Gardening Know How: Zinnia Care -- How to Grow Zinnia Flowers, Colorado State University Extension: Growing Plants From Seed, The Seed Planting Depth for Early Girl Tomatoes. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Larger plugs may become substantial enough to plant directly into hanging baskets or display tubs; Growing on In warmer climates, sow seeds directly into planting areas and cover lightly with soil. Jai is an expert on growing zinnias indoors, and he is doing it now. It’s best to allow them to fully dry on your plants, but if it’s going to rain you can clip them and let them continue to dry for 1 to 4 weeks indoors. I don’t have any. Fill small plastic pots or a seed tray with seed compost and water it gently. Potted zinnia flowers may live a few months indoors, but don’t expect zinnias as houseplants to survive indefinitely. It helps to have a soil pH in the neutral range, but it’s not mandatory. Colorado State Extension notes that zinnia plants are best started by direct-seeding in the garden; therefore, it is best to sow the seeds indoors into 2 1/2- to 4-inch biodegradable peat pots that will break down when planted outside in the soil. So, finding out more about the zinnia plant and the lab project would be appropriate. Starting zinnia seeds indoors in the spring, four to five weeks prior to the last average spring frost date, will produce starts mature enough for transplanting outdoors. attract bees and butterflies to the landscape throughout the growing season. Lightly firm the seeds in place using the base of an empty pot, then cover the seeds with a fine layer of vermiculite, horticultural sand or more seed compost. While not impossible, zinnias don’t handle being transplanted well. Seeds from hybrid plants typically do not come true to the parent plant, so if you love a specific attribute of the zinnia, such as its double flowers or special colorings, you might be disappointed by the offspring of hybrid zinnias. Once they begin to germinate thin the seedlings until they reach the spacing of between 30 and 38cm apart. Can I Start Zinnia Seeds in a Six-Pack Container? Most annuals can be started by seed either in containers indoors or directly in the soil outdoors. There are different varieties of zinnia plants. Be sure to plant your zinnia seeds a few inches apart to give them room to grow properly. Place the seed on the damp compost, allowing around eight seeds per 9cm pot. Adding water to the pots slowly ensures that the seeds do not wash out. Try a few different varieties to see which ones you like best! Did you expect more? Some might still be attached to the base of a petal. You can grow them from seed from spring onwards. Plan out the areas you want your zinnias to grow in, since digging up and moving the plants later will likely be unsuccessful. Zinnias can be sown indoors from February until April, or sown outdoors directly into the soil in May. Maintain a soil temperature of 21-26°C (70-80°F). In warm climates, zinnias should be seeded directly into the soil after any frost has passed, says Mbofung-Curtis; in cooler climates, seeds can be started indoors in germination trays. WHEN TO PLANT ZINNIAS. The plants get so leggy and tall, it seems the stems are not strong enough to support the plants. Zinnia’s are also known for being a great easy cut flower and showcase well in a vase or mason jar. Zinnias are best started from seed and can be sown directly in the garden after the threat of frost has passed. The seeds germinate easily, and grow quickly, producing their first of a continual display of blooms, by mid-summer. If sowing outdoors the seeds need to be sown thinly in a sunny position. Water thoroughly and thin to 6 to 12 inches apart after seedlings have sprouted. Fortunately, zinnias usually will flower despite nibbled or fungus-y foliage and can bloom in as little as two months from seed. Fill a large shallow container with an inch or two of water. Start seeds indoors in individual containers, set out purchased plants, or direct-sow into warm soil. If you’d like a quicker start to enjoying your zinnias, you may start the seeds indoors. Whether you choose a small or a large variety, they will need plenty of personal space. Growing zinnia plants can be inexpensive, particularly when growing them from seed. Zinnias famously hate root disturbance, so it is best to sow directly into freely drained soil with a fine tilth.Sow two or three seeds 2in (5cm) apart at 12in (30cm) spacing. Most annuals can be started by seed either in containers indoors or directly in the soil outdoors. Plan out the areas you want your zinnias to grow in, since digging up … Zinnias may be started indoors or directly in the garden. Starting Seeds Indoors . Poke seeds into the soil about one-half inch (1 cm) deep and 3 inches (8 cm) apart. If sowing indoors, sow the seeds into trays in the windowsill or greenhouse. In this video I will be showing you how I grow zinnias from seed and I will be showing you an update in the zinnia seedlings that I have growing. Where spring warms up early, wait until the last frost has passed before directly sowing zinnia seeds … Zinnias don’t transplant well, but you can try starting some indoors in peat or coir pots 6-8 weeks before planting out. Growing healthy Zinnia plants and keeping the planting area as weed-free as possible make it a lot easier to control pests and avoid plant diseases. Plant zinnias in spring, after the last frost has passed and the soil is warm. A preferred method for starting your zinnias is to plant them direct in your garden soon after the danger of frost has passed. Buy seeds online or at a garden center. From seed, they will grow very quickly in the right conditions. Starting seeds in peat pots will do away with the need to re-pot as they grow. Zinnias can be started indoors from seed four weeks before the last frost in your region. Thin to 12 inches (30 cm) apart in all directions for dwarf varieties. You can direct sow as soon as the soil has warmed a bit and there is no chance of frost. (I also grow zinnias indoors, and am doing so now.) In winter, its branches transform into a blaze of bright orange-red berries. Start seeds indoors about 6 weeks before the last spring frost, sowing them in a moistened, soilless mixture in flats or small pots. Zinnia seeds will germinate in five to seven days when exposed to a constant temperature of 75 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are using the mat watering system, keep the newspaper saturated. Poke seeds into the soil about one-half inch (1 cm) deep and 3 inches (8 cm) apart. Although you can grow zinnias from seed, it’s easiest to start with small bedding plants from a garden center or nursery. Growing zinnia plants can be inexpensive, particularly when growing them from seed. Seeds from open-pollinated plants, though, will grow true to the parent plant, so it makes sense to harvest those seeds. Even though zinnias are fast-growing plants, starting zinnia seeds indoors can help you get an even faster jump on the growing season, a plus if you're growing zinnias … Harden off and plant out 30cm apart when all risk of frost has passed. The profusion zinnia is no different. Zinnia Seeds Germination. There are hundreds of species of annuals, and some common flowering annuals include impatiens, snapdragon, marigold, zinnia, petunia, begonia and coleus. Zinnias resent cold weather and prefer to be planted after things have warmed up a bit. The holes should be about a quarter of an inch (.6 centimeter) deep for the zinnias to grow … Monitor Moisture. Seeds should germinate in 6 to 10 days. Save money and fill your summer shade gardens with masses of beautiful begonias. Whether you grow them from seed placed directly in your flowerbeds, start your zinnias indoors or buy starts of plants from a nursery, they remain one of the all-time favorite garden flowers available. Zinnias are one of the easiest and most rewarding annual flowers to grow from seed. It's best to group multiple pots together into a plastic flat and then cover the flat with a clear plastic lid to trap in humidity. Plant zinnia seeds a quarter inch (.6 centimeter) deep. Small plugs need individual potting on into 9cm (3.5in) diameter pots. That will make transplanting your annuals into the garden easier and more successful. 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