Why Choose a Zinnia for Your Home?

• Beautiful Flowers: Zinnia blooms in vibrant colors like blue, purple, pink, and white, adding a cheerful touch to your garden.
• Fast-Growing Climber: It quickly grows up fences, walls, and trellises, turning dull spaces into colorful displays.
• Natural Shade: When grown on a trellis, it provides cool, natural shade in hot weather.
• Air-Purifying: Like most plants, it helps improve air quality by absorbing CO2 and releasing oxygen.
• Symbolic Meaning: Associated with love, resilience, and positivity, it brings a sense of renewal each morning.

How to Grow Zinnia

Step-by-Step Process (Recommended for Home Gardeners):

• Soil: Zinnia prefers light, Use well-drained, fertile soil. A potting mix with coco peat, perlite, compost and pine bark works best.
• Planting: Sow seeds directly outdoors in early spring or start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Transplant seedlings when they have 2-3 leaves.
• Spacing: Space plants 10-12 inches apart for proper airflow.
• Watering: Water regularly but let the soil dry between waterings. Use onion peels in the soil to retain moisture and add nutrients.
• Sunlight: Zinnia needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.
• Temperature: Thrives in warm weather (18-25°C). Keep it away from frost.
• Provide Support: As Zinnia grow taller, they may need support to stay upright. Use sticks to keep the plant straight if necessary.

Common Problems, Pests & Diseases

Urban Farmer’s Solutions for a Healthy plant:

1. Yellowing Leaves: This is often due to overwatering or poor drainage. Make sure the soil drains well and doesn’t hold excess water.
2. Spider Mites: These pests can appear during dry conditions. They cause tiny speckles and webbing. Spider mites suck the cell sap from the leaves and make the plant weak. Use neem oil to control them. These are organic products and non-toxic to humans and other beneficial insects. Spray neem oil 2 ml/20 drops or Mix 1 protec tab in 1 liter of water once a week for effective control.
3. Leaf Spot Disease: This can occur if the leaves are consistently wet. Ensure proper air circulation and avoid overwatering. Symptoms include small, dark spots with yellow halos on the leaves. Spray organic fungicide Tricho Shield 5 gm or half spoon per liter of water. Repeat the spray 7 days after the first spray for the best results.

Best Practices for Growing Zinnia

Urban Farmer’s Expert Tips for Zinnia:

1. Proper Spacing: Space plants 10-12 inches apart for good airflow and to prevent diseases.
2. Deadheading: Remove faded flowers to encourage more blooms. Just pinch them off above the first set of leaves.
3. Fertilizing: Use a balanced NPK fertilizer every 4-6 weeks or organic compost for steady growth.
4. Staking: Tall varieties may need support. Use stakes or plant near a structure like a fence to keep them upright.

Recommended Products for Zinnia

Urban Farmer’s Trusted Products for Zinnia Care:

1. Fertilizers:
   • Balanced Fertilizer: Add one grow TAB in a liter of water and spray on foliage every 15 to 20 days. It helps in boosting overall growth and improving leaf color.
   • Slow-Release Fertilizer: Insert one green fertilizer stick fully into the soil, 2-3 inches away from the plant stem. Repeat it after 60 days. A single application of one stick provides your plants with a steady supply of nutrients for up to 2 months.
2. Pesticides:
   • Neem Oil: Spray IFC Neem at 2 ml per liter water to acts as a natural pesticide to control spider mites and other pests.
   • Organic Insecticidal: Add one Protec tab to a liter of water and spray on the foliage to help manage pests like mealybugs and aphids.
3. Growth Promoters:
   • Silicon-Based Growth Stimulators: Spray Tabsil at 1 tablet per 5 liters of water to improve plant resilience to diseases and enhance overall growth.
   • Humidifiers & Misting Sprays: To maintain humidity and ensure a healthy environment for your Zinnia.

By following these detailed guidelines and incorporating the trusted products recommended by Urban Farmer, you can cultivate healthy and vibrant Zinnia in your home or terrace garden.