Without a doubt, zinnias are one of the easiest flowers to grow. They are every gardener’s dream as they grow quickly and they bloom heavily. In addition, they’ll produce flowers all the way up to the very first hard frost. Zinnia flowers also create a massive burst of colour in your garden, so they tick all the right boxes!
Want to learn more about how to plant and care for zinnias? Read on to find out more.
Jump To a Section Below
- What Is Zinnia?
- How To Grow Zinnia
- When To Plant Zinnia
- Where To Plant Zinnia
- How To Plant Zinnia
- What Is The Meaning Behind Zinnias?
- What Does Zinnia Help With?
- What Do Zinnias Need To Survive?
- How Do You Care For Zinnias?
- How Long Do Zinnia Flowers Live?
- Do Zinnias Keep Pests Away?
- Do Zinnias Like Lots Of Water?
- Are Zinnias Easy To Maintain?
- How Do You Keep Zinnias From Falling Over?
- How Do You Keep Zinnias Blooming?
What Is Zinnia?
Zinnia belongs to the Asteraceae family, which is also known as the daisy family. It is a bushy plant or sub-shrub that is tolerant to low temperatures. However, it cannot survive frost.
Each type of zinnia has a slightly different leaf shape. These plants can be pointy – almost like arrows, lance-shaped or narrow, rough or soft, depending on the species. The flowers come in all different kinds of colours and shapes as well. Some flowers look like daisies while others remind one of a cactus. Yet other zinnia flowers look like dahlias.
The colour range includes white, yellow, orange, red, rose, pink, purple, lilac and multicoloured blooms. For instance, Zinnia angustifolia has a small orange flower while the Zinnia peruviana has red, purple or yellow petals. The height of the zinnia plant also varies, depending on the variety, but it can range from 15cm to 1m (6 inches – 40 inches).
How To Grow Zinnia
Zinnia are great for hot summer weather and gardens in warmer climates. As we said previously, zinnias are definitely one of the easiest flowers to grow as seeds require only basic garden preparation to sprout, and the plant flowers in merely a few weeks. They can grow and flourish with very little fertiliser and will still produce flowers.
When To Plant Zinnia
It’s strongly recommended that you plant zinnias in late spring after the last frost has passed and the soil is warm. Start seeds indoors in individual containers or direct-sow into warm soil.
Where To Plant Zinnia
Zinnia plants thrive in hot, dry conditions so make sure that you grow these in well-drained soil in a sunny border. Single-flowered varietals are attractive to pollinating insects, in particular hoverflies.
How To Plant Zinnia
It’s highly recommended that you grow zinnia from seed right in the garden bed because they do not like to be transplanted. From seed, they will grow very quickly under the correct conditions. Zinnias can be started from seed in your home if you want to do this rather. Just transplant them while they’re still young and do so quite carefully.
Zinnias are very sensitive to frost so do not seed until the last frost has finished in your area. See your local frost dates. These plants will grow in a minimum daytime temperature of about 60°F (16°C) although a range of 74–84°F (23–28°C) is preferred.
Sow a round of seeds every single week or so for a couple of weeks in order to extend the flowering period.
What Is The Meaning Behind Zinnias?
While zinnias have many different meanings, these plants are usually associated with friendship, endurance, daily remembrance, goodness as well as lasting affection. The Victorian meaning of zinnia is the reflection of a missing friend or a friend you haven’t seen in a while.
What Does Zinnia Help With?
Zinnias are one of the best annual plants for attracting pollinators, in particular butterflies. Interplant zinnias between rows of vegetables or – alternatively – as a border around vegetables in order to attract more pollinators to your garden.
What Do Zinnias Need To Survive?
Zinnias grow best and flower in full sun. These can flower in part shade, particularly in warmer climates with afternoon shade, but they may be more susceptible to disease and have fewer flowers. Zinnias grow best on fertile, well-drained soils high in organic matter.
How Do You Care For Zinnias?
Maintain moderate soil moisture and fertilise lightly to maximise growth and blooms.
After the zinnias flower, cut off the old flowers (which is a process called “deadheading”) to encourage more flowers to form.
How Long Do Zinnia Flowers Live?
Zinnia flowers live between seven and 12 days. In addition to the magnificent garden show that zinnias put on, these flowers make incredible cut flowers and look wonderful in vases or bouquets. Many varietals of zinnias will last from seven to 12 days in a vase.
Do Zinnias Keep Pests Away?
Zinnias assist with luring predator bugs into an autumn garden where they eat destructive pests. Plant zinnias near cauliflower in order to attract ladybugs, which eat many of the insects that attack cauliflowers. Nasturtiums are bright and cheery flowers which also serve a great purpose. They can repel beetles as well as aphids and squash bugs.
Do Zinnias Like Lots Of Water?
Zinnias aren’t drought tolerant however but they like their soil a little bit on the dry side. The soil should not be wet continuously. If we experience overcast June weather, cut down on watering.
Are Zinnias Easy To Maintain?
Zinnias are low maintenance. Since they’re fast-growing, they shade out weeds. They don’t require much in the way of fertilising (just an occasional well-balanced mix), and they don’t need mulching). Deadheading assists with producing more flowers.
How Do You Keep Zinnias From Falling Over?
Some zinnias grow tall and top-heavy and so get toppled over by the wind. To protect them, many growers either use stakes to support their plants or, if growing many flowers, they will put horticultural flower netting across the entire bed. While not invisible, the netting does a good job of supporting all those heavy flowerheads.
How Do You Keep Zinnias Blooming?
Cut zinnias so they keep on blooming. As the flowers bloom on your zinnia plants it is important to cut them so that they will continue to multiply and bloom. We planted 12 zinnia plants at the beginning of the summer. Throughout the summer we probably cut more than 200-300 zinnia flowers off of these plants.
Zinnia plants produce vibrant and colourful flowers and these are guaranteed to brighten up any garden. So if you’re looking for a way to make your garden pop with colour, consider planting a couple of these!
Lily’s love for flowers and plants was nurtured in her grandmother’s vibrant garden. Over the years, this affection blossomed into a full-fledged passion for horticulture.
With formal training in botany and countless hours in her own backyard oasis, Lily has cultivated a deep understanding of plant care and garden design.