Zinnias

Botanical Name: Zinnia Elegans
Cultivation: Full sun in well drained soil
Colors: Pink, Red, Orange, White, Yellow
Uses: As a dried flower filler in dried arrangements
Regions: Himalayan regions, Arid regions of Rajasthan, North America, Rocky mountain areas

Cultivation of Zinnia
Seeds of zinnia is set indoor for 4 weeks before transplanting outside. Place the seeds deep in a good potting mix and germinate at room temperature for 7 to 14 days. Transplant outdoor at about 6 to 12" apart in full sun. Seeds may also be sown outdoors after soil has warmed. Zinnias are heat tolerant and make great cut flowers.

Drying Zinnia
Most zinnias dry themselves. Rest they are dried using a dessicant. Mix a mixture of 1 part borax and 1 part cornmeal. Cover the bottom of a box with a thin layer of the mixture and then place the flower face up. Sift on more of the mixture and place the box in a dark, dry place until blooms are completely dehydrated.

Zinnias are also dried using sand. Sift fine, dry sand through a flour sifter. Strip off all the foliage. Put a couple of inches of dry sand in a box and hold blossoms upside down on sand. Gently pour on sand until the blossoms are covered. Stems need not be covered. Place in the sun to bake. Flowers are dried in a day or two. Remove from sand.

Uses of Zinnia
Dried zinnia is widely used in dried arrangements. These flowers provide distinctive indoor decoration. Dried stems are used as filler in the bouquets. It is also used as dried ornamental and in potpourri. They are used in tomato dishes, pasta sauces, vegetables and soups. The aromatic intensity of the plant increases after drying.