They doubled in size by August and no more brown leaf edges or dry, crumbly brown leaves at … Flint, MI. Where you see damage, dig around the plant base with your finger. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) are one of the most popular summer- and autumn-flowering plants. To save the seeds at the end of the season, wait until the flowers finish blooming and then leave them there for the seed pods to develop. Anyone know what it doing this and how to get rid of them. But it was bright yellow! By the time the paper degrades away, the stems will be larger and stronger, and not subject to cutworm attack. Annuals. Wrap it around the stem of the plant placing the bottom end just below the soil surface. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Make traps of hollow tubes or straw (I use old lupin stems) where they'll go to sleep and then collect them up and dispose as you see fit. My only problem with zinnia seedlings has been an occasional cutworm and, when I see a zinnia seedling that has been felled by a cutworm, I thoroughly explore the soil around the seedling with a small probe until I find the culprit. Something is eating my seedlings 7 Replies; 3119 Views; davetoddy. I have noticed holes in the leaves of near-by basil plants and in coleus as well. Insecticidal Soap . May 2016 in Problem solving. It's coming back now that it's fenced. What’s Eating My Sunflower Leaves? Slugs perhaps, but pillbugs don't eat live plant tissue. You could also try to transplant some that you are thinning out. For years I have great success growing zinnias from seed. } Typically, Slugs are lousy chewers-they don’t eat neatly. Three common leaf spot diseases mar the b eauty of this be dding pla nt. They get into my pots as well. Pick out slugs as soon as you notice them. }); Other natural control methods include lady bug beetles and lacewings; you may try using a culture from a garden supply center. Last year was my first year growing zinnias. Thank you in advance, I miss my zinnias! I always dig down with my finger around the remaining stem to find the culprit and destroy it. Thanks plant pauper & Dave Morgan, I've inspected greenhouse but can't see anything so think I'll move them back into the potting shed for now & keep my fingers crossed I'll have something left to put in the garden! The pests are actually under the waxy substance, where they feed on the plant juices. There are lots of zinnia varieties to choose from. $("form.frog_reply_form").submit(function(e) { but blood meal and animal deterrent sprays were no help at all. When it happens, the culprits are usually Japanese beetles, aphids or mites. 74 shares. My zinnias are 4-5" out of the ground and they are being attacked by something that makes holes in the leaves and even cuts pieces from them. Privacy Policy and Unfortunately, unless you see signs of what could be eating them it can be very hard to tell what will be the culprit. Seeds of zinnia flowers should usually be sown directly into the sunny flower bed, as developing roots do not like to be disturbed. All or large sections of leaves are cut off and missing, leaving only a stem or petiole ; Plants are cut off with a clean-cut angle (45°), not ragged ; Animal foot prints or droppings may be seen near plant; Damage often happens suddenly, often overnight ; 2 of 5. I also fenced off my Peace rose plant and my herb garden because rabbits were destroying coneflower, dill, and chive plants. … Hi everyone, can anyone tell me what's been chomping away at my Zinnia seedlings and what action (if any) I should take. }, © 1972 - 2020 National Gardening Association, Times are presented in US Central Standard Time, Today's site banner is by TBGDN and is called "Christmas Cheer". How To Control Them. Hero … Fungal Leaf Spot Diseases. Would appreciate any advice, thanks. Zinnias are rarely attacked by insects. I'm only able to give you ideas as to what I personally think has gone wrong BUT more info is required by answering some of my questions, what a pity this has happened as these look like nice plants. They ate the rose down to the wood. document.write(''); Skinny, Spindly Seedlings Need More Light or Need Pinching Zinnias need many hours of bright, direct sun to flourish. Tonight I went outside and saw signs that the earwigs were shredding some of my annuals. $.get('/frogs/ajax/print_comment.php', { pid: data} ).done(function(foo) { Search for: Gardeners Yards is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com If they are at all shaded they are forced to stretch to reach the light, causing them to develop thin stems. All three di seases a re favo red by warm, wet or very humid weather, overhead sprinkling, excess shade, and crowding of plants. Question by DebraAnn678 May 25, 2001 . document.write(''); Pick them out and smash them. I think they're quite partial to not only Zinnias but also Dahlias. I have sprayed the plants with Sevin but the holes continue to happen. Flint, MI. By Plant; Indoor. There are also nematode … Deer. I planted many baby Zinnia's in my flower beds just recently. success: function(data) { By Plant; Gardening 101. How to grow Zinnia Plants. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); if ($(window).width() > 1024) { Anyone have any suggestions how to keep the horrible pests away from my plants! data: $("#"+thisid).serialize(), $("#"+thisid).html(foo); The first month or two, I watered once a week maybe. Pin Zinnia F1 Hybrid Tall Liliput Zinnia Zinnia Yellow Flame. I have photos if you would like to … Growing zinnia doesn’t cost you a bomb. I suggest you clear an area of all mulch and try again. $("#show_answer_button").hide(); While garden seeds are commonly eaten by mice, most seedlings are damaged by voles, chipmunks, rabbits, or squirrels. Nanniemo Posts: 200. Let the seed pods dry until they are brown and crunchy. 0. $("#show-reply-form-"+pid).hide(); $("#show_answer_form").slideDown(); Minnehaha County South Dakota. I live in Ottawa and we are not allowed to use insecticides. Could either of these be the culprit? Something Is Eating My Zinnia Seedlings - Knowledgebase Question. Zinnia > Leaves > Holes in leaves or leaves chewed off. I just planted my zinnia plants yesterday and this morning when I checked it looks like something has chewed them. What Is Eating My Zinnia Seedlings? $("#"+thisid).hide(); type: "POST", They are one of the insects that break down organic matter and return it to the soil. What a delightful surprise! Some people use a little protective collar on their seedlings, but that isn't always effective, and it is a rather tedious thing to do. Slugs and snails will make a meal of zinnias as well. var mySplit = thisid.split("-"); Start s… If your answer is yes, slugs are the pests eating your Zinnias. e.preventDefault(); New Member; Location: Cumbria; 49; Something is eating my seedlings « on: May 04, 2015, 20:41 » As the title says, tops of 24 beetroot seedlings gone over a couple of days now the edges of brassica seedlings starting to show nibbles. $("#replyform-"+pid).slideDown(); $("#replyform-"+pid).hide(); If you wish to start growing zinnia plants from seeds indoors, plant the seeds in peat pots, poo pots (pots made from cow dung) or other biodegradable containers that can be planted directly into the garden later. They chewed off smaller side stalks and lower flowers, as well as fuzzy lower leaves on the stalks. Also, you will find the damage done to your leaves in the morning because slugs mainly feed when it is dark. While looking at my zinnias the other day, I saw a bright yellow “something” wrapped around the flower. } Early in the summer there isn’t as much for them to eat, however, so they go after your zinnia seedlings, your butterfly bush foliage, or the emerging shoots of dahlias. The predator slugs aren’t as big of a problem, but if your garden’s plagued by plant-eating slugs, you need to find. If so, how do I get rid of them? Fungal diseases, such as the one caused by the alternaria fungus, cause large, reddish brown or purple, round to oblong spots on the leaves of zinnias. Probably earwigs. $("#"+thisid).slideDown(); Many types of rodents can create a series of tunnels, while larger animals like squirrels may leave more obvious … Tear a strip of newspaper about 2" wide and a foot long. In this video I will be showing you what is eating your bok choy leaves. The only bugs I've seen look a bit like extra thin and leggy grasshoppers. Brown leaf edges appeared and I assumed it was an insect or disease. Thanks to my 2 year old daughter, I have started to add flowers in my garden and Zinnia is the first one I chose because it is so easy to grow zinnias. From The Garden Forum: Help! It almost looked like a slug the way it was wrapped around the flower. They just didn't grow very much. They've been in one of the plastic greenhouses for a couple of weeks & also outside in the sunshine during the day. Growing zinnia plants can be inexpensive, particularly when growing them from seed. } Almost half are gone! Insects, gophers, moles, and voles may still be able to get into the row covers, … if ($(window).width() < 1025) { I haven't actually seen any insects on them, but I've seen slugs and 'pillbugs' consistently over the last several years. Tips & Tricks. By Plant; Outdoor. Would appreciate any advice, thanks. What Animal is Eating My Seedlings? $.ajax({ } You can treat the infestation with insecticide, but be careful of chemicals that do more harm than good. What's eating my Zinnias. Morning I see 3 seedlings are not there! If you are growing seedlings indoors under lights, adjust the fluorescent lights to remain only 3 or 4 inches above the seedlings as they grow taller. plant pauper Posts: 6,234. Use these convenient icons to share this page on various social media platforms: You must be signed in before you can post questions or answers. Rabbit. Yesterday I left my nearly 3 week zinnia seedlings(in a container) outside (in the balcony) all night. function _ShowAnswerButton(pid) { function Frog_Reply(pid) { Something is eating holes in my Zinnia leaves! Logged snowdrops. They are usually just under the surface within one to three inches from the stem. Hi everyone, can anyone tell me what's been chomping away at my Zinnia seedlings and what action (if any) I should take. Every year when it warms up earwigs are out and munching on Zinnia and many other daisy like babies. I've re-seeded both years, with same results. Cutworms seem to like zinnia seedlings. Then I realized it was a goldfinch eating zinnias! The leaves were decimated and any that made it as far as flowering were turned into sticks. Did they tear it out with talons of steel. Another possibility would be cutworms, which, like slugs, are also nocturnal munchers. Perennials. But for the past two years, I plant the seeds in beds, and as soon as they come up with their first two leaves, something eats the leaves entirely, leaving only the tiny stem, so of course they can't grow. Place it on the soil around the stem of your transplant, burying the cardboard about one inch into the soil. Log in or register to join the conversation. What Can I Do To Stop It? This beetle has a few natural predators, including a parasitic wasp that lays eggs on the larvae, with the wasp larvae eating the grub from the inside out (this is the same mechanism as the wasp that attacks horn worms and other caterpillars). They've been in one of the plastic greenhouses for a couple of weeks & also outside in the sunshine during the day. Try to go out at night with a flashlight to see if you can catch somebody in the act. url: url, Just take an empty paper towel or toilet paper roll and cut the cardboard into 3-inch long sections. Question by DebraAnn678 May 25, 2001. Cutworms are often found in the top inch or two of soil, curled in a 'C' shape. }); « Return to the Garden Knowledgebase Homepage. This will prevent cutworms from cutting off your tender plants. function Frog_Cancel(pid) { It looks like fine lace. var pid = mySplit[1]; this is the first time I had left the containers outside all night. 1 of 5. For years I have great success growing zinnias from seed. You can try cardboard or paper towel rolls. Something Is Eating My Zinnia Seedlings - Knowledgebase Question. Sometimes it takes several minutes to find it. Zinnias affected by scales develop small, waxy areas on the leaves. Out came the bag of diatomaceous earth, my favorite way to stop the … Oh well then I had both last year. Other plants in the garden have not been effected (yet). This is the first year they've attacked the zinnias. $("#"+thisid).attr('style',''); $(document).ready(function(){ Once the Zinnia seedlings are about 3 inches tall, it would help their growth to thin them to 6 inches apart. }); To determine the small animals eating seedlings in your own garden, it will be important to observe the area carefully. However, in July, I began watering them deeply at least twice a week and what a difference it made! there was 1-2 leaves of zinnia on the dirt. One night they were fine and the next morning they were gone, stem and all. Terms of Service apply. The first batch was planted in open air without a row cover. By Plant; Printable Garden Journal; Pinterest; YouTube ; In Indoor Gardening How to Stop Slugs from Eating Plants (8 Simple and Effective Methods) June 8, 2019 1 Comment 10 Mins Read. Have you planted Zinnias in the SAME area, I know you said you have planted them before BUT have you used that area. I planted zinnia seeds under a row cover after the first batch of about 100 new seedlings just disappeared overnight in the same bed. var thisid = $(this).attr('id'); I'm not even bothering this year because something round here clearly loves them. Try a "collar" around the plant stems to act as a barrier. What do we think it is and how do we stop/kill/catch it . For years I have great success growing zinnias from seed. Posts. But for the past two years, I plant the seeds in beds, and as soon as they come up with their first two leaves, something eats the leaves entirely, leaving only the tiny stem, so of course they can't grow. }); Annuals. You can also use the all-natural method that has proven effective for thousands of years. var url = "/frogs/ajax/post_comment/"+pid+"/"; My problem with using this as your everyday eating area is that it is carpeted. This is the first time that I have seen a goldfinch eating zinnias. } I've only seen one … there is a 4th one - that is undisturbed in the container. Small, waxy areas on the dirt 're quite partial to not only zinnias but also Dahlias I began them! Developing roots do not like to … Fungal leaf Spot Diseases just take an empty paper towel or paper! Treat the infestation with insecticide, but be careful of chemicals that do more harm than good method! And animal deterrent sprays were no help at all reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and of! 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