Zinnias are a vibrant and easy-to-grow annual plant that can transform any summer garden. With their daisy-like blooms in a myriad of dazzling colors, they are a favorite among gardeners. Here are five essential tasks to keep your zinnias blooming throughout July and beyond:
Remove Fading Flowers: This is the most crucial task for zinnias in July. Cut spent flowers right down to the next set of leaves or a side shoot, not just snipping the flower head off. This stimulates branching and more flower stems. Do it every few days, and your zinnia patch will keep flowering until the first frost. Skipping this task for a couple of weeks can cause the plant to slow down significantly.
Keep an Eye on Tall Stems: Zinnias come in various shapes and sizes, but taller varieties need close supervision. Stake taller plants to keep them upright through strong winds to avoid broken stems and damaged flower buds. Pruning back straggly stems in July can also help them look neater and encourage bushier growth.
Feed Container-Grown Zinnias Fortnightly: By midsummer, container-grown zinnias may have depleted the nutrients in the compost. To keep them flowering, feed them with a balanced liquid fertilizer every couple of weeks during active flowering. Avoid overhead watering and instead soak the plants thoroughly at the base, especially for cactus or pompom varieties.
Take Action Against Powdery Mildew: July's warm and humid conditions are perfect for powdery mildew, a common fungal disease that zinnias are highly prone to. Ensure plants are well-spaced for good airflow, and give susceptible plants a pre-emptive spray of an organic fungicide before you see any signs of the disease. Water deeply once a week, providing about 1 inch of water at the base using soaker hoses or drip irrigation.
Keep Picking and Enjoy Blooms Until Fall: Cutting stems actually helps the plant by encouraging branching and sending up multiple new flowering stems. Handle the hollow stems carefully to avoid crushing them and cut at a 45-degree angle, just above a leaf node. This simple act can help your zinnias bloom until the fall.
