Can I bury zinnia stems (as I would tomatoes)?

14 years ago

I always direct-sow zinnia seeds, but this year they've been eaten and otherwise destroyed faster than I can plant them. So even though I've always heard zinnias don't take well to being transplanted, I bought a dozen rather leggy plants today.

I chose ones that weren't blooming yet. They're not branched. Two questions: Would it do any good to plant them deep, burying some of the stem? And should I pinch off the tips before they bloom, to encourage branching?

I guess my last question is: Was buying zinnia plants at the end of June an exercise in futility? :-)

Thanks!

Susan

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Comments (4)

calliope
14 years ago
Susan, no getting them out in late June isn't too late if they haven't been root-bound in their cells and especially if you are in zone four. I would not bury them deep, there are some annuals who will root up their stems, but I'd be hesitant with zinnia. Go ahead and lop them shorter. Not just dead-head. They should branch at the leaf axils.
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zen_man
14 years ago
Susan,

Zinnias aren't as good as tomatoes at putting out roots from their stems, but they can do it. Occasionally you will see a zinnia branch that is very near the soil putting out roots of its own. I have successfully grown zinnias from cuttings on several occasions. I breed zinnias as a hobby, and it can be helpful to multiply an extra good zinnia specimen several times in order to get a good seed yield from it. I use Physan 20 to keep the soft stems from rotting before they strike roots, and some rooting hormone. More details of growing zinnias from cuttings are to be found in some Parts of the "It can be fun to breed your own zinnias" message threads here in this Annuals forum.

When I am setting out zinnia plants that have become too tall, I do set them several inches deeper, even when there will be leaves that rot off. That has worked for me most of the time. Your soil needs to be rather "open" for that to work well, because zinnia roots need to "breathe" oxygen. A good sandy loam is ideal for them.

ZM
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calliope
14 years ago
Thanks for your input, that's good to know. I was always afraid to try it. I do know that even in those old fashioned formal varieties, they will branch a lot better than they look when lopped. I am a patient gardener and all of my annuals don't have to be in full bloom at the same time. ;-)
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AnneElena Foster-Bartlett
7 years ago
I'm a bit late jumping in with this, I do hope someone will see it. Can one do the same with mums? I moved here to Oregon from Southwest Florida a year ago, so I missed spring time, and as i had no internet other than my phone until a couple weeks ago, my research has mostly been in libraries and thrift stores and lve just been winging it. But I put some mums in last fall, and most overwintered well (my very first winter garden in a real winter!) However, i must move them now, though they are rather leggy. I have to put them in containers, even tho they are budding. Can I bury them deeper if I hit them with rooting compound first?---thx, annie
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Can I bury zinnia stems (as I would tomatoes)?

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calliope

zen_man

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