Having some issues with WS'ing zinnias- any input?

6 years ago

I'm mystified, bec. zinnias usually do well for me- here's the story.

Last night I lost about half of my sprouted zinnias. (sprouted about 10 days ago). The forecast last night was 59 degrees. so - altho I know the forecast covers a wind area, and the microclimate in my area could be lower - no way it was below freezing.

So I'm trying to figure what is going on, and would appreciate any input.

Things I am thinking about-- I did take the tops off the containers, and did not replace them overnite. I figured once no chance of frost, no worry. Maybe I should have covered them up at night for temperatures in the 50's.

The containers do get soaked with all the rain, but I covered them with plastic in the worst rain, and they have lots of drainage holes.

finally, the variety I have, candy cane - which I haven't done before, got from Park. Perhaps some varieties are more 'fickle' than others.

thanks for reading this long post, and for any ideas...
I am going to sow more of the regular zinnia seeds, and I'm sure they'll do well in the upcoming warm weather. But I sure would like to know what I did wrong.

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Comments (5)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
are your containers in full sun???

i think you need to riddle back a few more days .. rather than focusing on overnight temps .... stuff just doesnt usually die in hours .... unless it was a FREEZE. as compared to a frost .. but not at the temps you mention ...

btw.. how big are they????

the beat down from the rain might be an option ... but was there any more severe cold in the few days prior ... were the plants outdoors long enough to be hardened off to the 50's temps .. though that isnt very cold otherwise ...

i presume zen will come along.. and give you a better answer.. but in the mean time.. could you post a pic or two??? .. use the camera/photo button below the box you type in to add pix directly to your post ... some of us dont like hitting links ...

ken
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ellenr22 - NJ - Zone 6b/7a thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
ellenr22 - NJ - Zone 6b/7a
Original Author
6 years ago
who is Zen? a person or a practice. I don't have pics, i'll see if I can get some. as to your questions. Yes in full sun,, when there is some. Size about 3/4 inch. Prior conditions: well temps have been swinging up and down. one night I left them out when the night-time forecast was 39, (about a week-ago), I didn't cover them, and that's the first time I had some die. They turn brown, altho still standing. I wasn't entirely surprised, I figured in spite of the forecast, it must have dipped below freezing. Now that you (Ken) have pointed me to prior conditions, I'm wondering if that night weakened them, even tho ones that didn't obviously die. Since that event, it hasn't been any colder than that, it has been 65 one day and then 55 the next.thanks for your questions. I'll try to come back later with a picture.
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H54, Your second picture has a "misty" look in the upper lefthand part of the picture. That made me wonder if spider mites are present. Are there any very fine webs on your affected zinnias, with near-microscopic little creatures on the webs? "I don't see any obvious pests... What is this stuff?" I agree with Ken. A quick plant death usually means that something destroyed the root system. Powdery Mildew can do cosmetic damage, but it can take a long time to kill the plant. Your plants are probably suffering from a soilborne fungus disease. We don't have enough information to determine which one. I don't know if you are far enough south to have Sclerotium Root Rot (also known as Southern Wilt, Southern Blight, or Crown Rot). It is caused by a soilborne fungus (Sclerotium rolfsii) that occurs primarily in the southern states. Zinnias are also susceptible to a disease called Watery Soft Rot, which is also caused by a fungus (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). The infection starts on the stem and spreads downward, rotting the roots. Watery Soft Rot is most active in wet weather in the temperature range of 55 to 75 F. It occurs in most of the US, with the exception of the upper mid-west. Once a zinnia is infected, it isn't practical to cure it. As with many things, prevention is better than a cure. ZM
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susanzone5 (NY)
6 years ago
Start them indoors 2 weeks before last frost. No problem.
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6 years ago
Zinnias like to grow fast, without any growth check...in warm soil. I sow them directly (they are nice big seeds, easy to handle)) around mid May or even as late as 1st week in June. They germinate in as little as 3 days and will be big enough to flower in 6 weeks or so. Like morning glories, there is nothing to be gained from an early sowing...and much to be lost. Struggling, etiolated seedlings rather than sturdy, fast growing plantlets.
ellenr22 - NJ - Zone 6b/7a
Original Author
6 years ago
looking back, I don't know what happened with the zinnias I posted about. A mystery. But I sowed the rest of the seeds in container and they germinated in a few days - now it is warm. And once in the ground, they are doing great. I also direct sowed some just for comparison. I find the germination rate much better if I sow in the container, altho that does present one additional step.
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Having some issues with WS'ing zinnias- any input?

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

ellenr22 - NJ - Zone 6b/7a
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Having some issues with WS'ing zinnias- any input?

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

ellenr22 - NJ - Zone 6b/7aOriginal Author

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susanzone5 (NY)

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ellenr22 - NJ - Zone 6b/7a
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