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Growing Zinnia Flowers from Seed
Zinnia is a flowering plant that belongs to the family Asteraceae. Zinnia is originated from the dry grassland in Southwestern region of the United States and South America. Zinnia leaves are not supported by a stalk and have ovate shape. The color of zinnia leaves can range from pale to middle green. The flowers are available in different colors including white, chartreuse, yellow and orange. Zinnia is a popular garden flower. It is usually propagated through seed in fertile soil.
There are over one hundred Zinnia cultivar varieties. The most popular Zinnia flower species is the Zinnia elegans. Zinnia elegans, also called Zinnia violacea is originated from Mexico so it is adaptable to the hot weather. Zinnia linearis is another Zinnia variety from Mexico. Z. linearis is a low bushy plant that produces blossoms in the shades of yellow, orange or white. Miniature varieties can reach over 1 foot in height while giant varieties can grow up to 3 feet tall. Zinnia is propagated through seeds into a fertile and well drained soil. Well drained soil is good for the root growth of the young plants. If you have clay soil, you can add mulches to the ground to improve the drainage system.
Spring is the best time to sow zinnia flower seed after the danger of frost have passed. Zinnia prefers a sunny location. The ground must be well drained to prevent water logging in the ground. To improve clay soil, you can add organic composts including dead leaves, straws and manure. You are not required to dig a hole for the seeds. Instead, you can just toss the seeds on the ground. After that, you can spread the compost lightly over the area where you dropped the seeds. The standard germination period for zinnia flowers is from 7 – 14 days.
Once the seedlings reach a height of 2”, you can transfer them into a new location. The plant should be spaced 6” – 8” apart. After the zinnia is established, you can mulch lightly around the plant. Mulching will help the ground to retain moisture and prevent weeds infestation.
If the weather is hot, you should water it daily. If there is plenty of rain, you can water the plant less often. The best time to water zinnia flower plants is in the morning.
To encourage more blooms, you can deadhead the zinnia. You can use the seed from the blossoms to re-grow the zinnia plants. If you don’t want to use the seeds, you can send them away to your neighbors. The seeds should be stored in a dry envelope. You can label the type of zinnia variety including the height and flower color on the envelope.
After all the flowers are spent, the zinnia will produce beautiful blossoms in the garden. The bees, butterflies and hummingbirds will come to your garden for the nectar rich zinnia plants. Zinnia will continue to produce blooms until the winter. It also tend to produce more blooms during the late summer.