How to Grow Miniature Zinnias

Fill peat pots or 4-inch pots with potting soil. Start the seedlings indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date in your region.

Sow one seed in the center of each pot. Lightly cover the seeds with 1/8 to 1/4 inch of fine soil.

Water the soil thoroughly by placing the pots into a container of water. When the top of the soil is visibly wet, remove the pots from the water.

Place the pots in a warm location that remains around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Mist the soil to keep it moist, but not soggy. Move the plants to a bright window. It takes seven or more days for the seeds germinate.

Choose a sunny location to plant the miniature zinnias after all danger of frost has passed.

Dig up the soil with a garden fork or tiller. Work the ground to a depth of 10 inches.

Amend the soil with 2 to 3 inches of compost.

Dig holes with a trowel that are twice as wide as the root ball. Space the holes 6 inches apart.

Remove the root ball from the 4-inch pot, and set the root ball into the hole. For peat pots, remove the top portion of the peat pot so it is below the soil's surface. If the top of the peat pot is left exposed above the soil line, it will act as a wick and suck out the moisture. Insert the entire peat pot into the hole.

Water your zinnias thoroughly to a depth of 8 inches. Throughout the growing season, water the zinnias in the morning to keep the soil evenly moist. Watering in the morning allows the sun to dry the soil and foliage to prevent disease.

Lay a 2-inch layer of mulch around the zinnia plants to help control weeds and retain soil moisture.

Remove the spent flowers throughout the season to encourage more blooms.

Feed the miniature zinnias with an all-purpose fertilizer once a month. Apply it according to label directions.