How to care for zinnia seedlings when they are planted outdoors?

Although the homeland of zinnia is South America, the plant grows well in the middle lane. It is quite simple to grow it, but it is necessary to adhere to some rules so that the flowers decorate the site with a variety of colors for a long time.

Features of zinnia

Gardeners love zinnia for its long flowering time. For one flower, it can be more than a month. The plant also shows resistance in cut - the bouquet will last up to two weeks. You just need to choose flowers that have not fully opened. So zinnia is used both for a spectacular and bright element of flower arrangements, and for making original bouquets.

On a note
People often misspell the name of this beautiful flower. "Zinnia" is a wrong option, right - "zinnia".

Zinnia is referred to as annuals. The height of the bushes may vary: some varieties reach gigantic sizes, others remain small. They are grown from seeds. They are quite large, so planting is very easy. If everything is done correctly, then within two months after sowing, the buds will begin to bloom, they will delight the eye until the end of summer.

Do you need seedlings?

There are two ways to grow zinnias: by seedlings and by sowing directly into the open field. The second option is simpler, the plant usually takes root well. But the sprouts are unlikely to survive even a slight frost. Therefore, they have to be planted late, which means that they will bloom closer to the end of summer. And at the whim of the weather, you can even lose landings.

Therefore, seedlings are often grown, which are then transferred to open ground. It is necessary to plant seeds in the second half of April so that the seedlings do not have time to grow too tall. Plants grow surprisingly quickly. If this is allowed, then the transplant will become more difficult, because the stems will become quite fragile. And it will be more difficult for them to take root.

To get seedlings, you need to plant the seed shallowly. In about a week, it will hatch. It is better to immediately plant two or three sprouts in separate containers, since the zinnium does not tolerate a pick.

Seedling care is quite simple. It is necessary to water it regularly, a couple of times before planting, you can feed it. When to start transplanting into the ground depends on the weather. It is important that there is no more frost and the earth warms up sufficiently. This usually happens in the second half of May or early June.

Where and when to plant seedlings?

It is necessary to choose a site where you plan to plant zinnia, taking into account all the properties of the plant. It loves warmth, so the place must be sunny. It will grow poorly in the shade. Plant well in an area protected from the wind.

The best soil on which the plant will feel comfortable is fertile and loose. Good drainage is necessary, since the flower does not like excess moisture. If the soil does not have these qualities, then it is worth adding sand, then the water will not stagnate after a shower or watering. It is recommended to dig up the selected area in the fall, adding humus, compost or manure.

Advice

In order for a bouquet of zinnia flowers to last longer, the cut must be dipped in hot water. And only then place it in a vase.

You also need to start preparing seedlings for transplanting in advance. Two weeks before the scheduled time, she is taken out into the air to temper... This should be done in good weather, so the seedlings can get stronger.

By the end of May, when the heat is established and the earth warms up sufficiently, seedlings are planted in open ground.This is easy to do. Dig holes at a distance of about 30 cm from each other and move the zinnia sprouts into them along with an earthen lump or peat pot... Within a week it will be clear whether the plants have taken root.

Leaving after disembarkation

But even when the landing was successful, you need to tune in to further departure. Although zinnia is not very demanding, without some procedures, flowering is unlikely to be as bright and long-lasting. It will begin towards the end of July.

The main activities are weed removal and loosening. Watering should be infrequent but regular. At the same time, it is not recommended that water gets on the flowers; it should be poured at the root. Drops on the leaves can cause burns.

Zinnia should be fed twice or thrice per season. Mineral and organic fertilizers have a positive effect on her, and not only when planting.

• It is rational to carry out the first feeding with organic fertilizers even before the buds appeared.
• The second is needed at the budding phase.
• The third is foliar, it is needed at the stage of opening the buds.

Before root dressing, it is recommended to sprinkle the soil with wood ash. This promotes better absorption of fertilizers.

You can pinch the zinnia if desired. This is done either during the seedling period, or when the plant, after planting in the ground, has already taken root in the garden bed and has grown strong enough. As a result, it will bush beautifully. And if you do not follow this procedure, you will get a flower on a long, elegant stem, which is especially good for bouquets.

Pests and diseases

Pests that cause a lot of trouble when growing zinnia include aphids, snails and slugs, May beetles. To combat them, a slate plate is placed under which mollusks will crawl. Then they will need to be collected by hand, like the May beetles. To get rid of aphids, the plant is sprayed with a prepared solution: 10 g per 1 liter of water. For more serious infections, it is recommended to use strong substances. For example, it can be a solution of "Fufanon" or "Actellik". Prepare them according to the instructions.

Zinnia, like other plants, is susceptible to certain diseases. Powdery mildew is most common. You can recognize it by its unpleasant spots: they are round and gray-brown in color. When such traces have been noticed, action must be taken immediately. You need to start by cutting off all the affected leaves, if necessary, remove the plant itself. There is no cure for this disease, so it cannot be allowed to spread. Otherwise, the entire planting may be destroyed, you will have to forget about the beautiful flowers in the garden.

You can also face gray rot and fusarium. To cure them, fungicides are used. They will effectively help remove whitish bloom on the leaves.

When zinnia starts to hurt, it is worth considering that care is being performed incorrectly. You may need to re-read the materials on how to plant zinnia outdoors. If the seedlings were planted too densely, in such cases the plants lack nutrients, they weaken and cannot resist bacteria. Another reason that leads to various troubles is too generous watering. Not all plants like a lot of moisture, an excess of it can cause disease. To avoid this, it is necessary to analyze why the condition of the flowers could deteriorate, whether there were any mistakes when leaving. If it's just them, then you have to work hard to fix the situation.

We collect seeds

Growing zinnia is not as difficult as it might seem. And if you do everything right, you will be able to collect the seeds. They will come in handy next year, because an annual plant cannot survive winter frosts. They ripen a couple of months after the start of flowering. So it is worth remembering the very first few inflorescences.On the so-called first-order shoots, the most successful seeds are obtained, which will sprout well in the next season. Therefore, it is recommended to remove all lateral processes on the selected plants. When the basket is brown, it can be carefully cut with scissors. The seeds are then husked and peeled onto a sheet of paper, preparing them for long-term storage. And in two or three years it will be possible to plant seedlings or sow directly into the ground.

Bright, multi-colored zinnia flowers will brighten up any garden. And growing them is quite simple, you just need to complete the basic procedures on time. Planting seedlings in open ground is also unlikely to cause any difficulties, then do not forget about timely watering and feeding.

On the air or in a bouquet, an elegant flower will delight the eye. When it fades, you can collect seeds so that planting in the next seasons is ensured.