Mites and powdery mildew are two agents that can cause foliage distortion in zinnia (and other plants). You should, however, be able to detect both on the plant with your naked eye, as long as you understand what you are looking for. At the very least, you should eliminate these two right away. Are you familiar with spider mites and powdery mildew and what they look like?

Okay, well I know it's not powdery mildew, and I don't see any bugs on the zinnias at all. I've been growing zinnias for the last 3-4 years, and I've never seen this before. The leaves are just so weird looking, and the deformities don't start until about the 2nd or 3rd true leaf. I did some research, and I'm starting to wonder if it's a foliar nematode that is causing this. I can't find any good pictures of it on a zinnia, so I can't tell for sure. Does anyone know anything about foliar nematodes?

Okay, not powdery mildew. I usually think of leaf lesions when considering foliar nematodes. Asters yellows virus is a distinct possibility. I've got it in many of my coneflowers, I'm afraid to say. Purple seem fine, but the white and yellow ones have really been affected. :-(

Mites are very difficult to see unless you are really looking for them, on the underside of the leaves, BTW.

Thanks for the feedback. Would you mind telling me a little more about the asters yellows virus? Does it cause the plant to die, and what are the symptoms? I didn't come up with much on a search. I still haven't noticed any mites, but I'll keep checking. It seems that nearly all the zinnias are affected, in different areas of my yard, with the exception of maybe 4-6 of them. I'm very disappointed because zinnias are my favorite annual.

Okay, well here's an update. Two of the zinnia plants that have the deformed leaves also have something wrong with the stalk. It almost seemd woody (these are baby plants by the way), but not quite. When I tried to pull it up by the root, it snapped in half. The stem looked really gross, like it was turned inside out or something. It was really fibrous looking. I should have gotten a picture. Anyway, I thought this might help someone know what the problem is with all my zinnias.

I'm experiencing the same problem! Really weird leaf deformations, including the top pair being fused together forming a cup. Some are very elongated and flared at the ends . . . will take some pics. This happened several years ago when I tried growing zinnias. So sad, cause I really want ZINNIA's! I'm thinking its a fertilizer related problem. I started most of mine in peat pots then transfered them to containers that were filled with Miracle Grow potting soil that included a small amount of time released fertilizer. The amount seemed so minimal that I added some Vigoro time release fertilizer per the instructions. Oddly, the cosmos that I planted the same way seems to be perfectly normal. I read somewhere online that a problem with Calcium uptake can result in foliar deformities. Anyone hear have any suggestions?? I SO do not want to lose my zinnias.

I p lanted my zinnias in the ground in a row in my garden and they are two or three of them about Midway that are doing this deformity thing weird I think I’m just going to pull them

Hi HU-557382634,

If you could post some pictures of your affected zinnias it might help us identify your problem with them. If you have only two or three zinnias that have a problem, pulling them up might be the practical solution, but the problem may show up on more of your zinnias. It is kind of amazing that you found a 14-year old message string with potentially relevant information.

ZM

Zen Man, how do I get ahold if you? I don't see your thread.

Ok Zen, Thanks, I know where now.