How To Grow Zinnias From Seed Indoors

August 31, 2024 Post a Comment

How to grow zinnias from seed indoors

Zinnias don't transplant well, but can be started indoors, if necessary, in peat or coir pots, 6-8 weeks before planting out. Maintain a soil temperature of 21-26°C (70-80°F). Seeds should germinate in 5-24 days.

How do you grow zinnia seeds in pots indoors?

And I'm going to take the seeds and plant them directly in the middle of my pot like this about an

Can I just scatter zinnia seeds?

However, you can also just scatter your zinnia seeds! I've done this in the past. If you do this, just make sure you space them out according to the variety you're growing. You can put more seeds than you need, though.

Should I soak zinnia seeds before planting?

Soaking zinnia seeds before planting for about 12-24 hours will help reduce germination time. Sow zinnia seeds about ¼ inch deep and lightly water after planting. After about a week, you'll see seedlings emerge from the soil.

What is the best way to start zinnias indoors?

Sowing Seed Indoors: Keep the soil moist at 70-75 degrees F. Seedlings emerge in 7-10 days. As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night.

Can zinnias grow in pots indoors?

Select the Right Container Use 6- to 8-inch containers for zinnias that only grow to a height of 6 to 8 inches. Use 10- to 12-inch-wide containers for larger cultivars. Always use containers with drainage holes in the bottom so the excess water can drain away.

Do zinnias do better in pots or in the ground?

Zinnias will thrive in your container gardening ideas. If you're choosing this option for how to grow zinnias, make sure you choose a large container that has drainage holes in the bottom. The taller the zinnias you have in mind, the larger the container should be.

How many zinnia seeds do you put in one hole?

Plant seeds 1/4" deep and 24” apart, using 3 seeds per hole. Keep the soil evenly moist until the seeds germinate in 8 - 10 days. Once the seedlings reach 2", thin out so you have individual plants spaced 24” apart. Water regularly allowing the soil to go nearly dry between each watering.

Do zinnias need deep pots?

GROWING NOTES For container planting, use pots at least 12 inches in diameter and 12 inches deep. These carefree 8 to 12 inch tall zinnias perform well in hot and sunny conditions. Water regularly and consistently. Support plants' rapid growth by feeding with a well-balanced fertilizer every few weeks.

What month do you plant zinnia seeds?

When to sow outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date. The ideal soil temperature for zinnia seed germination is 70°–80°F. When to start inside: 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date.

Do zinnias come back every year?

Zinnias work year after year. It's easy to save zinnia seeds. Simply let the flowers dry fully on the stem, then collect the seedheads and lightly crush them in your hand to release next year's seed crop. Store in a cool, dry place as you do other seeds.

How do I save zinnia seeds for next year?

You can remove the petals and store your seeds inside seed-saving packets, or you can leave the dried petals attached and simply store the intact blooms in a Ziploc bag. The cool thing about this is when it's time to plant, you'll be able to tell what color the future blooms will be by the dried petals.

What happens if you don't soak seeds before planting?

As a general rule of thumb, your seeds will sprout even if you don't soak your seeds before planting, but with soaking the germination time decreases, and the germination rate increases. Seeds that have a continual flow of moisture to uptake have much higher chances of success.

Do zinnia seeds need light or dark to germinate?

Eggplant: although eggplant seeds don't need light to germinate, it doesn't hurt either. Zinnia: zinnias need to be directly sown in a sunny spot under light soil cover.

How long does it take to grow zinnias from seed?

Zinnias typically take around 2 months from seed to flower, although this can change depending on weather conditions. Here are some additional tips to grow zinnias: Choose a bright and sunny spot for your zinnias. Cover zinnia seeds with just ¼ inch of soil because they need light to germinate.

Can you start zinnia seeds inside?

Start zinnia seeds indoors or in the garden I use zinnia seeds from Botanical Interests. I've had the most success starting zinnias indoors in seed trays just a few weeks before the last frost date. I use these seed starting trays from Bootstrap Farmer. I transplant them into the garden when they are a few inches tall.

How hard is it to grow zinnias from seed?

"Zinnias are one of the easiest flowers to grow because seeds require only basic garden preparation to sprout and the plants flower in just a few weeks; they can flourish with very little fertilizer and still produce flowers."

How often do you water indoor zinnia?

Watering: Zinnias need moist soil to grow their best. This is especially true of young plants. Water deeply a few times a week so the soil stays moist 6 to 8 inches deep. Don't overwater because zinnias can also succumb to rot diseases especially on wet, clay soils.

Should I pinch off zinnia seedlings?

The secret to getting the longest stems from your zinnias is pinching them when they are young. Here's how it's done: When plants are between 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) tall, take sharp pruners and snip the top 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) off the plant, just above a set of leaves.

How can I encourage my zinnia to bloom?

The secret is pinching. By “pinching” or cutting back some stems while the plant is young, zinnias respond by creating more stems and that means more buds and blooms. Once you see how it works, you'll want to make pinching part of your summer plant care.