What are the ways to plant zinnias?
Some gardening enthusiasts want to grow zinnias, but do not know how to plant them. This article starts from the perspective of a gardening enthusiast, beginning with the most basic zinnia sowing, so that enthusiasts can get a detailed impression of how to plant zinnias. This article is aimed at hobbyist enthusiasts, not large-scale zinnia cultivation.
1. Sowing zinnias
Many gardening enthusiasts buy zinnia seeds, so they need to start with sowing zinnias; those who buy seedlings directly can skip this step. The suitable temperature for zinnia seed germination is 20-25°C, generally germinating in 7-10 days, and flowering about 70 days after sowing. Transplant seedlings when they have 2-3 true leaves, pinch when they have 4-5 leaves, and after 2~3 transplantings they can be planted in place. The sowing time is generally around mid-to-late April, as long as the temperature meets the germination temperature. When sowing zinnias, be sure to cover with a layer of soil, or perlite, vermiculite or the like, because zinnias are a light-avoiding flower and plant variety.
2. Daily care of zinnias
To keep zinnias dwarf, multiple pinching is needed. The first time is at 6 leaves, leaving 4 leaves and pinching the rest, for a total of 2~3 pinchings. After each pinching, apply potassium dihydrogen phosphate; especially from budding to flowering, spray 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate once every 5~7 days. Fertilize to prevent disease. After the plant grows steadily, the soil should be kept moist. In summer, water once in the morning and once in the evening. During the seedling stage, apply 200 mg/L nitrogen fertilizer and organic liquid fertilizer once every 5~7 days; after 2~3 applications, switch to compound fertilizer. In midsummer, it is advisable to apply thin fertilizer, using fertilizer in place of water.
2. Daily care of zinnias
To keep zinnias dwarf, multiple pinching is needed. The first time is at 6 leaves, leaving 4 leaves and pinching the rest, for a total of 2~3 pinchings. After each pinching, apply potassium dihydrogen phosphate; especially from budding to flowering, spray 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate once every 5~7 days. Fertilize to prevent disease. After the plant grows steadily, the soil should be kept moist. In summer, water once in the morning and once in the evening. During the seedling stage, apply 200 mg/L nitrogen fertilizer and organic liquid fertilizer once every 5~7 days; after 2~3 applications, switch to compound fertilizer. In midsummer, it is advisable to apply thin fertilizer, using fertilizer in place of water.
How to plant zinnias and when to sow zinnias
Zinnia is a plant introduced to China from abroad, mainly used for ornamental purposes, and it is currently distributed in many places in China. Zinnia flowers are quite attractive, generally with red or white being more common. At present, many people like to grow it. Before planting, most people probably want to have a comprehensive understanding of its planting methods!
How to plant zinnias
1. Suitable soil. It needs a sandy culture soil with four aspects: humus content, fertility, looseness, and good drainage.
2. Suitable temperature. Ensure the suitable germination temperature is 20°C—25°C. Make sure the environmental temperature for sowing is suitable, and it must not be too high or too low. Too low a temperature will cause the seedlings to become “small old seedlings.”
3. Sowing method. Zinnia seeds can be sown in holes or broadcast. Because it is a light-avoiding flower seed, after sowing it must be covered with a layer of vermiculite. At a temperature of 21~23°C, it can germinate in 3~5 days. The germination period does not require light. After germination, the seedbed should maintain a water content of 50~60%, and it must not be too wet, so as to avoid root rot or damping-off disease.
4. Seedling management. After zinnia seedlings grow 1 true leaf, divide and transplant the seedlings once. The zinnia root system is not well developed and has few lateral roots. Generally, when there are 2 true leaves, transplant and plant them into pots. When transplanting, they should be moved with soil. The transplanting substrate should be loose, fertile, and well-drained. It can be made by mixing 3 parts pond mud, 1 part leaf mold, and 1 part decomposed compost or barnyard manure. The planting depth should be 0.5 cm below the cotyledons. After planting, press the soil lightly and water thoroughly.
When to sow zinnias
The sowing time of zinnias depends on the desired flowering time. Generally, sow in a greenhouse 2~3 months in advance. Direct sowing in the open field should be after the severe cold of early spring, otherwise the seedlings will develop poorly. If used for an autumn flower bed, it is best to sow in summer. Spring sowing is carried out in March to April. Transplant when there are 4~5 leaves, plant in place in early June, and flower from July to frost.
How to pinch zinnias
1. Time. When zinnias grow to four to six leaves or more, they need to be pinched.
2. First pinching. When zinnia seedlings grow to 4 leaves, they should be planted in place and pinched. Start pinching about one week after planting in place. When the zinnia seedlings are about 10 cm tall, leave two pairs of leaves and pinch the remaining leaves.
3. Second pinching. It is not that after one pinching there is no more pinching afterward. When the lateral branches grow 2-3 pairs of leaves, carry out the second pinching. They can be treated with a chlormequat solution, evenly spraying the chlormequat solution on the upper leaves of the plant, once every one to two weeks, for a total of 2~3 treatments. The number of pinchings cannot be done whenever you feel like it; whether to carry out the next pinching should be decided according to the plant's growth and branching.
How to water zinnias
1. Control of water amount. Actually, how to water is really hard to decide. Too much water will rot the roots, but too little water is certainly also not okay. The editor tells everyone that there is no standard measure for watering zinnias; we can only decide by combining its growth habits with the actual situation.
2. Watering during the seedling stage. When choosing the sowing method to grow zinnias, water as little as possible during the small seedling stage, so as to promote healthy growth of the seedlings. After that, just keep the soil moisture between 50%-60%. Do not make it too moist, otherwise root rot is very likely to occur.
3. Water more when transplanting. When transplanting zinnias, pay attention: at this time you must water thoroughly, so that they can absorb more water and nutrients and their growth can be ensured.
4. Water in coordination with light. In places with particularly strong light, water evaporates especially quickly, so you can appropriately water more. But if zinnias are placed in a place with insufficient light, the soil will evaporate water very slowly. At this time, be sure to reduce watering. If you still water heavily, it is very likely to affect the development of its root system and cause it to grow leggy.
Growing zinnias is actually not difficult. First, choose suitable soil, then choose an appropriate time for sowing. In the later stage of planting, management needs to be strengthened; timely pinching is beneficial to the growth of zinnias. Control of water amount is also key, and the amount of watering is different at different growth stages.