| Please give me complete instructions for growing zinnias in containers indoors and outdoors. What type of soil to use,light/sun exposure,water requirements-amount,how often both indoors and outdoors, fertilizing/feeding-amount,type,and how often, and common problems encountered while growing these flowers indoors and outdoors. Thank you, J.Davis-N. Illinois |
| Zinnias adapt well to growing in containers, but they do not make good houseplants. Zinnias are annuals in your gardening region. Choose a 6" container with drainage holes in the bottom, fill it with moistened potting soil, and plant your zinnia (one to a container). Grow in full sunshine, water just as the top of the soil begins to dry out, and fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a half-strength dilution of liquid fertilizer. As the flowers fade, cut them off along with the flower stem. New flowers should develop all summer long. At the end of the season, toss your plants and replace them with healthy new zinnias next spring. Zinnias are usually problem free although they can develop powdery mildew in the early fall when days are still warm and nights are cool. By then, their growing season is over and you can just toss the plants. |
