Zinnia Princess Mix

Yes, even absolute beginners can grow zinnias if they follow a few simple basic rules. The most important principle is to avoid any stress to the plant. It is more than enough not to sow or transplant too early into the cold, to handle the roots carefully, and to provide the seedlings with sufficient nutrients and regular watering. In return, the zinnias will grow very quickly and lushly, basically on their own.

The Princess Mix variety seeds consist of a carefully curated color blend of all 'princess' shades of pink, with the beautiful Queen Lime Red variety added for a deeper, antique pink tone. To ensure an even representation of absolutely all these shades and colors in your flower bed, it is best to sow the entire packet at once. If you were to sow only a portion of the seeds, you might miss out on some of the exceptional colors that we intentionally look for when creating the mix.

Zinnias love summer heat and sun! Choose a spot for them with the greatest possible exposure to direct sunlight, although they can also tolerate light shade quite well. As for the ideal soil, they will thrive best in loamy, permeable, and sufficiently humus-rich soil with good drainage. Unfortunately, constant waterlogging and heavy clay soil do not suit them.

Yes, we highly recommend pinching. By cutting or pinching off the central main stem, you encourage the plant to produce abundant side branches. The result will be a much bushier and sturdier plant, which will yield more stems for the vase overall. To save yourself some work, you can pinch your Zinnia seedlings right in the seed tray before transplanting.

Zinnias require moderate and regular watering (marked on the scale as two drops out of three). Water is essential for them especially after planting and during extreme heat. However, the soil should dry out slightly between waterings to prevent the roots from rotting. Since zinnias are robust plants that are constantly producing new large flowers, they consume a lot of nutrients. Therefore, do not forget to fertilize them regularly and generously; they will reward you with tireless blooming.

Zinnia are extremely sensitive to cold and do not like low temperatures at all, so definitely do not rush to transplant them outdoors! The ideal time is after the 'Ice Saints' (mid-May), or feel free to wait until the end of May or the beginning of June. It is truly worth waiting until all risk of frost has passed and the weather warms up both during the day and at night.

Always plant the seedlings 20 to 22 cm apart. Do not try to plant them unnecessarily close together. Zinnia need plenty of space and good air circulation. If planted too densely, they will crowd each other, which dramatically increases the risk of fungal diseases, to which these annuals are particularly susceptible.

Unfortunately, Zinnias are not suitable for drying in pressed arrangements, as they typically lose their beautiful color and their shape deforms during the drying process. However, they have another great use – they are edible! You can safely use the fresh petals as a unique and very attractive edible garnish for summer salads, festive cakes, or to decorate desserts.

Definitely! Zinnias are among the most popular and best annuals intended specifically for cutting. They have long, sturdy, and straight stems, which allow them to stay beautiful and fresh in a vase for up to a week. The Princess Mix offers a palette of vibrant pastel pink, fuchsia, cyclamen, and dusty rose flowers. Furthermore, the more flowers you cut, the more new ones the plant will produce.

You can grow Zinnias in two ways: from seedlings or by direct sowing.

Starting indoors: Begin 3 to 5 weeks before the planned transplanting date (roughly from April to May). Sow 1 to 2 seeds per large cell in a seed tray and cover them with 2 to 3 cm of substrate. They need warmth to germinate, ideally 20–22 °C, and will sprout in 5 to 10 days.

Direct sowing: If you don't want to start them indoors, you can sow the seeds directly into the garden bed from May to June, but only when there is no longer any risk of ground frost.

Yes, Zinnias are a literal giant magnet for all kinds of pollinators! With their vibrant and continuously opening flowers, they reliably attract bees, bumblebees, butterflies, and hoverflies to the garden, providing them with a valuable source of pollen and nectar from July to September. If you want to support life in your garden, you definitely can't go wrong with Zinnias.

The Princess Mix variety can grow to a height of 60 to 120 cm. Given their considerable height and flower size (around 7 cm), we definitely recommend using support for growing. A floral netting that you let the Zinnias grow through naturally works great, or you can at least stretch a sturdy string around the perimeter of the bed. This will prevent the fragile stems from breaking during stronger winds or heavy rain.

You can be completely worry-free in the garden. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) are not poisonous or toxic to humans, cats, dogs, or other pets. On the contrary, their petals are fully edible and harmless, so if a dog, cat, or small playing child happens to taste a piece of the plant, no health or digestive complications will occur.

Sudden yellowing of leaves in Zinnias is a very typical and immediate reaction to cold stress. Zinnias originate from warm climates and do not tolerate low temperatures. Even at temperatures below 10 °C, they will react visibly and stop growing entirely. If this happens, it is better to temporarily cover the plants with horticultural fleece or, next time, simply ensure that you transplant them into the garden beds only after the weather has become consistently warm.

This frustrating problem most often arises due to shock and stress during improper transplanting. Zinnias have an extremely delicate root system. If the seedlings in the starter tray overgrow and you tear their constricted roots while pulling them out, this severe shock causes the double-flowered form of the plant to 'revert' to a simpler genetic version. To prevent this, transplant the seedlings ideally within 4 to 5 weeks and use the largest possible starter tray.

Regarding plant diseases, Zinnias are most often troubled by fungal infections, especially powdery mildew, gray mold (Botrytis cinerea), and various leaf spots. You can prevent these by ensuring proper spacing and watering only at the roots. Among the most common pests are traditional aphids, thrips, and especially slugs or snails, which can decimate small, freshly planted seedlings.