How to Grow Zinnia Flowers

About Growing Zinnia Flowers in Your Home Garden

Zinnias are a really neat flower, that is very popular in home flower gardens. As a matter of fact, it’s one of the most popular flowers in home gardens. Zinnia plants are native to warm regions of Central and South America. Zinnias come in a wide variety of colors with large, profuse blooms. Flowers will bloom from mid-summer all the way until frost. And, annual Zinnias are an easy-to-grow flower. Use this guide on “How to Grow Zinnia Flowers” and you’re on your way to growing some fantastic flowers!

The plants are deer resistant, too.

Zinnias make good-cut flowers for indoor arrangements.

Flowers Bloom: Summer thru Fall

Plant Height: Miniature varieties grow as small as 6 – 8 inches. Giant varieties grow 3 – 4 feet.

Zinnia Varieties Aplenty!

Seed companies offer a wide variety of Zinnias. Certainly, there’s at least one variety to fit every flower gardener and every need. There is a profusion of colors, multi-colors, and hues. Colors include white, yellow, orange, red, rose, pink, and multi-colored blooms. There are miniature and giant varieties ranging in size from about a foot for miniatures to giant varieties that can grow over three to four feet tall!

Select the color and size Zinnia, that is perfect for your flower garden. If you are planning a container garden, make sure to include some miniature zinnias.

For more information, see: Popular Zinnia varieties

Annual Zinnia Plant Propagation

Zinnias are grown from seed. Zinnia seeds can be directly seeded into your flower garden, or seeded indoors for transplanting later. We recommend planting Zinnia seeds in pots and containers indoors, then transplanting them outdoors. This allows you to make the proper spacing and not have to thin seedlings.

Sow Zinnia seeds early in the season and cover lightly with soil. Water thoroughly once. The seeds germinate easily, and grow quickly, producing their first of a continual display of blooms, by mid-summer.

Transplant young Zinnia plants into your garden after the last frost date for your area. Spacing depends upon the size, with miniature varieties spaced four to six inches apart, and Giant varieties one to two feet apart.

Days to Germination: 5 – 10 days.

How to Grow Zinnia Flower Plants

Growing Annual Zinnias is a cinch! They are one of the easiest flower plants to grow in your home flower garden.

Grow plants in full sun. In hotter areas of the country, they will do well in partial shade. They like warm to hot weather.

Zinnia plants like rich, well-drained soil. But, they are very tolerant of average to slightly poor soils. Improving your soil quality will produce much healthier plants and flowers, so add plenty of compost. Add a general-purpose fertilizer once a month, especially with average soils.

Once Zinnia plants are established, they should grow well. Soil should be moist, but not wet. Water plants during dry periods, once or twice per week.

Add mulch around the plants for appearance, and to keep weeds down.

Around mid-summer, your Zinnia plants will begin to produce flowers. The blooms will continue, up to the first frost. Remove dead flower blooms, to encourage new growth and blooms. Improve the appearance of Giant Zinnias, by trimming back stems that have grown long or gangly. Do not over trim them.

Zinnias are annuals and are susceptible to frost. They may survive the first light frost with only a little damage. They will not survive a hard frost or freeze.

Ideal Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5.

Also, see:

Plant Problems – Identify the causes and find the cures.

Zinnias are Great Cut Flowers

Giant Zinnias have long stalks for flower vases and other arrangements. Cut the stem low, check for insects hiding in the flower head, on the stem, and under the leaves. Bring them indoors and place them in water immediately.

For miniature varieties, use a small container or vase and cut the stem a couple of inches long. Bunch up a variety of colors for an eye-appealing arrangement. Add a small sprig or two of Baby’s Breath.