Question about Marigolds and Zinnias

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melski2k Florence, SC May 30, 2009

I planted several of both seeds in a small pot. The instructions were to move to a bigger pot once they become three inches tall. One plant is totally green and the other has green leaves with a red stem. The green plant reached three inches a week ago and the plant with the red stem is about two inches (haven't repotted it yet). Which is which?

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edgeoftheworld Conneaut, OH(Zone 5a) May 31, 2009

Without a picture all I can do is guess.I would say the red stems are marigolds.Edge

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melski2k Florence, SC May 31, 2009

Thanks for your reply edge! I don't have a digital camera at the moment so I can't share any pictures right now, but I do plan to get one soon. Well, out of the three I replanted only one is still alive. I went out on the balcony yesterday to look at my plants and found two out of the three zinnias were wilted. Poor things, I guess I should have put them in the shade soomer. But the remaining one looks strong and durable and I can't wait for it get bigger and bloom!

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dp72 Woodway, TX(Zone 8a) May 31, 2009

Best of luck to you. Watering zinnias and marigolds is tricky. Too much and they die, too little and they die. Unless the soil is dry a couple of inches under the surface, I would NOT water. The wilting can come from the sun or a water problem. They like full sun, but have to become acclimated to it.

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shebs45 Chicago, IL(Zone 5b) May 31, 2009

Since your seeds already had leaves, it should be easy to tell them apart. Marigold leaves look similar to this. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/85222/
Zinnia leaves are much different and look like this. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/152365/
Or to put it another way, marigold leaves are kind of fringy looking, while zinnias are kind of triangular. Hope this information helps.

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