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Elegant and colourful
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Zinnia comes in handy for flowerbeds, borders and cut flowers
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ZINNIA ELEGANS, which belongs to the family Compositae, is named after Jahann Gottfred Zinn, professor of Botany. Originally from Mexico, zinnia is a hardy annual cultivated for their solitary long stemmed daisy-like flower heads (single and double) in a wide range of colours including white, yellow, orange, red, purple and lilac — 5-10 cms across.
The plant grows to a height of 30 to 60 cms, leaves opposite, linear to ovate deep green and stem clasping. Zinnia is also one of the quickest flowering annuals.
It blooms within 45 days after sowing the seeds. The seedlings may be planted at a distance of 30 cms, outside where plants are to flower.
It is advisable to pinch off the first buds and not allow the plants to flower until they are quite strong. Top dressing the surface soil will help the plants grow well. Use fertile, humus-rich well drained soil in full sun. Water generously as necessary.
Zinnia is used as an annual for flowerbeds, borders and cut flowers. Dwarf hybrids are suitable for window boxes and pots or other containers.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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