fading color

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planolinda Plano, TX Jul 17, 2007

my zinnias are fading in color--is it because of the non stop rain we have had for the last several weeks? could it be now the rains have stopped and the long 90+ days are here--they are full sun plants but maybe the heat? or do i need to feed them?

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crashbandiscoot Springfield, OH(Zone 6a) Jul 17, 2007

hmmm, mine do that as they age. Sorry, I dont know. I assumed it was old age kicking in.

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melody Benton, KY(Zone 7a) Jul 17, 2007

Mine fade with age too...when they start to fade, I deadhead.

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planolinda Plano, TX Jul 18, 2007

ok--thanks--good to know it might not be something i did wrong! when you say fade with age i guess you mean fade right before they are ready to dead head--i guess i had some strange idea that zinnias keep their blooms--i guess what they do is keep blooming!!

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melody Benton, KY(Zone 7a) Jul 18, 2007

Yes, they continue to bloom if the fading blooms are removed. If left on the plant, the plant senses that seeds are forming and it's life-cycle is completing, so it prepares to die. If fading blooms are removed, the plant never senses that seeds are forming, so it continues to reproduce by blooming again.

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planolinda Plano, TX Jul 19, 2007

oh--well then i will be sure to dead head! thanks

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kls_01 Champaign, IL(Zone 5b) Jul 19, 2007

So, if you deadhead before the plant senses the seeds are forming, will the seeds still form on the blooms you took off? I was just wondering that not too long ago.

Sorry to butt in!

Kristie

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melody Benton, KY(Zone 7a) Jul 19, 2007

No, seeds will not form on the blooms you remove, those blooms will simply dry up and die. Even if you keep them in water, they won't mature. They have to be attached to the plant. If seeds have already formed, and are almost mature, you can pick the blooms and keep them in water for a little while to help them along...this situation would be in the instance of a frost being forecast and you almost had ripe seeds.

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