Zinnia is the star in the heat of late summer gardens and bouquets. Zinnia are an annual flower from the Asteraceae family. The genus is Zinnia and the species are Z. elegans, Z. haageana, Z. peruviana. These happy colorful flowers are reminiscent of dahlias in color and beauty but are grown from seed and feature a flatter face akin to a gerber daisy. One can find zinnia in a rainbow of colors like purple, hot pink, burgundy, peach, yellow and white. Zinnia are a growers favorite as they are easy to grow and a florist’s favorite for pops of color in a straight stem bunch or in a fun bright floral bouquet.

Zinnias grow very quickly so harden off the plugs for only a few quick days. Zinnias thrive in hot weather with lots of sun, so plant them when all threats of frost are gone the nights are consistently at 55 degrees fahrenheit. Please note that Zinnias are unique in that they prefer a short day! They will flower under long days of sun, Zinnias actually perform better once the days shorten. They require regular watering due to the copious amounts of sunlight and heat. The soil needs to have a neutral to slightly acidic PH and drain well.

Plant Zinnia 8 - 12” apart. Powdery mildew and alternaria leaf spot are common diseases among Zinnias so be sure they have lots of air circulation flow to avoid the plants becoming humid. Netting and staking zinnias is up for debate - Growers have been equally successful using support netting and growing them freestyle. The stems tend to grow over 3’, so some growers are adamant about having support to ensure long straight stems. Pinching zinnias is recommended once they reach 1’ tall. Pinch down so that 3 - 4 sets of leaves remain and from there the Zinnias will flourish. Expect to see these bold face powerhouse blooms 60 - 80 days after planting.

Harvest Zinnias when they are in full bloom and absolutely gorgeous. Give their stem a wiggle to ensure proper maturity; a stiff stem means it won't flop i nthe vase. Dead head the faced flowers you may have missed to ensure the plant keeps producing week after week. Zinnias are prolific and extremely productive. Place them in cool fresh water upon cutting. They are not contenders for refrigeration as temperatures below 50 degrees fahrenheit are likely to cause brown petals and wilt the flower. When placing in water, add a cvbn tablet or a couple drops of bleach to increase vase life.