Do Zinnias Make Good Cut Flowers

I want to discuss whether or not zinnias make good cut flowers. It’s a question that I get asked frequently by my customers and fellow flower growers. It’s also one of those questions that has no clear answer, because it depends on your expectations and needs. In this article, I will address the most common reasons why you might have a problem with zinnias as cut flowers, and then give you some tips on how to avoid those problems.

Do Zinnias Make Good Cut Flowers?

Zinnia flowers, also known as the hummingbird flower, are a popular cut flower that can be grown in just about any garden. They’re easy to grow and add lots of color to your garden or container. With their many colors and sizes, they’re also one of the best choices for making arrangements and bouquets.

Zinnias are available in many colors including: reds, oranges, yellows and white. The size range is vast but most common varieties grow between eight inches tall to two feet tall with blooms ranging from 1/4 inch wide to 6 inches wide. Most zinnias have very fragrant flowers that make them a favorite among humans as well as pollinators like butterflies and bees!

The vast majority of zinnias sold in grocery stores are hybridized cultivars which means they have been specially bred for certain traits such as larger blooms or longer lasting foliage once cut from the plant (what we call “vase life”). These traits are highly desired by consumers who want something different every year without having too much work put into it themselves.

How to Grow Zinnia Flowers as Cut Flowers

Zinnia flowers are easy to grow and care for. They come in a wide variety of colors, making them a good choice for flower borders. Zinnias are also easy to cut and make a beautiful addition to any vase.

How to Grow Zinnias as Cut Flowers

Zinnia plants can be grown from seed or purchased as potted plants from your local gardening store. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil (with some organic matter added). If you want to start growing zinnias from seed, sow the seeds directly into the ground once all danger of frost has passed in springtime (in northern areas this may be as late as May). Space your seeds approximately 8 inches apart with rows spaced 12-18 inches apart. Soil temperature needs to be at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit before planting will be successful; use plastic mulch if necessary until weather conditions improve sufficiently for germination of these warm season annuals.

You will want to select your favorite varieties.

It’s easy to select different varieties of zinnias based on the following criteria:

• Color. Some varieties are available in red, orange, yellow and white. You can also select your favorite color combinations. For example, I’ve grown ‘Profusion White’ for years and love the way it looks with other flowers in a bouquet.
• Height. Zinnias grow from 6 inches tall up to 3 feet tall (1/2-1 meter). The taller varieties will produce more flowers than the shorter ones but they may be less suitable for containers or hanging baskets because they take up more space than smaller varieties do–and they may need staking if they’re planted directly into your garden soil instead of containers. If you have limited space for growing zinnias outdoors then I suggest you consider using only low-growing annuals like marigolds or petunias as companions rather than tall cultivars such as “Magenta Flash” which grows 12 inches high!
• Blooming period: When choosing when to plant them outdoors depends on what kind of color show you want during each part of summer season; some flowers will look great now while others won’t bloom until later this year or next springtime season when temperatures begin rising again after winter chilliness passes away completely…

You may want to start your Zinnia seeds inside or outside, depending on the season and planting time.

You may want to start your Zinnia seeds inside or outside, depending on the season and planting time. If you start them indoors, it’s best to transplant them outside once they are at least 4 inches tall and have several sets of leaves. To do this, start by hardening off the plants in a shady spot for a week before moving them into full sun for another week. They will also need an inch of water every day during this period. If you are starting your Zinnias outdoors, wait until after all danger of frost has passed (usually around mid-to-late May) and plant them when soil temps are above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. You can then begin watering your zinnias every day until they begin to flower!

Be sure to space the plants 18 inches apart.

To plant zinnias, you’ll need to space them 18 inches apart. If you’re planting a bunch of different types, make sure and check the individual variety information for spacing needs. Some are more aggressive than others, so keep that in mind when making your plan.

Because their tall stems make them a little more challenging to work with than other cut flowers and because their leaves are on the smaller side (which makes for less area for photosynthesis), it’s best to plant zinnias in rows rather than as a mass planting.

The soil should drain well.

The soil should drain well. Zinnias are heavy feeders and will not thrive in heavy clay soils.

You can amend your garden soil by adding organic matter, such as compost or aged manure, to improve drainage and aeration. To test the drainage of your garden soil, take a handful of moistened dirt and squeeze it between two fingers; if water runs out freely, you have good drainage.

Use a mulch around your plants after they become established. This will maintain moisture and fight off the weeds that have begun to grow.

• Use a mulch around your plants after they become established. This will maintain moisture and fight off the weeds that have begun to grow.
• Mulch can be inorganic or organic, depending on your preference. The most common types of mulch used for flowers are straw and pine bark nuggets, but you can also use shredded leaves or newspaper strips if you prefer!
• You may choose to use mulch for aesthetic purposes—it’s definitely an attractive addition to any flower garden or planter box! It also helps control soil temperature, which is important during warmer months when germination is more difficult due to high temperatures in the soil.

Fertilization is not necessary if you are working with good soil. However, you can use a liquid fertilizer if you choose.

Fertilization is not necessary if you are working with good soil. However, you can use a liquid fertilizer if you choose.

Zinnias are extremely sensitive to fertilizer burn and need only the tiniest amount of nitrogen. It’s best to apply at least two inches of mulch around the base of plants where they meet the ground in order to keep their roots cool and moist during hot weather periods. Spray with water when needed and begin fertilizing once a month from spring until fall (or after blooms have wilted for winter).

If using liquid fertilizer, follow package directions for application rates and frequency based on plant size and desired results, then wait at least one day before watering again so that nutrients have time enough time to soak into the soil where they can do their job without washing away too quickly due to rainfall or excessive watering afterward!

Zinnia flowers make for good cut flowers, but there are some things that you need to do first before you can expect them to shine in your cut flower garden.

Zinnias are easy to grow. In fact, they’re one of the top 30 cut flower crops in the United States. They can be grown from seed or purchased as plants, which makes zinnias an excellent choice for gardeners who don’t have a lot of space or time to spend on growing their own flowers.

Zinnia flowers make for good cut flowers, but there are some things that you need to do first before you can expect them to shine in your cut flower garden. The first thing is making sure that you plant your zinnia seeds at the right time and give them plenty of sunlight and water so that they grow well before cutting them for preservation purposes later on down the line when winter arrives on your doorstep again!

With a little effort, you can have plenty of beautiful Zinnia flowers to use as cut flowers all season long. They are an especially good choice if you want to grow cut flowers that will bloom in the heat of summer and continue until frost kills them off.