starting zinnias in pots

Starting Zinnias in Containers You can start them right in the pots you intend to use. Cover seeds with about a quarter inch (0.6 cm) of soil. Keep the soil moist and warm, and once the seeds have sprouted, put them in a sunny spot. You can take them outside after five or six weeks.

1. How big should zinnia seedlings be before transplanting?
2. What month do you plant zinnia seeds?
3. Should I soak zinnia seeds before planting?
4. Do Zinnias need light to germinate?
5. Are zinnias good in pots?
6. Do zinnias need full sun?
7. Do zinnias come back every year?
8. How late can I plant zinnia seeds?
9. Do zinnias self seed?
10. Do zinnias bloom all summer?
11. Can you save zinnia seeds?
12. Should you pinch zinnias?
13. Can you plant zinnia seeds in pots?
14. Why are my zinnia seedlings dying?
15. How often should you water zinnias?
16. Should you prune zinnias?
17. Is Epsom salt good for zinnias?
18. What is the best fertilizer for zinnias?
19. Do hummingbirds like zinnias?

How big should zinnia seedlings be before transplanting?

Seedlings will emerge in 7-10 days. Thin seedlings to stand 8-24 inches apart, depending on the variety, when they are about 1-2 inches tall.

What month do you plant zinnia seeds?

Planting: Plant zinnias in spring after all danger of frost has passed, around the same time you'd plant tomatoes. Zinnias are easy to grow directly-seeded into the garden. For sooner blooms, start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date.

Should I soak zinnia seeds before planting?

Seeds can be planted indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost and the seedlings can be easily transplanted into your outdoor garden later on. Remember that germination is less successful in cold soil. Moreover, it is best to soak dried seeds in water for 4-6 hours before planting.

Do Zinnias need light to germinate?

Choose a bright and sunny spot for your zinnias. Cover zinnia seeds with just ¼ inch of soil because they need light to germinate. Keep soil moist as the flowers develop. When seedlings are 2-3 inches in height, thin to 6-8 inches apart for small varieties and 1 foot apart for large varieties.

Are zinnias good in pots?

Zinnias are colorful additions to any flower garden, they're great for cutting, they are easy to grow and start from seed, so they make a great choice for container gardening.

Do zinnias need full sun?

Zinnias' pointy seeds, shaped like little arrowheads, require only basic garden prep to sprout: sow them in well-drained soil, where there's full sun and lots of summer heat, and you'll have tiny seedlings in days, with flowers powering up in just a few weeks.

Do zinnias come back every year?

Zinnias are annuals, so they'll grow for one season and produce seeds, but the original plant will not come back in subsequent years. They have bright, solitary, daisy-like flowerheads on a single, erect stem, which makes them great for use as a cutting flower or as food for butterflies.

How late can I plant zinnia seeds?

I plan succession plantings commencing in late May and continue through about the first week of July. This guarantees showy blooms through late September. It is not too late to plant a few zinnia seeds for late summer color that will last until the first frost.

Do zinnias self seed?

Zinnias (Zinnia spp.) reseed easily, creating a cut-and-come-again garden each summer. ... Zinnia haageana "Persian Carpet" and Zinnia elegans "State Fair" and "Liliput" are a few of the heirloom varieties that grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 1 through 10 and reseed each year.

Do zinnias bloom all summer?

The Benary's Giants have large, double blossoms, 4 to 6 inches across, available in a rainbow of colors and features improved mildew resistance. Photo by: Shaikh Meraj / Shutterstock. Fully double flowers bloom all summer on this heat-loving zinnia.

Can you save zinnia seeds?

Save zinnia seeds: After the flower dies, simply pull out the petals, the seeds are attached to the bottom of them. Put inside of a simple brown paper bag and store in a cool, dry place until next spring! Save on seed costs!

Should you pinch zinnias?

Sweet peas will branch into a much fuller plant with pinching. When you are happy with your plants' shape, stop pinching and let them grow. Zinnias and cosmos are especially generous bloomers if pinched. Pinch early to promote branching, then “pinch” by cutting flowers.

Can you plant zinnia seeds in pots?

You can grow zinnias in pots as long as you choose one that is at least 6 inches deep. You need to grow them in the warm season and provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Keep the potting soil moist but not soggy. It's best to plant the seeds directly in the pot rather than transplant.

Why are my zinnia seedlings dying?

The most common cause of early seedling death is “damping-off,” a fungal disease which affects the new plant stem just at soil level. The stem becomes brown, rots and the little plant topples over and dies. Damping-off fungi are more of a problem in cold soils with poor drainage, and in conjunction with overwatering.

How often should you water zinnias?

* Water zinnias at ground level to prevent fungus. Once they are 3 to 4 inches high, water them deeply a couple of times a week, depending on weather. Zinnias aren't drought tolerant, but they like their soil a little on the dry side. The soil should not be continuously wet.

Should you prune zinnias?

Zinnias flourish when they are deadheaded and it encourages the flower to continue to bloom. Once the flower begins to fade, remove it from the stem. You can either pinch the flower off or use a small pair of garden shears to cut them off.

Is Epsom salt good for zinnias?

Feed plants with nitrate-based fertilizer at 200- to 250-ppm nitrogen. Interveinal chlorosis may indicate magnesium deficiency; supplement with MgSO4 (Epsom Salts) at 16 ounces/100 gallons. If grown on the lean side and too dry, zinnias may flower prematurely.

What is the best fertilizer for zinnias?

Zinnias are heavy feeders, so plan to fertilize them regularly and often, as this will encourage lush, colorful blooming. Use a balanced 10-10-10 or 6-6-6 fertilizer, applying about one pound per 100 square feet for a first spring planting application.

Do hummingbirds like zinnias?

Zinnia are among the easiest of all annual flowers to grow, with bright bloom colors that make them a favorite of hummingbirds and other pollinators. ... After the hummingbirds have had their fill of the nectar, seeds will develop as the flowers mature, attracting finches and other seed-loving birds.