Zinnita
- Compact plant habit
- Perfect for pots, containers and borders
- Early flowering due to short crop time
- Easy to grow
- Crop Time
- Spring: 6 - 8 weeks
- Height ∅
- 7 ″ / 18 cm
- Exposure
- Sun
- Seed Form
- Raw Seed
- Best Uses
- Bedding, Pot Plant
Culture guide
Usage
Plants for bedding, pot plants, beautiful plants, that attract bees and butterflies, plants for planting of bowls
Sow time
February-June
Sowing method
1 seed per plug, can be sown directly into final pot
Germination
7-10 days at 68-72 °F (20-22 °C). Higher temperatures can reduce germination and cause week seedlings. Sow seeds in a well-drained media low in nutrients with a pH between 5.8-6.2. Cover seed lightly with vermiculite.
Growing on
Grow on at 60-65 °F (15-18 °C) for 3-4 weeks. Temperatures below 60 °F (15 °C) delays flowering. Provide good ventilation.
Fertilize weekly at 200 ppm nitrogen in a well-balanced mix. Use of calcium nitrate will improve stem strength. For cut flower production, thin seedlings or plant plugs at 8-10" (20-25 cm) in rows or
9-12" x 12" (23-30 cm x 30 cm) spacing in beds.
Media
Use a well-drained, growing perennial substrate with 15-30 % clay, 1-1,5 kg/m³ complete balanced fertilizer, iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.8-6.2.
Temperature
Grow at 15-16 °C. Temperatures below 10 °C support yellow leaves. Zinnia does tolerate high temperatures of 25 °C, but does not tolerate frost. For selling it is recommended to harden the plants slowly at 12-14 °C.
Fertilization
Moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 100-150 ppm nitrogen, using complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels, because high nitrogen level will result in soft stems. Stems are too soft will break underneath the flower. Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. Nutrition deficiency supports a poor branching. The roots are sensitive to high salt levels in substrates.
Stage I Starts with the radicle breaking through the testa. The roots are touching the medium. Ends with fully developed cotyledons.
Stage II Starts from fully developed cotyledons. Ends with the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair.
Stage III Starts from the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair and ends with 80% of the young plants being marketable.
Stage IV All young plants are ready for sale and in the process of being hardened off. This stage lasts about 7 days.
The cultural recommendations are based on results from trials conducted under Central European conditions. Different conditions in other parts of the world may lead to deviations in results achieved.
