The zinnia plant (Zinnia) is a member of the Astrov family. It is represented by perennial herbaceous plants and shrubs. The homeland of such a plant is Southern Mexico. This plant was named in honor of Johann Gottfried Zinn from Göttingen, a botanist, and also a pharmacologist, while he was director of the botanical garden, K. Linnaeus received herbarium material for research from him. The Aztecs began to grow zinnia from 1500 g, and on the territory of Europe this plant appeared only in the 18th century, while it almost immediately gained great popularity among gardeners, they decorated not only garden plots, but also aristocratic techniques. Already at the beginning of the twentieth century, zinnia could be found in almost every corner of the planet. Zinnia was even a symbol of the state of Indiana (USA) in 1931-1957. Today, there are about 20 different types of zinnia, as well as a large number of varieties and hybrids. This crop is so popular because it is very effective and undemanding to growing conditions.
Features of zinnia
The height of the zinnia bush directly depends on what type and variety it belongs to, and can vary from 0.2 to 1 meter. Sessile entire leaf plates have an ovoid shape, pointed towards the apex, they grow opposite or whorled, and on their surface there is pubescence, consisting of stiff hairs. Inflorescences are single apical baskets, which can reach 3–14 cm across, and are located on relatively long peduncles. The reed flowers in the baskets are placed tiled, while there can be one or several rows, they can be painted in different colors, for example, purple, yellow, white, orange or red. They cannot be painted only in various shades of blue. Small tubular central flowers in inflorescences are brown-red or yellow in color. The fruit is an achene with a tuft.
Flowering begins in the second half of June, and it ends with the first frosts. Zinnia is resistant to both drought and heat. It is grown as a spectacular garden plant, which is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, it also stands excellently in the cut. Zinnia perennial is grown only in those regions where winters are quite mild and warm. In middle latitudes, this culture is grown only as an annual, because this plant dies even due to a slight and not very long frost. Gardeners call him a major. Rustic landscapes are increasingly popular in Europe, with annuals such as marigolds, marigolds, zinnias and chamomile being the main colors. It is also grown in flower beds with other more noble flowers. Zinnia is also grown among vegetables in the garden, since it has the ability to stretch upward, while practically no shadow is created.
Landscape Design Tips
An attractive flower in the design of the site for many specialists occupies one of the main places.
Read also: What is a scion and rootstock, how to plant trees correctly?
Professionals suggest following some guidelines that will allow zinnias to look their best on your site.
- It is preferable to use the plant for group plantings, although even with a single planting, zinnia looks beautiful.
- For a mixborder, tall varieties are most suitable; for borders, use a low-growing zinnia.
- If you like a design that embodies a rustic style, use zinnia in combinations with such colors: aster, marigolds, calendula, bell, chamomile, chrysanthemum.
- Use zinnia for single plantings in the garden, in the garden with vegetables, table herbs. A bright spot will be expressive against a green background, and in addition, it will become an additional source of attracting insects for pollination.
- Linear plantings of zinnias look good, which are a kind of separators of vegetable beds or are planted along garden buildings, garden paths.
Growing zinnia from seeds
Sowing
Both perennial and annual zinnia can be propagated by seed (generative) method. Sowing seeds can be done directly in open soil, but only in those regions where the climate is mild, and there should be no frosts in May. In colder regions, zinnia is grown only through seedlings, because if the air temperature drops to at least minus 1 degree, then the seedlings will freeze. Gardeners with considerable experience are confident that the grown and hardened zinnia seedlings, after transplanting into open soil, will take root very well and start growing quickly.
Before starting sowing, the seeds should be prepared. To do this, they are wrapped in gauze or a rag that is well moistened with Epin's solution. This will help separate viable seeds from non-viable seeds. If the seeds are freshly harvested, they will hatch very quickly (after about two days). At the same time, old seeds will need about 7 days for this. In the last days of March, or the first days of April, those seeds that turned out to be viable must be sown in peat pots filled with moistened soil mixture, 2 or 3 pieces each, while they need to be buried into the substrate by only 10 mm. It should be remembered that this plant reacts extremely negatively to picking, which is why it is recommended to use individual pots for sowing seeds. After the seeds are sown, the surface of the substrate must be moistened. Then the containers are transferred to a well-lit and warm (from 22 to 24 degrees) place. If the seeds are sown in compliance with all the recommendations, then the first seedlings should appear after a few days.
Seedling care
Zinnia seedlings are distinguished by the fact that they grow adventitious roots in a short time. In this regard, if the plants are stretched out, you will just need to add a small amount of soil mixture to the pots. You also need to remember that the seedlings simply need a bright diffused light, but if they are removed in partial shade, they will stretch out strongly, and their color will fade.
If the seedlings are thin, then this will avoid the pick, which the zinnia tolerates quite painfully. Before you start transplanting seedlings into open soil, they must be hardened. To do this, they are transferred to the street every day in the daytime, each time gradually increasing the duration of the procedure.
How to plant and care
Zinnia tolerates periods of rain and drought well. Prolonged lack of watering is, of course, undesirable. Prefers open, sunny places, partial shade, diffused light.
The soil for the plant needs a loose, drained soil, like zinnias and fertile, fertilized soil. Therefore, for digging I bring in compost or humus.
In care, the flower is unpretentious, weeding is required, timely watering. I have fertile soil on the site, so I don't use fertilizers. If desired (if the soil is poor), you can make special fertilizing for flowering plants. Potassium-phosphorus granular or liquid fertilizers are suitable.
Growing through seedlings
I plant zinnia seeds for seedlings at home in April.It's a bit early in March, as the seedlings will stretch out.
- I fill containers with sowing substrate;
- Can be placed in separate cups, if space permits;
- I deepen the seeds by 1 cm, sprinkle with earth and moisten, it is not necessary to cover with a film;
- Shoots hatch in 2-5 days, germination is usually 90-100%;
- In phase 2, the leaves can be transplanted (dived) into separate containers or simply at a distance of 5-7 centimeters.
When the frost on the street passes, and you prepare the beds for zinnia seedlings, transplant it into open ground. Planting is carried out according to the scheme: undersized plants after 15-25 centimeters, and tall ones - after 25-35 cm.
Planting zinnia in open ground
What time to plant
Experienced gardeners advise planting zinnia seedlings in open soil in the second half of May, but it should be borne in mind that return spring frosts should be left behind, since this culture is quite thermophilic. For landing, you should choose a well-lit area, which must have reliable protection from the wind. The soil should be fertile, well-drained and neutral. Before planting seedlings, the site must be prepared and, if possible, this must be done in the autumn. To do this, they dig it to a depth of 0.45 m, removing all weeds, while compost, deciduous humus or rotted manure must be added to the soil (per 1 square meter of the plot from 8 to 10 kilograms).
Landing features
When planting between the bushes, a distance of 0.3–0.35 meters must be observed. A flower is planted together with a peat pot or by transshipment. The planted plants will bloom in the first days of July.
Zinnia care in the garden
Taking care of your garden cinnamon is easy enough. Plantings need only be weeded in a timely manner, loosened the soil surface on the site, and also water abundantly, and this must be done at the root, since liquid should be excluded from the flowers. After the bushes bloom, they should be regularly examined in order to timely remove the flowers that have begun to fade. Zinnia's shoots are very strong, so there is no need to install a support or to tie them up.
Top dressing
After the seedlings appear and until the very planting in open soil, you need to make 3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers with a low nitrogen content. The bushes planted in the garden are fed with liquid manure or mineral fertilizers at least 2 times during the summer months. So, the first time the bushes need to be fed 4 weeks after they are planted in open soil, and the second procedure is carried out during the formation of buds.
How to pinch zinnia
Many gardeners do not know for sure whether zinnia needs to be pinched, and if so, when should this procedure be carried out? A pinch of zinnia is done so that the bush is more lush and beautiful. You can pinch it at the stage of growing seedlings or after the bushes have taken root after they are planted in open ground. To do this, pinch the plant over 3 or 4 leaf plates. If this procedure is not carried out, then you will grow spectacular flowers on long peduncles, which are very good at cutting.
Zinnia pests
Most often, this plant is harmed by May beetles, slugs, aphids and snails. To get rid of gastropods, it is recommended to use traps, so bowls placed in several places on the site that need to be filled with beer are perfect for this, as well as pieces of roofing material and slate scattered between the bushes, since it is under them that such pests are most often hiding. They are collected exclusively by hand. The annoying May beetles must also be picked by hand and placed in a bucket filled with soapy water.
If aphids have settled on a bush, then to destroy it, it is necessary to use a solution of tar soap (for 1 bucket of water 100 grams), which is used to process them. If there are a lot of pests, then Actellik or Fufanon solution can be used to destroy them, in the manufacture of which you must follow the instructions.
Diseases of zinnia
Zinnia is most susceptible to diseases such as fusarium, gray mold, bacterial spotting. However, she is especially sick with powdery mildew.
Examine the bush. If you find at least one leaf plate on the surface of which there are brown-gray round spots, then this means that the plant is affected by bacterial spot. This disease is incurable. If the infection is not severe, then you can try to simply tear off all the affected leaf plates. If the disease is already running, then the bush should be dug up and burned as soon as possible.
For the treatment of powdery mildew (a whitish loose bloom forms on the surface of the bush), and also fusarium and gray rot, fungicidal preparations are used, for example: Fundazod or Topsin-M. Bushes affected by powdery mildew are recommended to be sprayed with Skor, Topaz or Topsin.
As a rule, zinnia gets sick due to the fact that the rules for caring for it have been violated. For example, the development of the disease can occur due to too abundant watering or overly dense planting. In this regard, when a disease appears, you must first understand what could have provoked its development. Then you need to try to eliminate all the existing violations in the care of such flowers, and then proceed to direct treatment. This is what will help prevent similar problems in the future.
Zinnia linearis
These are very dense spherical semi-bushes up to 35-40 cm high with narrow dark green leaves pointed at the ends. Inflorescences are small, simple, the color of the petals is bright orange with yellow edging along the edge. Suitable for home breeding. Looks very impressive on the balcony, veranda. Varieties - Golden Eye, Caramel.
Important! Zinnia does not need frequent and abundant watering! To avoid rotten diseases of the roots and stem, you need to water the flowers sparingly.
Zinnia after flowering
Seed collection
Ripening of zinnia seeds, as a rule, is observed 8 weeks after the opening of the inflorescence. In this regard, experienced gardeners recommend to outline several inflorescences for collecting seeds from those that opened first. The best quality seeds ripen on inflorescences located on the first-order stems, in this regard, absolutely all lateral shoots must be cut off from the bushes you have noted. After the ripe flowers turn brown, they are cut and dried. Then the seeds are extracted from them. When they are cleared of dry remains of the inflorescence, they must be removed to a dry place for storage, while there must be a constant temperature. The seeds remain viable for three or four years.
Wintering zinnia perennial
It was already mentioned above that in middle latitudes, zinnia is grown only as an annual. However, if the bush is grown in a pot or container, then it must be moved indoors in the autumn, and then the plant is looked after in the same way as indoor flowers. In this case, the zinnia will be grown as a perennial.
Landscape design
Zinnia blooms in June, some varieties in July. Zinnia flowers work well with smaller plants - they won't shade too much. Or for the decoration of ponds and sculptures. Majors look equally good in the garden and in pots at home. As cut flowers, the plants can be kept fresh for up to two weeks.
Types and varieties of zinnia with photos and names
In nature, there are more than 20 different types of zinnia, while only 4 of them are cultivated by gardeners, namely: narrow-leaved zinnia (zinnia Hage), graceful, fine-flowered and linearis. Breeders are especially careful with such varieties as graceful and narrow-leaved zinnia. Thanks to their painstaking work, a large number of excellent varieties and hybrids of zinnia were born, which today are grown with pleasure by gardeners from different countries.
Zinnia elegans
This herbaceous annual plant can grow to a height of 100 centimeters or more. Simple inflorescences can be colored orange, white or pink. Straight, as a rule, not branched shoots are rounded in cross-section, on their surface there is a pubescence, consisting of hard hairs. Apical inflorescences-baskets are formed on the upper parts of all stems. Entirely sessile leaf plates have an ovoid shape and a pointed apex. In length they reach from 50 to 70 millimeters, and in width - from 30 to 45 millimeters. There is also pubescence on the surface of the leaves. Inflorescences reach 5-16 centimeters across, they can be semi-double, simple and double. They include reed flowers, reaching 40 mm in length and 15 mm in width, they can have a variety of colors, but not blue. The composition also includes tubular median flowers, painted in brown-red or yellow. Flowering begins in June, and it ends with the first frosts. In the wild, this species is most common in southern Mexico. It has been cultivated since 1796. There are a large number of hybrids and varieties of this type of zinnia, which are classified according to several characteristics: the shape of the inflorescences and their structure, the timing of flowering and the height of the shoots. Zinnias are divided into early, middle and late according to flowering periods. According to the structure of inflorescences, all varieties are divided into double, simple and semi-double. According to the height of the shoots, this culture is divided into:
- zinnia high - the height of the shoots is from 0.6 to 0.9 meters, it is cultivated exclusively for cutting, because this plant looks very bulky in a flower bed;
- medium zinnia - the height of the stems is from 0.35 to 0.5 meters, grown in a flower bed, and also used for cutting;
- zinnia undersized, or dwarf - the stems reach 0.15-0.3 meters in height, as a rule, these plants are well-branching bushes, for the cultivation of which both a container or a pot and a flower bed in the garden are suitable.
According to the shape of the inflorescences, all varieties and hybrids are divided into 7 categories. The most popular categories in mid-latitudes are:
Zinnia dahlia
Powerful compact or spreading bushes in height can reach 0.6–0.9 m. Their shoots are of the first order. Large leaf plates are about 12 centimeters long. Terry hemispherical inflorescences reach about 14 centimeters in diameter. Varieties:
- Violet - a double variety, reaching a height of 0.6–0.75 m, dense inflorescences can be painted in a variety of shades of purple;
- Orange Koenig - the height of the bush is 0.6–0.7 m, double inflorescences reach 14 centimeters in diameter, and they are colored orange-red;
- polar bear - the height of a compact bush is about 0.65 m, inflorescences are densely double, they are painted white with a greenish tint.
Zinnia midget, or pomponnaya
The height of this branchy compact bush is no more than 0.55 m, it has many shoots of the second, third and fourth order. The leaf plates are small. The inflorescences are relatively small, so they reach only 50 mm in diameter, and they are similar in shape to a pompom on a cap. Varieties:
- Little Red Riding Hood - the height of the bush is about 0.55 m, densely double rich red inflorescences have a rounded or truncated-conical shape;
- Tom Tumb - the height of the compact bush is about 0.45 m, double dense inflorescences have a red color, and their shape is a slightly flattened ball;
- Tambelina - the height of the stems of the plants of this mixture is about 0.45 m, the inflorescences can be painted in different colors, and in diameter they reach 40–60 mm.
Zinnia angustifolia
The second name is Zinnia Haage. Narrow-leaved zinnia is a well-branched semi-clump up to 25-30 cm high, small flowers - up to 6 cm in diameter with semi-double or simple bright orange petals, the tips of the petals may be red. The leaves are small, ovate - wide at the base and elongated-pointed towards the apex. The species is resistant to cold - flowering from July to September - October. Famous varieties:
- One bond of the most beautiful varieties of narrow-leaved zinnia is the Solar Circle. Widely branched variety with double flowers up to 3.5 cm in diameter. The color of the petals is orange, at the tips it is brownish-orange or brown. Flowering - all summer and before frost;
- Classic White - white, simple flowers;
- Classic Orange - with simple orange flowers;
- Persian Kaper - with double or semi-double star-shaped orange-brownish flowers;
- Starbright - with white, yellowish, orange inflorescences.
Did you know? Zinnia varieties Profusion F1 - a hybrid of narrow-leaved and graceful zinnia, is considered the most cold-resistant and not sensitive to bad weather. Produces a beautiful bloom, even if the summer is cool, rainy.
