Zinnia is a beautiful flower native to Southern Mexico. Popular among gardeners due to the variety of varieties and rapid growth. Lush buds in a wide range of colors look organic in any flower bed.
It is not difficult to grow such beauty from seeds for your garden. It is best to prepare the seedlings. Planting ready-made sprouts in open ground will speed up the time for the buds to bloom.
To get lush and vibrant plants, you can use the tips.
Choose the right time to sow seeds
This species does not like the cold. At the first frost it dies. Based on this, the time to begin work is selected. 5-6 weeks after sowing, the crop is ready for planting in a permanent place. Therefore, you should not start planting too early.
Make the soil loose and light
Humus or vermiculite must be added to the soil mixture if the soil is not light and breathable enough. Ready-made peat soil is also suitable. The drainage should be about 1.5-2 cm high. Next, you need to make holes in the prepared tray. Without holes to drain excess moisture, the roots may rot.
Provide sufficient space for each sprout
Sprouts begin to stretch if they grow too closely. It is advisable to prepare an individual container for each, because zinnia does not like picking. You can sow several seeds in one container and then leave the strongest shoot. If you sow in a common tray, then sow less often to avoid stretching.
If excessive height cannot be avoided, pinch off the tops. They can be transplanted to a new location to take root. And thanks to this procedure, the flower itself will be more branched and fluffy.
Observe light and temperature conditions
Incorrect light and temperature also affect the fact that seedlings lengthen unnecessarily. Therefore, for good germination, a temperature of 23-25 degrees is required and not higher than 20 after germination. Sufficient lighting can be provided with special lamps or by placing the container on the sunny side.
Harden off seedlings before planting in a permanent location
Moving from a warm room to a plot in the garden is stressful for young shoots. Therefore, they need to be gradually prepared for life on the street. First, open the windows for a certain time. When the temperature outside the window rises to 15 degrees, take it out into the open air. To begin with, half an hour is enough. Then extend the hardening time. The procedure should begin two weeks before planting in open ground.
This kind of beauty will settle in the garden and will delight you with its diversity if you use some simple tips.
