Hybridizers: It can be fun to breed your own zinnias - Part 2, 1 by Zen_Man

Zen_Man wrote:
noQ,

Welcome to this message thread. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I hope you enjoy experimenting with raising zinnias indoors. Zinnia seed don't cost a lot, so you can get started without a big investment.

A lot of people don't think of zinnias as house plants, but if you have reasonably bright fluorescent lights, they can do quite well. I have succeeded in raising zinnias from seed to seed indoors under my Home Depot commercial shop lights (which cost only about $8 per 2-bulb fixture). Growing indoors lets me enjoy this hobby year long. I wish I had a greenhouse so I could do this on a larger scale. Hopefully a greenhouse is in my future, but we are renting now, so a greenhouse will have to wait for a year or so.

Over the years I have accumulated a number of fluorescent fixtures and chrome steel wire shelves to use as plant stands. I am attaching a picture of my current setup as it was several weeks ago. Many of the plants in that picture are blooming now, and I am cross-pollinating them. When Spring comes, I will be transplanting a lot of my favorite zinnias outdoors.

ZM