lead to problems with diseased plants.Ĭarefully unpack your plug plants and keep them in indoors until needed.
Growing zinnias from seed outdoors how to#
It's also a good option if you don’t have the space needed for how to grow flowers from seeds at home. If you want to enjoy the zinnia even longer, you can dry it to preserve it.You can buy zinnias as plug plants, which is ideal if you want to learn how to grow zinnias and get off to a flying start at the beginning of the growing season. It stays fresh in bouquets for a long time, especially if the water is changed and the stem is cut back a few centimeters now and then. Zinnia, with its fireworks of color, is a real gem as a cut flower. It’s a good reason to fill the vases at home. The more zinnia one picks, the more new flowers appear. Then the zinnia will branch out and there will be room for more flowers. Remove wilted flowers over time by pinching off the stem just above a pair of leaves. For zinnia growing in the open ground, it’s enough to get nutrition once during the season when the bloom has started. Pot-grown zinnia needs nutrition every three weeks. It blooms a lot and long from July onwards. Zinnia may need support, especially if it grows in a windy location.
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Plant in well-fertilized soil with a distance of about 25 cm. Choose a sunny spot and it will be happy.

With its Mexican origin, zinnia is a plant that loves warmth. Protect the plants from sun and wind and bring the pots indoors overnight until they have become accustomed to their new outdoor life. Harden the zinnias by letting them be outdoors for longer periods over a few days. Do not take out the plants until the risk of night frost is over. Zinnia that has been sown indoors is sensitive to frost. In southern Sweden, zinnia can be directly sown outdoors when the risk of frost is over. The seeds sense when it’s time to germinate and get an early start in the spring. Zinnia is among the summer flowers that can be winter sown outdoors in cultivation vessels, from December to March. In the spring, many enthusiastic growers lack space on window sills and plant tables.

It forms roots and can be planted as an independent plant. They will then branch out nicely and become bushier. Top the zinnia plants when they are about 10 cm tall. After a few weeks, it’s time for the first nutritional supplement. When the seedlings have sprouted, they want to stand bright and cool. Keep the sowing moist but not overly wet, as zinnia can be affected by fungal attacks. Or place the sowing in a warm spot, for example, above a radiator.
Growing zinnias from seed outdoors free#
Feel free to use an electric heating mat. Zinnia germinates best at 20-22 degrees Celsius. The potting soil provides nutrition when the plant has grown big enough to need it. The sowing soil makes it easy for the seed to form roots. We base the pot with potting soil and have a layer of sowing soil on top. They don’t need to be transplanted until it’s time to move them to their final growing spot. Since the roots are sensitive, we sow zinnia in pots that are at least 7 cm deep. The smaller varieties are particularly nice in pots and as border plants in flower beds.ĭifferent ways to sow zinnia Pre-cultivate zinnia indoors Today, zinnia comes in a variety of delicious colors. Linnaeus named the plant zinnia to honor a German botanist named Gottfried Zinn. There it was used as folk medicine, as a plant dye, and in rituals. Zinnia is an excellent attraction for butterflies and other pollinators. Enjoy the flowers in the garden and bring them inside for summery bouquets. With its cheerful colors and sturdy stem, zinnia is a true floral praline.
