How to Grow and Care for Zinnias in Containers
Intro: Zinnias are beautiful flowers that are great for butterfly gardens. Zinnia flowers come in white, light green, yellow, orange, red and purple. There are many different Zinnia species, but the most common is Z. elegans. Zinnias have different flower petal arrangements – some have a single row of flower petals, while others have multiple rows that give the flower a more full, dome shape. These easy-to-grow flowers are great for plant containers in urban balcony gardens.
Check out this video of a zinnia flower blooming.
Scientific Name: Zinnia elegans
Water: Water your zinnia flowers regularly so the potting soil stays constantly moist. Water below the plant, close to the soil so no water touches the zinnia plant's foliage.
Fertilizer: Regularly fertilize your zinnia flowers with a balanced water-soluble plant fertilizer. Fertilizing once a month or smaller doses every two weeks will keep your zinnia plants flowering and looking their best in your apartment garden.
Temperature: Zinnia flowers are typically grown as annuals, so you do not need to overwinter these container plants indoors. The important thing to remember with zinnia flowers is to not plant them outdoors until nighttime temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pests and Diseases: You may find common garden pests such as aphids, caterpillars, mealy bugs and spider mites on your zinnia flowers. Zinnia diseases can include powdery mildew, wilt, and bacterial and fungal spots. Avoid diseases by being careful to not splash water on the leaves when watering.
Propagation: To propagate, use seeds produced by the zinnia’s flowers to plant more zinnias in the balcony garden.
Misc. Info: Taller zinnia varieties, which don’t do as well in plant containers as the shorter varieties, may need stakes to help them grow straight. Deadhead or cut extra tall growth to promote fuller growth and flower production. If you deadhead your zinnias, they will produce more and more flowers, and the flower duration for each season should be about 10 weeks.
