Zinnia

Another plant that doesn't mind Florida's extreme weather/temperature conditions is Zinnia.

This pretty annual will most likely reseed itself. It prefers sunny spots and fertile soil with excellent drainage.

Zinnias are easy to grow from seeds (start indoors or sow directly when the danger of frost is over). They are excellent cut flowers - if we remove the foliage from stems before placing them in the vase.



Zinnias come in all shapes (single, double, cactus, dahlia, ruffles and pompom), colors (all, including multi-colored, except blue) and sizes (from 6 to 40 inches in height with blossoms in diameter from less than 1 inch to 7 inches). Their blooms attract bees and butterflies.

The biggest issue with zinnias (in my experience) is mildew and it occurs especially from overhead watering when the plants are not spaced properly. To prevent mildew, space the plants 4 to 12 inches apart - according to variety.

Pinching the tops of the seedlings when they are 4-6 inches tall will make them bushy. Deadheading encourages producing of new blooms.

Zinnias are named after German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn (1727-1759). They belong to Aster family and originate from Mexico and Southwestern United States.

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