Zinnias are one of the most popular flowers for summer, but can they survive frost? Here’s everything you need to know about these colorful blooms and how to protect them from cold weather.
Can Zinnias Survive Frost?
Yes, zinnias can survive frost. Zinnias are a frost-tolerant plant, which means they will be able to withstand temperatures as low as -5 degrees Fahrenheit. While they may not survive freezing temperatures, they will tolerate light frosts. This makes them great for growing in more temperate climates like the Pacific Northwest or the Midwestern United States.
How Tolerant Are Zinnias To Cold Weather
Zinnias are generally cold hardy plants and can withstand temperatures below freezing.
Zinnia can survive temperatures as low as -5 degrees Celsius, which is a good thing because zinnia seeds will not germinate if they’re exposed to frost or freeze.
However, zinnias are sensitive to frost; they can be damaged by it if you live in an area where frosts are common.
How To Protect Your Zinnias From Frost
There are several ways to protect your zinnias from frost, including:
- Covering them with a frost cloth. If you have a large enough piece of cloth and/or it’s not too cold outside, this will work well.
- Covering them with a frost blanket. This works just as well as covering them with a cloth or plastic sheets, but it may be more difficult to maneuver the blanket over each individual plant if the ground is frozen solid or there isn’t much room between plants in your garden bed.
- Covering them with a frost sheet. A good option if you’re working on an allotment site and don’t want to move any heavy items around too much—and also if there isn’t much room between individual plants on your plot!
- Covering them with a frost cover (or “heat tent”). These can be hung over larger areas such as raised beds or containers rather than placed directly onto individual plants; however, they won’t do anything for smaller-scale plantings unless you have enough extras lying around so that each one gets its own cover!
If none of these options suit you then consider making use of some material which has been specially designed for this purpose – such as ‘FrostTarp’ by Plant Heat Solutions Ltd; this company manufactures polyethylene tarps which allow heat generated by infrared lamps at night or during cold winter days while still providing protection against rain drops falling from above.
Should I Bring Zinnias Indoors During Frost?
Zinnias are sensitive to frost, so they should be brought indoors before the first hard freeze. If you do bring zinnias inside, give them a sunny window, and make sure they get plenty of sun. They need frequent watering and should be watered every day for the best results.
When bringing zinnias indoors, it’s important to remove any dead blooms immediately. This helps prevent the disease from spreading and also keeps the plant looking fresh longer.
Caring For Zinnias During The Winter
While zinnias are hardy enough to survive the winter, they need a little help. If you don’t want your zinnia plants to freeze and die, bring them indoors before the first frost hits! Zinnias are sensitive to cold temperatures and can easily be damaged by a light frost. If you can’t bring your plants inside, make sure they’re planted in an area that’s sheltered from harsh winds and gets plenty of sun—this will help protect them from frost damage.
For those willing and able to keep their zinnias over winter indoors, here’s how:
- Clean up all dead foliage before bringing them inside (you may have already done this in preparation for bringing them in).
- Water the soil thoroughly so that it’s damp but not soaked.
- Use terra cotta pots or buckets with holes drilled into their sides so that excess water will drain out when watering is necessary; if using pots without holes, water until just below the surface of the soil so that roots don’t become soggy or rot over time due to too much moisture accumulating at their base level (and then remove any excess runoff after about five minutes).
What Temperatures Will Kill Zinnias?
Zinnias are hardy annuals that can stand up to some frost, but it’s important to know what temperatures will kill zinnias.
- Zinnias can survive temperatures as low as -5C (23F). They are not safe at this temperature, however, and should be protected if they’re exposed to it.
- Zinnias will not survive below -10C (14F). If there is any chance of temperatures dropping below this, you should mulch your plants so they don’t freeze or protect them with row covers or other materials.
- If the temperature drops below -15C (5F), your zinnias will die and will not recover. This means it’s time for all hands on deck: You need to act fast by covering your plants or bringing them inside so they don’t die from exposure!
Can I Overwinter Zinnias?
Zinnias are a hardy annual and can be overwintered indoors as long as they are not exposed to freezing temperatures.
Before the first frost, bring your zinnias into a cool, dry place with good air circulation. They need less water and fertilizer than other plants so make sure to cut back on both of these things when they’re inside. Be careful of pests like spider mites that might be lurking in your home too!
Conclusion
I hope that you have enjoyed learning more about zinnias and how they can survive frost. I know it can be a little confusing, but with these tips and tricks, you should be able to keep your plants alive through the winter months. Remember that even though they are drought tolerant and cold hardy, they still need some attention during this time so pay extra care when taking them indoors or bringing them back outdoors again once temperatures rise again!
