23.1.11

Zinnia - Bouquet and Propagation

It's bouquet time again at Ramblings from a Desert Garden....
I use bright pink and light yellow coloured Zinnias in this bouquet.
Basil acts as an aromatic filler.
Each time I walk past this bouquet, I pluck a basil leaf and enjoy the aroma.


My first bouquet attempt was with red Zinnias and red chillies.


I use Zinnia because they are easily grown, beautiful and can last a week as cut flowers.


Aren't Zinnias just lovely?


Stem Propagation

Zinnia can be propagated via stem.
This method is useful when you are not hoping for any surprises in the propagation result.
I just cut the stem, stuck it in a pot of soil and water it daily.
It has only been a few weeks and you can see that it is blooming already, as in the photo above.


Seed Propagation

The way I usually grow Zinnia is by sprinkling the seeds on  a bare patch of ground in a sunny location.
Since they germinate so well, I do not even sow them half inch deep into the ground and cover them with loose soil like I do for other types of seeds.

To save the seeds, I usually cut out the dried seed heads on a very hot day, remove the petals and save them in a bottle, to be given away.
To ensure that they don't turn moldy, you may want to dry it for a week.
I am now removing all those Zinnia plants with single-petal.
Cross pollinations amongst the best plants should produce better future batches of Zinnias.

For more seed and propagation ideas, head over to Seed Week at Kebun Malay Kadazan Girls.

For interesting mosaics from all over the world, visit Mosaic Monday at Dear Little Red House.

28 comments:

  1. I did not know that zinnia can be propagated by stem cuttings. Thank you for sharing. I have many self-sowed zinnias this year but they won't grow tall, stunted this year. But I have never had your red colour zinnia blooming in our little garden. I have admire yours since the first time I saw it.

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  2. Good morning One. I grow zinnias every year because they are so easy and so colorful and so abundant. In addition they attract humming birds and butterflies. I never knew they that could be propagated by stem, however. I love idea of combining them with herbs. I have ordered zinnia seeds from this catalog before http://www.reneesgarden.com/hm-gardnr/resource/shepherd.htm. They have a great variety. cheers. ann.

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  3. I have never had much luck with zinnias, but since I moved a couple of years ago, maybe it's time to give them another try. Propagated from stems....thats another new one for me! I also didn't know that hummers like them, so now I will definately do some zinnias this spring!!!

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  4. Zinnias are such a happy colored flower. A real sun worshiper. Do they grow in your garden naturally all year?

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  5. I didn't know that you can grow zinnia through stem cuttings! Wow, thanks for sharing! I am starting some zinnias from seeds, and I hope that they will turn out fine.
    Nice blog!

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  6. I will do that right away..., cut the best branch of zinnia and propagate!!

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  7. One, Basil as a green in bouquets is a great idea. I love the photo in the collage of the tightly furled bud--very beautiful. I am I really understanding that all you have to do is stick the zinnia stem in soil and it forms a new plant? Amazing. Carolyn

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  8. Thank you for sharing the Zinnia pictures. They are one of my favorite annuals. I love the state fair mix and usually plant a couple of flats to add color until the first frost. Thanks for the propagation tips!
    Annie

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  9. If I have Zinnia in my garden, it should look great during this coming Chinese New Year.

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  10. Great tip One...I wasn't aware you could just pop a stem into some dirt and it would grow! Good to know. Zinnias are a favorite here in the heat of summer and your idea to use basil and peppers in your bouquet is a winner!

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  11. You have lovely zinias! I only had it once few years back and all eaten up by bugs. Now you're telling me that it is good as cut flower and i will get it back again to my garden!

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  12. The Zinnia that you gave me is pink variety! You have red and yellow too? you really have colony of Zinnia!
    Zinnia can be propagated through stem cutting? Thanks for sharing!

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  13. Summer in the middles of winter. Thank you for sharing.

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  14. I wished I could grow zinnias. They do sprout well but after awhile they all look leggy and weak because of the lack of good sunshine in my place. And so, I have forgo all the sunny loved floral plants.
    Love your sunny zinnias!

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  15. Great zinnia mosaics One. I didnt know they can grown by stem cuttings, I thought only by seeds. Seeing your colourful zinnias, I want to grow them too in my new flower bed.

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  16. I absolutely love zinnias in the garden - to carry color through between perennials blooming - lovely mosaic,
    Kathy

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  17. I love Zinnias! I cant wait to start these again in my garden! Your flowers are gourgous!

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  18. Never knew zinnia can be propagated! You sure make a lot of us happy with this super info! Thanks! Lovely bouquet, I do have the Thai basil like yours too. I do not need the basil at the moment, but..hmmm... I'm still thinking about your dogs! ^..^

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  19. The flowers are so beautiful! The bright cheery colors make a pretty mosaic! Happy Monday! ♥

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  20. You have wonderful zinnias! I love their vibrant colours. Interesting to know that you propagated them from cutting. Will try this when I have the chance ;-)

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  21. We never have enough sun here for Zinnia's to grow well here. It looks as if they are so easy in your climate to propagate aswell as they look so good in your photographs.


    I'm not going to get a chance to do the macro in a mason before the deadline today One but I'm still planning on doing it on my other blog...... I need to find something interesting to put in the jar!

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  22. Got here via Malar's blog... zinias are pretty... as with other readers, didn't know that they can be grown from stems... I just let self seed in my garden... pretty pictures you have...

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  23. Thanks for visiting Nyack Backyard! Nice to "meet" you and your blog. I love growing zinnias, too, but maybe I'm working too hard, burying them in the soil one by one. I'm gonna try your sprinkling technique. Beautiful photos!

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  24. I didn't know zinnias rooted that easily -- and all your photos of them are just gorgeous! I love the bouquets.

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  25. I love zinnias, such a beautiful flower. You have such a beautiful array of colours. I've never even considered propogating them by stems before. In our cold climate they are an annual flower, sown by seed each spring.

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  26. Beautiful collage in there. I love to look at zinnias but i dont plant them, because their seeds shed off and will eventually become weeds for the lazy gardener.

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  27. Good to know. Thanks for the tips, I had no idea. And your pictures are beautiful. I love the vibrant colors.

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