Zinnias are such happy summer annuals... and my favorite! It just wouldn't be summer if these sunny blooms weren't spreading there colorful joy all over my garden!
I have learned how to care for zinnias by trial and error over the years... here are some tips on cutting, caring for and making sure you will have happy zinnias every year...
I was out in my garden today cutting blooms and there were dozens of little butterflies (moths) all over them. Of course, I ran back into the house and grabbed my camera...
As I moved through the zinnias the butterflies were softly fluttering all around. It was so magical!!!
Zinnias are not garden divas... even though they look like they should be! They are very low maintenance.
Plant zinnias in a sunny spot in the spring when the threat of frost has passed. The are easily planted from seed. Broadcast seed liberally and let them grow in up together.
Zinnias are sun worshipers. They also like good, well-drained soil.
Zinnias like dry weather and can even tolerate mild drought conditions.
The more you cut zinnias, the more blooms they produce.
Deadhead zinnias to give them a longer blooming season.
Cut zinnias again when you bring them in. Give them a snip on a 45 degree angle. This lets more water into the stem.
Strip all leave from the flower. Leaves rob the flower of the water it needs to live. I cheat a little on this tip... I love a little green with my flowers. I just try to keep all leaves above the water line.
Make sure your vase is sparkling clean. And use fresh water!
Use flower food in your water. Flower food is a combination of sugar and bleach and can be homemade.
1 quart of warm water
1 TBS sugar
1 tsp bleach
Mix and let sugar dissolve. When the water cools it is ready to use.
Recut stems and change the water every day. Your blooms will last twice as long!
Zinnias not only give us blooms during the summer and into the fall, but the also give us seeds for planting the next spring.
Although I try to keep then deadheaded, I let a few zinnias blooms go to seed on the healthiest plant this time of the year... Make sure the spent blooms are totally dry.
Pluck them off of the stem, just remember what color your deadheads are.
Collect one or two of each color from the most healthy beautiful plants.
Each deadhead will give you hundreds of seeds!
Each deadhead will give you hundreds of seeds!
When the zinnia head is completely dry I pull it apart and keep the long slender thread-like seeds.
I make little envelopes for the zinnia seeds. Each color and variety in it's own parchment envelope.
And in rhythm with nature's life cycle, I am ready to broadcast the seeds in the spring... and wait for another profusion of blooming color!
Oh what gorgeous flowers. Your pictures are amazing. Never thought to save seeds. I always hope enough will drop and reseed themselves.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post.
ReplyDeleteWe usually have lots and lots of zinnias but unfortunately got a strange late frost this early spring and it did most - nearly all- of them in. We were SO disappointed because they are such a wonderful hardy flower - they would have loved our drought this year.
Thanks for your tips, per usual, wonderful!
Have a happy weekend, Yvonne.
I had my zinnias in a container garden this year - do you think they do better in the ground? Thanks for all this information, I have fallen in love with zinnias! Mary
ReplyDeleteMy zinnias were beautiful this year! They're my favorite summer flower.
ReplyDeleteYour flowers and your photos both look so pretty! Happy weekend to you :)
ReplyDeletelove Zinna's also but mine didn't do well at all this year.....alot nice info youu shared thx's....also beautiful pic's
ReplyDeleteI love zinnias too! For the past two years we've had horrible summers but my zinnias don't seem to be bothered by it at all. My favorites are the wedding white from Burpee
ReplyDeleteI have not planted Zinnia's for some time Yvonne and this was a wonderful reminder of just how gorgeous they are en masse!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
2012 Artist Series featuring Harrison Howard
Thank you for the flower food recipe--I'd never heard that one.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful zinnias, Yvonne! Mine sometimes get mildew. Maybe I plant too close together.
ReplyDeleteThis is the best info! Zinnias are one of my favorites and now I have even more info to try to grow them next spring! xo Linda
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous post. Your zinnias and photos are fantastic. I had no idea you could dry the followers and keep the seeds. They are my favorite summer flower, too! Thank you for sharing your zinnia experience!
ReplyDeleteVeryvery pretty post Yvonne~
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots! My next door neighbor in our first house had zinnias all across the front of her house and I LOVE them. I plan to plant them at the NEW house, have never been able to grow them here. BTW, we got our settlement date for the new house: Sept. 28!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you are having a FUN weekend with the girlfriends. XO
ReplyDeleteHi Yvonne! OH, I just love old fashioned zinnias and yours are so pretty. Your snaps are beautiful. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Beautiful pictures of beautiful flowers. Never planted these but will have to try them in the spring. Thanks for all the info. Have a great week-end. Sheila
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous pictures and great information on drying the zinnia flowers and saving the seeds. I recently did a blog about growing zinnias from package seeds for the first time and had no idea about getting new seeds for next year's crop. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteVery nice Yvonne, you've covered it all! Such a warm, homey flower, it always reminds me of G-Mom-B, I filled many a vase at her house! Enjoy:@)
ReplyDeleteLove them! I've not planted zinnia's in a long time! Maybe next year? Beautiful photos Yvonne! ')
ReplyDeleteYvonne, I've never planted zinneas from seed, but I'm going to next spring. They are some of my favorite summer blooms. We certainly have the hot, dry days here so they should love it. Thanks for sharing these tips.
ReplyDeleteWow, those are beautiful. Love them in the bottle carrier.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! Zinnias were one of my mom's favorites. They are great for bouquets, but I've never grown them as she did. I need to do this next spring! Your photography really shows everything off beautifully. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteso much great info on Zinnias! thanks! I always get too busy & think about planting them after it's too late , never thought to save the seeds, but I will now if I remember to plant them next year lol!
ReplyDeleteHelen
Zinnias are my absolute favorite. Love them for the variety of colors and heights they display. Have noticed that certain types and colors tend to dominate in my garden each year. Saw a variety called bon bon from baker's seeds that made my heart sing- ordering them for next year. Adore zinnias displayed in small cruet bottles down the length of the table and just placed casually throughout my home. Such a nice touch.
ReplyDeleteYou have such phenomenal ideas and advice! I love zinnias.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
I love these so much, not only to have cut flowers in the house but birds love to eat the seeds and butterflies seem to like them too. hugs Carol
ReplyDeleteI have loved zinnias since I was a young child. And, they are even prettier with the pinks mixed in the color bouquet.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this tip! Definately going to use it!
ReplyDeleteZinneas are beautiful flowers. Thank you so much for sharing these tips on Marvelous Mondays! :) I will be featuring this on my blog today. Be sure to stop by and check out the features post later today. :) Please note, I changed my blog name from Jam's Corner to This Gal Cooks. Same blog, different name. www.thisgalcooks.com I hope to see you at next week's party!
ReplyDeleteJulie
This is definitely a topic that's close to me so Im happy that you wrote about it. I'm also happy that you did the subject some justice. Not only do you know a great deal about it,
ReplyDeleteI have my zinnia a couple months now it was so beautiful until i decieded to remove the deadheads and now everybranch where I removed a flower the branches are brown is that normal what to doz
ReplyDelete