What Do Deadheads on Zinnias Mean?

Deadheading .

• Plants produce flowers with the innate intention of pollination, which creates a seed, assuring the survival of the species, notes the University of Missouri Extension Infonet. When you deadhead and remove the seedpods from your zinnias, you send the message to the plant that it is not quite time to culminate this process.

Seed Pods

• When you deadhead a zinnia or other annual plants, it is necessary to remove the actual seedpod. It is located in the center of the flower or right below it. Snap the blossom with your forefinger and thumb or with scissors. Once a seed matures, the plant's energy for blooming is diverted away from blooming and into resting. Removing the seedpods before they mature encourages the plant to continue to bloom.

Where to Cut

• It is important to know where on the plant to cut the seedpod. In the case of zinnias, you can simply cut down to the next set of leaves or bud. Where on the stem you cut off the deadheads will dictate whether you have a lower, wider-growing plant or a taller, narrower plant. In certain instances, your plant may deadhead itself as the spent blossoms fall to the ground. Not all plants will give a second bloom; however, if you deadhead correctly, your zinnias should blossom again.

Timing

• It's best to deadhead your plants at least monthly, or twice a month to keep them fresh, healthy and continually blooming, suggests Cindy Cesca Yahiyama, author of "Deadhead Flowers" on realtor.com. If you are not sure when to deadhead your flowers or which ones will respond with a second round of blooms, call you local county extension office with questions about the characteristic of your zinnias and other garden plants.