What to do if zinnia grows too tall

The reason why zinnia grows too long

Insufficient light

Zinnia is a plant that has a high demand for light. It can also change its flowering period by adjusting the light, making the flowering period advanced or delayed. The seedlings grow very fast in the later stage and if there is insufficient light, they are very likely to grow too tall.

Excessive water

In places with strong light, water will evaporate faster, but if the light is not sufficient, the water in the potting soil will evaporate slowly. If you continue to water it in large quantities, it will affect the respiration of the root system, causing the plant to grow poorly and become too tall.

Excessive nitrogen fertilizer in the sowing medium

A small amount of fertilizer can be applied to the sowing medium of zinnia, both phosphorus fertilizer, potassium fertilizer and nitrogen fertilizer are fine. However, if there is an excess of nitrogen fertilizer, it will cause the seedlings to grow faster than normal in the later stage, resulting in excessive growth.

How to Prevent Zinnias from Growing Leggy

Increase lighting

Zinnia seedlings need enough light to grow happily. After the sun comes out in the early morning, you can place the seedlings in a place where they can be exposed to sunlight until sunset. When the outdoor temperature is low at night, the seedlings can be moved indoors. This is the advantage of potted seedlings: you can move them anywhere you want!

Balanced nutrients

Zinnia seedlings need adequate nutrients to grow into strong plants. However, the nutrients must be balanced, otherwise it is easy to grow too tall or cause other poor growth conditions. When applying fertilizer, you can increase the amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and reduce the proportion of nitrogen fertilizers to achieve a balanced ratio of nutrients.

Topping

When the seedlings grow to about 10 cm, pinch off the top to promote the growth of axillary buds, leaving 2-4 pairs of true leaves. Pinching can not only prevent the seedlings from growing too tall, but also limit the height of mature zinnia plants, achieving dwarfing, making the plant shape more beautiful, and the flowers larger and more colorful.