How to plant zinnia seeds in containers.

Zinnias are annuals that grow fast and attract pollinators and beneficial insects. They do not tolerate frost and the best time to plant zinnia seeds is during the spring and summer seasons. Zinnia flowers come in colours like purple, pink, red and white. The best zinnia varieties for container gardening are hybrid varieties. Some of them are Zahara, Uptown grape and Profusion. These varieties are more resistant to pests.

Growing Conditions for zinnias

Zinnias require fertile well-drained soil to grow well. They grow well when the weather is warm. The optimum temperature for zinnias to grow is between 23°C to 28°C (73°F to 82°F). They germinate within 4 to 7 days. Zinnias need at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight every day.

Growing Zinnia from seeds

You can either start growing them indoors 4 weeks before frost ends or you can start to plant zinnia seeds in the early spring season. It is best to sow the seeds directly on the big containers as transplanting them can damage the young saplings. Containers must be at least 12 inches deep and wide. Choose containers with proper drainage as water stagnation can cause root rot. Water zinnias when the topsoil is dry. You can fertilize your zinnia plants once a month as they need fertile soil to grow well. Zinnias take about 60 days to give flowers from seeds.

Some ways to encourage more blooms are by deadheading and pinching the growing tip.

Pests and Diseases

Powdery mildew is one of the diseases that infect your zinnia plants. Make sure there is proper space between your zinnia plants as proper air circulation is required to prevent powdery mildew infection. Here are some other ways to prevent and treat powdery mildew. Planting zinnias in a location that gets good sunlight prevents any form of fungal infection. If any part of the plant is infected then prune the part and discard it.