The blooming season generally lasts from mid-summer to fall. At the first sign of frost, these plants wither and die.
✿ To get that perfect and beautiful flower garden, plant three different varieties in the flowerbed or your garden, beginning with the tall ones at the back, the medium-sized ones in the middle rows, and the smallest variety (dwarf zinnias) in the front rows.
✿ Water the area well, gently enough so the water does not splash around dislodging the seeds from their places.
You will soon notice the shoots developing into plants and the blooms appearing as the climate gets hotter, usually after a period of two months.
How to Care for Zinnias
✿ Your plant needs enough room to grow optimally and produce vibrant blossoms. Once the plants have sprouted, pluck out extra saplings such that you leave a gap of at least a foot between two adjacent saplings.
✿ Water thrice a week. These plants do not need too much water and prefer dry soil, and are fairly drought-resistant. But do not let the stems, flowers, and leaves get wet. This can lead to rot and fungal diseases.
Irrigate with a steady trickle at the base of the plant, taking care not to upheave the soil. The soil should retain its moisture at all times, but should not be waterlogged, as excess water can cause root rot.
✿ Deadhead the plant regularly. Discarding the expired flowers will foster new buds and extend the blooming period.
✿ Use a garden stake or a sturdy stick to support plants and flowers that have grown tall. Insert it firmly into the ground and secure the stem and the stick together with a twine.
✿ As with other plants, zinnias are also susceptible to diseases like bacterial wilt, powdery mildew, and fungal spots. Avoid wetting the foliage to keep infections at bay. If you notice infected plants, pull them out or snip off the infected parts.
Fungicides can be sprayed to control the growth of disease. Also check for overcrowding - pull out extra plants which will also reduce moisture buildup and promote circulation of air among the existing ones.
✿ Pests can also cause harm to your flowers, and some notorious ones include aphids, mealybugs, caterpillars, tomato worms, and spider mites. These insects will chew through the leaves, though they spare the flowers.
Unless the situation gets out of control, avoid spraying pesticides. Butterflies frequent zinnias often, so spraying pesticides will harm these little creatures as well.
Under favorable conditions, zinnias will grow quickly and thrive without requiring too much maintenance. These are one of the most popular flowering plants favored by gardeners and grown in butterfly gardens because of their ability to attract butterflies and birds.