Zinnia

The zinnia plant (Zinnia) is a representative of the Astrov family. This genus includes not only the usual garden flowers, but also shrubs. Among them, there are both perennial and annual species.

The flower got its name zinnia (less often - zinnia) in honor of the German botanist Zinna, who served as the director of the botanical garden and helped Karl Linnaeus in his research. Another popular name for the flower is "major".

It is known that the Aztecs cultivated zinnia in the XIV century, and in Europe it appeared only three centuries later. The high decorativeness of zinnia immediately provided it with immense popularity not only among gardeners, but also in high society: flowers were used to decorate techniques. By the 20th century, the plant had spread throughout the world. Zinnia is very popular in the United States, where the flower is valued for its brightness, unpretentiousness and ability to withstand extreme heat. One of the states - Indiana - made the flower its symbol. Zinnia has even been in space, becoming the first plant to bloom in zero gravity.

Gardeners know about two dozen different types of zinnias. On their basis, hybrids and spectacular varieties were obtained. The wide popularity of this flower is associated with a combination of attractiveness and high ease of care.

Description of zinnia

The size of the zinnia bush depends on its variety and can range from 20 cm to 1 m. The stem is strong, erect. On it, opposite or whorls are ovoid leaves, covered with hard pubescence. Flowers-baskets bloom at the tops of the stems, usually located on a thickened peduncle with a tiled wrapper. They can be up to 14 cm in diameter, but there are species with more miniature flowers. Each inflorescence has one to several rows of reed flowers. Their coloration includes red, purple, orange, yellow, or other colors. There are also multi-color options. The variety of shades of zinnias does not include only blues or blues. In the center of the inflorescence there are small tubular middle flowers. They are usually brownish or yellow in color. The fruit of the flower is an achene with or without a tuft.

Zinnia blooms towards the end of June and continues to delight with its appearance until the very frost. Its bushes are not afraid of periods of hot weather or drought, but the flower does not tolerate frost. Because of this, in temperate latitudes, even perennial species are usually grown as annuals.

Thanks to the huge palette of colors, bushes sizes and inflorescence shapes, you can find the perfect zinnia variety for any landscape idea. In addition, the plant's bright flowers attract many butterflies.Due to the wide variation in shapes and colors, zinnias look great in group plantings, forming a colorful and elegant flower garden. Zinnia is able to decorate both a fairly strict flower bed and a garden bed in a rustic style. It perfectly coexists with annuals, as well as decorative deciduous species and useful herbs. Sometimes even vegetable beds are decorated with zinnia: tall peduncles practically do not cast a shadow and do not interfere with neighbors.

Along with growing in flower beds, zinnia flowers can be used for cutting. Cutting such flowers is necessary when the inflorescence is opened by ¾. At the same time, the end of the stem should be cut at an oblique angle in hot water. This procedure allows the flower to stay in the bouquet longer. The procedure can be repeated periodically.

Growing zinnia from seeds

Sowing seeds

Zinnia is most commonly grown from seed. In warm regions, you can sow them in May, directly into the ground. If at this time recurrent frosts are still possible, when the temperature can drop to zero, the seedlings may die. To avoid this, but get flowers as early as possible, in such regions zinnias are grown through seedlings, in April. With proper preparation and hardening, such seedlings will quickly take root in the open field and begin to grow actively.

Before sowing, zinnia seeds can be additionally prepared, for example, by wrapping them in a damp cloth dipped in a solution of Epin or potassium humate. The ideal temperature for this kind of germination is around 25 degrees. This procedure allows you to identify non-viable seeds. Fresh planting material can hatch in a couple of days, for old ones this process can take about a week.

To avoid a dive, traumatic for seedlings, you should not use a common container, but separate containers. Viable seeds are placed in peat pots 2-3 pieces each, deepening no more than 1 cm, and then moisten the soil. Then the containers are placed in a warm (at least 22 degrees) and bright place. If all the conditions are met, the first shoots appear after a few days.

If seeds are sown directly into the soil, seedlings should be expected in about 10 days. Zinnias bloom 2.5 months after germination.

Seedling care rules

Zinnia seedlings should be kept in bright, but diffused light. In shade, the sprouts will quickly stretch out and fade. Due to the plant's ability to form adventitious roots, you can slightly add soil to the extended crops. Watering the seedlings should be moderate. If the seeds were not sown too densely, the sprouts should not be dived. Otherwise, they are carefully moved into individual pots with moist soil.

Before planting, zinnia seedlings need to be hardened so that they quickly adapt to outdoor conditions. To do this, containers with plants are exposed to the air every day, trying to gradually increase the time of their stay there.

Planting zinnia outdoors

When to land

Zinnia is planted in open ground when warm weather is finally established outside: this usually happens starting in mid-May or later. For cultivation, a bright place is selected, sheltered from strong winds. Due to the strength of the stems, zinnias do not need props and garters, but they should still be protected from powerful gusts.

The soil should be fertile, neutral or slightly acidic, and well drained. The flower prefers light soil, but zinnia can also be grown on loamy soil, if turf and sand are first added to it. You can dig up the ground for future planting in the fall. This will allow you to add the necessary fertilizers there in advance. The earth is dug to a depth of about 45 cm, removing all weeds and introducing compost, humus or rotted manure into the soil (about 9 kg per 1 square meter). You can also add mineral compositions to the soil, for example, a spoonful of superphosphate, nitrophoska, and potassium sulfate.On unsuitable or too heavy soil, the flower stalks will be low, and the baskets will be small and pale.

Landing rules

Planting zinnia is carried out in a prepared place along with a lump of earth or a peat pot. When planting, a distance of about 30 cm is maintained between the bushes. For undersized species, the distance can be reduced. Seedling zinnias will bloom in July.

Zinnia care in the garden

Caring for your garden zinnia is not a big problem. But it is important to know certain rules for the care and cultivation of zinnia if you want you to grow a really beautiful and lush flower.

Flowers will only need periodic weeding, loosening and watering. Zinnia is one of the drought tolerant species and can tolerate the bright, scorching sun well. During periods of dry weather, it is recommended to water it not too often, but very abundantly. In this case, water should be poured only under the roots so that drops of moisture do not fall on the leaves and flowers. An excess of moisture and its stagnation in the ground can harm the plant. But, despite the ability to withstand extreme heat, it is not worth leaving the zinnia without water for as long as possible during such a period. This can adversely affect the size of the inflorescences and the brightness of their color: they grind and become paler and faded.

After the beginning of flowering of zinnia, the planting is regularly inspected for the presence of wilting flowers. Removing them will significantly prolong flowering. The only exceptions are flowers left for seeds.

Fertilizers

From the moment the shoots appear before transplanting into the ground, zinnia should be fed three times with a composition containing a small amount of nitrogen. After moving to the street, the plants can be fertilized with diluted manure or mineral compositions at least 2 times per season, although it is also not recommended to make additional fertilizing too often. Usually, the first feeding is carried out one month after planting, and the second - during the budding period. Before fertilizing, the beds should be sprinkled with wood ash (2-3 tbsp. L per 1 sq. M).

Pinching

Zinnia pinching is optional. It is carried out if it is necessary to form more lush and branched bushes. During pinching, the top of the plant is removed above the 3rd or 4th leaf. Zinnia is usually pinched at the seedling stage or carried out later, when the bushes adapt after moving outside. If zinnia will be used for cutting, you should not pinch the bushes - this will allow it to form longer and more spectacular flower stalks.

Zinnia after flowering

Seed collection

Each zinnia flower retains its beauty for about a month. It usually takes about 8-10 weeks for a plant to ripen seeds from the moment the basket opens. For collection, it is advised to leave the seeds obtained from the very first flowers. The highest quality of them are the fruits from the inflorescences located on the main shoots. To do this, you can additionally remove all lateral stems from the selected peduncles. When the wilted baskets begin to turn brown, you can cut them off and dry them indoors, and then pull the seeds out of them.

The cleaned and dried planting material is stored in a place where it is dry enough and there are no temperature extremes. The germination capacity of such seeds lasts about 2-4 years.

Wintering of perennial species

Although zinnia usually exists as an annual plant in mid-latitudes, you can try saving it for next year. To do this, the seedlings are initially placed in a mobile container or pot, which is put outside in the summer and brought indoors in the fall. Caring for such a plant will not differ from caring for ordinary indoor flowers. This will allow the zinnia to successfully overwinter, and with the onset of warmth it can be returned to the street again.

Sometimes low-growing varieties of annual zinnias are transplanted into pots in the fall and brought into the house until flowering is complete. In such conditions, it may last for several more weeks.

Diseases and pests of zinnia

Pests

May beetles, snails, slugs and aphids are considered the main pests of zinnia. You can use traps to keep plants safe from gastropods. To do this, it is recommended to place containers with beer around the flower bed, as well as scatter pieces of slate around the area: slugs like to hide under them. You can also use roofing material. The caught pests, like the May beetles, are caught by hand.

You can destroy aphids by treating the bushes with tar soap (100 g per 1 bucket of water). Large foci of damage will require the use of insecticides - Actellik, Fufanon and other similar agents. They are used according to the instructions.

Diseases

Usually, zinnia diseases are caused by a violation of the rules of flower care. So the cause of decay can be thickening of plantings or too frequent and abundant watering. Having identified the root of the problem, you need to try to adjust the care, and only after that start treating the bushes. This will help avoid such infections in the future.

A common disease of zinnia is powdery mildew. At this time, the aerial part of the flower is covered with a light bloom. Fungicidal agents will help to cure it. They will also help to cope with gray rot and fusarium. Another possible disease is bacterial spotting. It can be recognized by the round grayish-brown spots on the surface of the leaf blades. This disease is considered incurable, therefore, it is necessary to get rid of the affected parts of the plant as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will quickly spread to other parts of the bush, and it will have to be destroyed entirely.

Types and varieties of zinnia with photos and names

Of the 20 species of zinnia, only four are considered cultivated. The most popular of them are of two types: narrow-leaved and graceful. They are usually used to breed new hybrid forms.

Zinnia graceful (Zinnia elegans)

Annual, common in the natural environment in the south of Mexico. Capable of exceeding a meter in height. It has straight, most often unbranched shoots with a rounded section. On the surface of the stem and foliage there is a harsh pubescence. The foliage can be up to 7 cm long and 3-4.5 cm wide. At the tops of the stems are inflorescences in the form of baskets. Their size can reach from 5 to 16 cm. Inflorescences can have a different structure - simple or terry. The size of the reed flowers is up to 4 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width. They have a wide variety of colors with the exception of blue. In the middle of the inflorescence there are tubular flowers of yellow or red-brown color.

The flowering of the species begins in June and lasts until the first frost begins. In culture, it has been used since the end of the 18th century, although the Aztecs have been known since at least 1520. Graceful zinnia has a number of hybrids and different varieties, differing in the structure and shape of the baskets, flowering times and the size of the bush. By timing, they are divided into early, medium and late flowering. According to the size of the zinnia bush there are:

• High: the size of the shoots is from 60 to 90 cm. On flower beds, such flowers may not look too decorative, therefore they are most often used for cutting.
• Average: stems ranging in size from 35 to 50 cm. They are grown in flower beds, but can also be used to form bouquets.
• Stunted (dwarf): the size of the shoots is from 15 to 30 cm. As a rule, such zinnias branch well. This allows them to be grown as potted plants, planted in mobile containers or used in the foreground of flower beds.

All hybrids can have some form of inflorescence, belonging to one of several basic types. In temperate latitudes, the following are most commonly grown:

Zinnia dahlia (Zinnia elegans dahliaeflora)

It has rather large bushes, up to 90 cm high. It is considered one of the tallest zinnias. The size of its leaves can be up to 12 cm in length. Terry baskets have hemispheric outlines, their diameter is up to 14 cm.The main varieties:

• Benariz Giants - a series of tall varieties with especially large (up to 15 cm) baskets.The size of the bushes of such zinnias reaches 120 cm.
• Violet ("Violet") - has a bush height of up to 75 cm. Inflorescences are tight, having a purple color of different shades. The size of each reaches 12 cm, while more than 20 baskets can bloom on the bush.
• Crimson Monarch ("Crimson Monarch") - lush bushes, up to 70 cm in height. The number of baskets reaches 25 pieces. Inflorescences reach 13 cm, their color is dark red.
• Lavender Koenigin ("The Lavender Queen") - forms lush bushes up to 80 cm tall. Terry baskets have a high density and rather large (up to 12 cm) size. The color is purple-lavender, it can have different shades. About 20 baskets appear on the plant.
• Orange Koenig ("The Orange King") - reaches 70 cm in height. At the same time, the inflorescences reach up to 14 cm, they are terry, not too dense and painted in a catchy reddish-orange color.
• Peppermint stick ("Mint stick") - a mixture with "flowers" of variegated color. The reed flowers in such baskets are covered with many specks and stripes.
• Purple Prince ("The Purple Prince") - has impressive inflorescences of a purple palette, the size of the bushes is up to 60 cm.
• Polar Bear ("Polar Bear") - forms rather narrow bushes up to 65 cm tall. Numerous reed flowers are white with a delicate green tint in the center. Forms about 20 inflorescences.
• rose flower - more miniature plants with a height of just over half a meter. The inflorescences are of medium density and double structure, their size is rather large, and the color includes many shades of pink.
• Tango - reaches 70 cm in height. Loose baskets are up to 11 cm in diameter and have a bright reddish-orange color.
• Cherry Queen ("The Cherry Queen") - up to 70 cm tall, baskets are painted in a rich cherry tone.
• Envy ("Envy") - double zinnias of an unusual yellowish-green color, well shading the flowers of a more familiar pink-lilac range.

Zinnia midget or pompom

Small bushes no more than 55 cm high. Due to branching, they are able to form stems not only of the first order, but also from the second to the fourth. The foliage is miniature, the inflorescences are also not large in size (only about 5 cm) and resemble pompons in their spherical shape. Common varieties:

• Thumbelina ("Tambelina") - a mixture with bushes up to 45 cm in size. Inflorescences can have different colors and high density, their sizes reach 6 cm.
• Little Red Riding Hood (Rotkophen) - forms round bushes up to 55 cm tall. The flowers are deep red, densely double. Their color does not fade in the sun. The shape of the inflorescences resembles a ball or a truncated cone. Up to 75 baskets can bloom on one bush. Flowering starts at the end of June.
• Lilliput Jam - a mixture with spherical inflorescences of various shades.
• Tom Tamb - bushes up to 45 cm in size. Has double, tight, red-colored "flowers". They are shaped like a flattened ball, but less rounded than Little Red Riding Hood baskets. They do not fade in the sun. Up to 40 inflorescences are formed on the bush.

Zinnia fantasy

Forms round bushes, reaching 65 cm. The leaf blades are rather large. Thin ligulate flowers, rolled up in a tube and curving in different directions, form a rather loose basket. Some of the "petals" may have a bifurcated end. Among the main varieties:

• Fantasy - the size of the aboveground part is up to 60 cm. The baskets are loose, up to 10 cm. They have a terry structure and a wide palette of colors, including shades of lilac, pink, yellow, orange, raspberry, etc.
• Present - a variety with red reed flowers.

The rest of the types are well known abroad. Among them:

• Californian giant zinnia - forms meter stems, but the bush can be more impressive in size. Terry baskets are up to 16 cm in diameter. Belongs to late flowering.
• Zinnia giant cactus — bushes reach almost a meter in size. "Flowers" are terry, up to 11 cm in diameter.The reed flowers are usually curled at the edges, but they can also be wavy and have a raised edge.
• Zinnia super cactus - has baskets similar to the previous one, but differs in a smaller size of shoots (up to 60 cm).
• Zinnia scabiosa (or anemone) - the size of the inflorescences is average - up to 8 cm. The ligulate flowers form one row around the center, filled with many tubular flowers. In this case, the color of the middle coincides with the color of the "petals". It can usually be scarlet, orange, cream, or pink.
• Zinnia chrysanthemum - the ligulate flowers of such plants, located at the edges, are slightly bent, while the others are raised upward, to the middle of the inflorescence. The average height of the bushes is 65 cm.

Most often, varietal mixtures are sold in garden stores, in which several varieties or plants with inflorescences of different colors are presented at once, but recently more and more individual varieties have begun to appear on sale, intended for the design of parks, large flower beds and flower beds.

Zinnia haage (Zinnia haageana) or narrow-leaved zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia)

Mexican look. Annual with branching bushes. Stems are erect, up to 40 cm tall. The leaf blades are elongated and pointed. Despite the smaller size of the bushes, when planting them, you should also maintain a gap of 25-30 cm. "Flowers" are small, simple or slightly double, most often they have an orange or yellow color. At the same time, tubular flowers have a darker color. Main varieties:

• Glorienshein ("The Circle of the Sun") - strongly branching bushes about 25 cm high. "Flowers" have a double structure and size up to 3.5 cm, the color of the reed flowers is transitional, at the base - a rich orange tint, and at the ends - dark burgundy. The middle is orange.
• Candy Stripe (Striped Candy) - a variegated mixture with an average size of baskets (up to 10 cm).
• Persian Carpet Mixt ("Persian carpet") - a series of varieties with semi-double "flowers" that have a variegated two-color color. Usually red in it is combined with tones of orange, white or yellow. With a group planting, the flowerbed looks very elegant. Due to the relatively low growth of plants, such zinnias really begin to resemble a multi-colored rug.
• Classic and Starbright - British mixtures. They form low bushes up to 30 cm. Branched shoots, creeping, but at the same time rather thin. Inflorescences are colored in shades of white, yellow or orange. The cultivars are usually used as ground covers.
• Sombrero - usually grown in flower beds. The inflorescences are claret, with an orange border.

Fine-flowered zinnia (Zinnia tenuiflora)

Often grown in landscape-style flower beds. The bushes grow up to 60 cm in height. The stems are rather slender, with a pale red tint. Inflorescences are miniature (up to 3 cm). The "petals" are thin and narrow, slightly bent and have a slightly curled tip. A well-known variety is Red Spyder ("Red Spider").

Zinnia linearis

It resembles narrow-leaved zinnia in the shape of leaves. They are narrow and pointed at the end. The species is called the smallest of all grown. The size of its bushes reaches only 35 cm. "Flowers" are also small. The most common color of the "petals": yellow with an orange border. Typically, such plantings are used to decorate balconies and small flower beds, grown in pots or decorate alpine slides. The most famous varieties:

• Golden Eye (Golden Eye) - has white baskets with a golden center. They resemble chamomile in shape.
• Caramel - have a very dark center, the color of the reed flowers is yellowish-caramel.
• Yellow Star ("Yellow Star") - has yellow inflorescences.

A number of hybrid varieties have been developed on the basis of Haage and graceful zinnias. One of the most famous series is considered Profusion... These plants grow up to 35 cm. They are remarkable for their increased resistance to cool and rainy weather.The bushes are decorated with many small (up to 4 cm) chamomile "flowers" of various colors, including white, as well as tones of orange and cherry.

Another common series is Magellan, low bushes with strongly double dahlia "flowers". They reach 10 cm in size, and the color palette includes cream, cherry, pink, orange and some others. One of the new series - Swizzle, forming bushes with spectacularly colored baskets, while their ligulate flowers taper slightly towards the edges. So far, it includes only two varieties:

• Cherry Ivory - cherry color, turning into cream.
• Scarlett Yellow - red, turning into yellow.