How to Grow Zinnia

Zinnias come in a variety of bright colors.

More than 20 zinnia varieties are available, and the flowers grow from seeds quite successfully. Zinnias reach up to 5 inches in diameter and boast a plethora of color varieties, including yellow, salmon, scarlet and coral. Not only can zinnias provide a colorful addition to your home garden, but the flowers can survive for up to two weeks in a vase in your home.

Things You'll Need

• Soil
• Seeds

Instructions

1. Wait to grow zinnias outdoors until the last frost of the season has passed. Alternatively, start the flowers indoors in a biodegradable pot about one month before the last frost of the season, and then transplanted.

2. Select a site that will afford zinnias full sunlight for at last six hours per day. Ensure that the plants will receive proper drainage.

3. Sow seeds in ordinary gardening soil, planting them 6 to 18 inches apart to allow for future growth.

4. Water the flowers when the soil is dry. Zinnias are drought-tolerant once they are mature. Water directly into the soil; water on leaves can encourage disease.

Tips & Warnings

• Adding a complete fertilizer to zinnias on a regular basis can boost their growth.

References

• University of Iowa Extension: Zinnias