Category: Flowers

Are you also a lover of Blue Hydrangeas and want to make your garden beautiful? This universe has gifted us with a wide variety of Hydrangea. So in this article, I have discussed the 13 best blue hydrangea varieties you can plant in a home garden.

Blue is one of the best colors, enhancing the garden’s overall look. So planting a blue hydrangea in your garden is the best thought. You can easily pair blue with any other color; it feels relaxing and soothing too.

If you are looking for annual blue flowers, then blue Hydrangea is the best choice.

I have briefly discussed varieties of blue hydrangea flowers, but please note that some varieties can be good only in full exposure to sunlight, and some perform well in half shade. 

Blue Hydrangea Varieties

Most of the blue hydrangeas are bigleaf, but there are some Hydrangea serrata, you shouldn’t miss.

The bigleaf hydrangeas are mostly medium size and fit well as a border of the garden. Their large, rounded leaves are mesmerizing when combined with larger flowers. It produces flowers that are mophead and lace cap in shape. 

Hydrangea serrata is a perennial shrub. It seems smaller than bigleaf hydrangeas. Commonly it is known as mountain hydrangea and tea of heaven. It produces flowers with lace-cap shapes which are very delicate.

Due to its attractive look, foliage, and size, it is added to perennial gardens. 

Hydrangea Macrophylla Species

Hydrangea Macrophylla is commonly known as bigleaf Hydrangea. Their foliages are longer than any other hydrangea varieties and are native to Japan and Korea. 

They are also captivating due to their large and glossy leaves. 

Many gardeners choose it because of its beautiful flowers, leaves, and easy maintenance. It loves to grow in partial shade and well-drained soil. 

Big Daddy

It is one of the species of hydrangea macrophylla, which is referred to as mophead hydrangeas. It blooms sky blue and reaches up to 14 inches.

It prefers to grow in partial sunlight and moist, well-drained soil and blooms from mid-summer to early fall. Its green and glossy leaves look more attractive after a frost.

It grows up to a maximum height of 6 feet. It is a cold and hot-tolerant plant. Thus it becomes the first choice of gardeners. It can also easily bloom in old and new woods. 

Endless Summer Hydrangeas

It is one of the most beautiful varieties of Hydrangea and is commonly known for producing endless blooms during the summers and is called true reblooming Hydrangea.

Endless summer also blooms in old and new woods like “big daddy.” It prefers to grow in partial sun, especially in the afternoon and requires moist and well-drained soil.

The plant is covered with blue mophead blooms, and it gets more decorated because of its glossy green foliage.

This unique plant grows up to a height of 3 -5 feet (0.9 – 1.5 meters). It is an economical shrub that can be grown in containers and or in a grouping, adding colors and beauty to your garden. 

Endless Summer Twist and Shout

It produces flowers in lace cap shapes and blooms in periwinkle to dark pink, depending on the pH level of your soil. 

It has a red shade stem which adds extra glory to your garden. It is hardy in zones 4-9 and grows to 3-5 feet tall. The plant prefers to grow in partial sun, especially in the afternoon, and needs well-drained, moist soil.

Générale Vicomtesse De Vibraye

Générale Vicomtesse De Vibraye is a French stunner and a large hydrangea with a maximum height of 6 feet and a width of 8 feet.

It blooms in the shade of pale blue with huge flower heads. It has a wavy edge which makes the plant more attractive.

It loves to grow in the morning sunlight and afternoon shade and can be grown in different types of soils.

If blue flowers are dried, they turn their shade to blue-green, giving them a unique feature. Its blooming time is early summer to mid-fall. It is hardy in the zones from 6-9. 

Let’s Dance Rhythmic Blue

Rhythmic Blue is straightforward to grow, and even pruning is not needed for this plant. It produces deep blue flowers in mophead style, making it unique in features.

One of its special features is that it can maintain its dark blue shade even in high-pH soil, which is non-acidic and thus preferred by gardens with neutral or high-pH soil.

It blooms in mid-summer to early fall. It prefers to grow in the partial sun of the afternoon and requires well-drained, moist soil. 

It is also a reblooming hydrangea-like endless summer that blooms on new and old woods. It grows to a maximum height of 4 feet and can be added to your perennial garden. This shrub is cold-resistant and hardy from zone 5-9. 

Mathilda Gutges

Mathilda Gutges is an amazing variety of Hydrangea which produces flowers in a rich blue shade with light blue shade in the center of the flowers, due to which the flowers look really amazing and enough to mesmerize you and decorate your garden.

It blooms in early summer to the middle of the fall.

It has an average height of 3-6 feet and prefers to grow in partial sun. The right time for pruning the plant is just after the end of the blooming season as it blooms on wood. It’s hardy from zones 5-9. 

Nantucket Blue

Nantucket Blue is classic and very popular on the east coast of the United States.

It is a reblooming hydrangea and blooms from early summer till the beginning of the frost. Its maximum height is 6 feet, and preferred as a border plant.

It is hardy in the zones from 5-9. You can plant it in both full and partial sunlight. The ideal sun timing for its smooth growth is 6 hours of daily sunlight. 

Pruning is not required as it grows at a medium pace. 

Nikko Blue

It is a deciduous shrub that blooms with blue flowers and grows to a height of 4-6 feet. It prefers to grow in partial sunlight and needs moist, well-drained soil.

It blooms in the early summers and mostly preferred to be planted on the garden’s border along a wall or fence. Be very cautious about pruning as it blooms on old wood. 

Generally, the plants which bloom on old wood do not require pruning. But if you want to prune it to give it a good shape and size, then the ideal time to prune is just after the end of its blooming season, i.e., in August and September. Do not prune later than this, as the plants will not be able to bloom in the next season. 

PennyMac

Most gardeners prefer to grow PennyMac as its maintenance requires much less effort. It grows 6 feet high, spreads up to 4-6 feet, and grows rapidly. It blooms giant blue mophead flowers in the summer. It looks gorgeous also because of its glossy green leaves, which turn red or burgundy in the fall.

Avoid pruning this plant. If the plant has some winter damage, you should prune it, and that too very minimum. It can also tolerate full exposure to the sun if the soil is moist enough.

Most gardeners opt to grow it as it is weather tolerant, needs low maintenance, and produces showy flowers. It is planted as borders, hedges, and as a specimen plant.

Early Blue

If you are searching for container hydrangea plants then Early Blue is the right option as it grows smaller. This plant is very easy to manage and breed and comparatively blooms for a longer period of time.

The shade of its bloom is blue and pink, and it blooms in the early summer. It is preferred to be planted as the border of the garden. And it is hardy from zones 5-9.

Hydrangea Serrata

It is a flowering shrub species native to Japan, Korea, and china. It grows very short and only up to 2 feet.

Thus it is a great option for those who want to grow small hydrangeas. It is resistant to cold climates. It blooms blue and gives your garden a very different and beautiful garden. 

Blue Billow

It produces sky-blue flowers in lace-cap shapes, which are very delicate. The plants look so amazing, especially after blooming. It blooms only from the beginning to late summer. It has dark green, glossy, pointy, and narrow leaves.

The shade of foliage turns burgundy during the fall. It grows 4 feet high and 10 feet wide. It prefers to grow in partial sunlight and needs well-drained, moist soil.

It is a cold-resistant plant and hardy in zones from 5-9. But it blooms more consistently in warmer climates. 

Bluebird

Bluebird is a unique hydrangea, and light blue florets surround its fertile flowers in rich blue shades and give it an immense look with its double shades. Its maximum height and width are 4 feet.

The flowers pair well with their dark green leaves, and their color changes to red in the fall. It blooms during summer and is used as a border and accent plant. It loves to grow in partial sunlight and is hardy in zones 6-9.

LA Dreamin Hydrangea

La Dreamin Hydrangea loves to grow in full exposure to sunlight. Thay have pink blooms to bright blue shades in the same bush. But if you want blue blooms, you need to maintain soil acidity. Soil with low pH is suitable for blue blooms. 

It is a favorite of many gardeners because it is cold and heat tolerant. It grows up to 5 feet high and 6 feet wide. It can bloom in both old and new woods. Thus pruning can be done to control its height. 

Color Changing

Bigleaf hydrangeas or Hydrangea Serrata bloom into many shades, which are influenced by the soil’s pH and aluminum levels. For blue-shade flowers, more acidic soil is needed, and a low pH level of soil ranging between 5.2 – 5.5 is favorable, and in such conditions, more aluminum is absorbed.

Instead of blue flowers, if your plant is blooming pink, add aluminum sulfate to the soil to get blue blooms. But it should be within the limit to avoid any complications in the future.

Prepare a mixture by adding one tablespoon of aluminum sulfate to one gallon of water and only apply the solution to the plant but water the plant before this application if the plant is already dry.

The process should be done twice a year, once in the month of April and again in the month of May.

How To Care for Blue Hydrangeas?

You can change the shade of Hydrangea to many colors, and it can be pink, purple, or sky blue. For the change of shades, the soil’s pH level or its acidity level plays an important role.

You can turn the shade from pink flowers to blue or vice versa by controlling the pH.

Use a soil test kit to measure the pH level and acidity of the soil to get your favorite blue color blooms in your garden. You can follow the below tips to get your specific and favorite shade.

Choose the Right Kind of Hydrangea

The Bigleaf Hydrangea can change the color of its bloom. You can also go for “Anabelle,” which blooms in white or cream color and is enough to beautify your garden.

If you are very specific about blue Hydrangea, choose the variety that blooms blue. 

Choose Blue Varieties

Choose the varieties like Nikko Blue, Endless Summer Hydrangea, penny mac, Blauer Prinz, and Endless Summer Twist -n- Shout.

You can identify the blue color hydrangea with the tag on the plant if the plants have not bloomed in the nursery. 

Measure the Soil pH

Not to worry, measuring the soil pH is not a complex process. The acidity or alkalinity of the soil can be known by the level of pH in the soil, and the range of pH of the soil is from 0-14, and 7 is neutral.

Less than 7 pH level specifies the soil’s acidity, and more than 7 specifies its alkalinity. You should use the Soil test Kit to measure the soil’s pH level for accurate results. 

Pick the Flower Hue You Want

The ideal pH level of soil for blue Hydrangea is from 5.2 to 5.5. Neutral to alkaline soil with a pH level of 6.5 and more is good for planting pink flowers.

To enjoy purple flowers or a mixture of blue and pink flowers, you need to maintain the soil pH from 5.5 to 6.5. Now do a soil test to ensure your next step. 

Adjust the Soil pH

Most of the garners have neutral soil, and if they want to grow blue Hydrangea, they need to maintain the ideal pH level of the soil and acidify the soil to get blue hydrangeas.

You can do it by adding sulfur, aluminum sulfate, and other acidic soil to lower the pH of your soil. You can lower the pH of the soil by using Organic Fertilizers.

You can also get the soil that can best fit for the cultivation of hydrangeas.

Using soil sulfur and garden lime can bring the soil pH level, and you can get your favorite color to bloom in your garden. The use of a pelleted mixture is highly recommended while planting the Hydrangea. 

Continue to Acidify the pH for Blue Blooms

The color of the blooms also depends on the pH of the soil. You need to plant the Hydrangea in acidic soil and maintain its pH from 5.2 to 5.5 blue Hydrangea.

The top layer of the soil should be acidified around the root area, and this process should be performed, especially in early spring. 

If you have already planted in neutral or alkaline soil, it won’t support the plant to bloom blue flowers, and if it has already bloomed pink, then you would be able to get blue ones in the next season only. 

What is the dark blue Hydrangea called?

Dark Blue Hydrangea is often called “Nikko Blue Hydrangea” and are known as the bluest hydrangea. It is a popularly cultivated species of hydrangea macrophylla and continuously blooms for two months from the beginning of summer. It has glossy, medium green, and large leaves, giving it a gorgeous look. 

It grows to a height of 4-6 feet and prefers to grow in partial sun in well-drained, moist soil. It blooms blue in acidic soil and pink in alkaline soil. 

Final Thoughts

You can choose any of the varieties discussed in this article according to your ease and decorate your garden like never before. Choose the varieties according to your local climatic conditions and understand the need for varieties planted and cared for it, and the plant will reward you with many blue blooms. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What do blue hydrangea flowers mean?

Sometimes it becomes really difficult to apologize in the right way when you make a mistake. In such cases, blue hydrangeas help a lot. You can present blue hydrangeas and seek forgiveness. It is the symbol of regret, guilt, and remorse.

Can You use vinegar to turn your hydrangeas blue?

Using vinegar in the soil may turn the shade of bloom into blue, but it could be for a very short span of time. And it also takes longer than usual to turn the shade into the blue.

Vinegar also works as an insect repellant. So there are high chances of repelling the beneficial insects too. Thus, I would never recommend using vinegar to change the shade of hydrangeas in your garden. 

Will blue hydrangeas come back after the winter?

All hydrangeas like Blue, White, or Pink are resistant to winter if they are properly cared for. But potted hydrangeas, which are replanted, may not survive in the winters.

You need to choose the variety which is suitable for your local climate. The hydrangeas need extra care and protection in winter and can bloom gorgeously. 

Geraniums, an aromatic and colorful flower plant, are commonly planted and are one of the most favorite flowers for any gardener. They are very easy to grow in garden beds and even in hanging baskets and containers. The best time to plant Geraniums is in autumn; they develop their roots in the fall. 

So, if you are looking for an answer on how to plant your Geraniums:

(Please be informed that here I am not discussing Hardy Geraniums, i.e., cranesbill, and only discussing annual geraniums, i.e., pelargoniums. These geraniums are sensitive to cold and need to be brought indoors during winter).

Geranium or Pelargonium?

The plant that we call “Geranium” was brought to Europe by Dutch traders. In the early 18th century, Dutch brought the plant from South Africa. 

Since the same-looking plant, “Wild Hardy Geraniums,” were already grown in Europe, botanists mistakenly categorized them into the same genus. 

Later, in 1753, a botanist named Carl Linnaeus categorized the plant under Geranium. It was after that they noticed that new Geraniums were different from European Geraniums; their petal shape, stamens number, and many other factors were different, so they classified them as Pelargoniums. It means Stork’s bill refers to large, thin, and sharp-pointed seed pods. 

The original name of the plant is Stuck, and yet Pelargoniums are commonly said to be geraniums only.

Popular Types of Geraniums

Geraniums are the ultimate adaptable plants, offering over 300 species in their family. Whether it be color, type of bloom and foliage, or scent – geraniums have something for everyone.

They come in a wide range of sizes, from petite six-inch versions to mightier options that can reach several feet tall with an array of blooms! 

Let’s explore four of the most sought-after varieties:

1. Ivy Geraniums – Ivy geraniums are often grown as houseplants or in hanging baskets due to their trailing habit and delicate five-petal pink, white, red, or violet flowers. The foliage of ivy geraniums is a vibrant green shade with a glossy texture that makes them stand out among other plants on the market.
2. Scented-Leaf Geraniums – The foliage of these scented geraniums is a scented delight! They emit an aroma from the oil-producing glands on their leaves when touched or brushed against, making them a delightful addition to any outdoor space. These plants are available in vibrant colors such as white, pink, and purple.
3. Zonal Geraniums – They are a garden favorite due to their various colors, shapes, and sizes. Their name comes from the distinct dark circular ‘zone’ in their center, which is common among all varieties of this species. They usually grow to about 18 inches tall with a mounding habit.
4. Martha Washington Geraniums (Also known as Regal Geraniums) – Most geraniums of these kind are known for their show-stopping features, offering large 4-inch blooms in vibrant shades of purple, pink, and white. They also have a compact bush-like growth habit that makes them great for container gardening or flower beds. Their foliage is attractive too, with a dark and glossy texture that ensures they stand out in any garden.

Regardless of the type you choose, geraniums make an excellent addition to any landscape or indoor space.

Their hardiness, versatility, and vibrant blooms make them an ideal plant for novice and experienced gardeners alike.

With over 300 species available, there’s sure to be a geranium for everyone!

Planting Geraniums?

• You can grow Geraniums in pots or containers or as annual flowers. It is quite beneficial to keep them outside in warm weather in sunlight. If you have planted geraniums as houseplants, do not forget to bring the plants indoors in cold weather conditions or during later summer or early fall when the temperature at night goes below 13 degrees celsius or 55 degrees Fahrenheit. 
• Closely monitor the size and color of the geranium plants while purchasing. Evenly green-colored leaves with strong stems indicate a sign of a healthy plant. Do not choose a plant with a straggly or uneven shape stem. Ensure not to bring any plant which shows signs of pests also. Generally, mealybugs, whiteflies, and spider mites are very common pests in indoor plants.
• Ensure a good drainage facility by making a hole in the pots. It would reduce the risk of root rot. 
• Geraniums prefer to grow in well-drained soil and not in excessively wet, soggy, or compacted soil. Thus, use a properly drained soil mix for planting geraniums in containers. Avoid using heavy or clayey soil. 
• I would recommend to keep the plants in at least 4-6 hours of sunlight for a maximum blooming of geranium flowers. (check this post “Geraniums Not Blooming: Reasons And Solutions“if you are having problems with geraniums bloom)

Growing Geraniums?

How To Care For Geraniums?

• Check the moisture level of the soil before watering. If the soil’s top inch is dry, you can water the plant.
• Avoid frequent watering during winter months but do not let the roots completely dry out. Geraniums perform great when allowed some dormancy during winter months. During winters, they require less water and grow slowly and steadily. I have discussed this below in detail. 
• Remove faded or dead flowers from the plant to encourage blooming.
• To discourage leggy stems and encourage bushiness, prune back the stem.
• Use good fertilizer once every two weeks during the growing season. Using a water-soluble fertilizer is best recommended. Avoid fertilizers during winter when your plant is dormant. 
• You can re-pot the geranium plants in spring to have new growth or when they need to be refreshed. 

Overwintering Geraniums

• If you have kept geraniums indoors during summer, you can still keep them indoors if they get adequate sunlight. There may be a lack of adequate sunlight in northern climates during late winter to set buds on some of the geranium plant varieties. 
• Before the start of the first fall frost, using a clean, sharp knife, cut the plant’s stem sharply up to 6-8 inches. Here they don’t need to utilize their energy to grow leaves in low sunlight areas where they are about to be placed. 
• “Mother Plant” should be transplanted in the smallest pot, which can just fit its roots. You can use normal potting soil for this. 
• Place your geranium plant in the shade for one week. Later find a sunny spot and keep your plant there. Ensure they get the adequate amount of required sunlight and keep the plant cool. 
• The best-fitted night temperature in winter for the plant’s growth is 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, i.e., 10 to 16 degrees Celsius. They will only survive if they are kept relatively dry at 32 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, i.e., 0 to 27 degrees Celsius. 
• Prune the old leaves when new leaves grow. 

It is tough to maintain a plant’s growth rather than getting a new one. I have listed some tips to maintain the continuous growth of your geraniums:

• It is better to water your plant only when its leaves show signs of falling. In this situation also, provide only a small amount of water. Do not feed your plant in any way, and stop giving fertilizers. Your Geranium should get proper rest to grow uninterruptedly. 
• If you wish to see your overwintered geraniums blooming during summer, prune them in February. As and when the frost ends and the risk of cold is gone, bring your plant outdoors in sunlight, and you can transplant them in pots, containers, or garden beds. 

Harvesting Geraniums

Geraniums can form roots simply from stem cuttings in soil, water, perlite, or other material needed for root material. 

1. Use a clean, sharp knife and make an angle to mark a tilted cut on the stem of the Geranium, just above the nodes from where the leaves come out. Remove the buds, if any, and leave only two to three leaves on the stem.
2. Take the cut and rap in a newspaper. Preserve in the shade for 24 hours at least to dry out the cut ends. It prevents the stem from rotting. 
3. Now keep that stem in a damp pot and place it in a shady and warm place for two continuous days. Now, put the pruned plant to the indirect sun and moisten the medium when required. 

Wit And Wisdom

• Geranium leaves work best if you have a minor cut. You can crush some of its leaves and apply them to the cut area. It reduces bleeding.
• Pelargonium Geraniums mean silliness in the language of flowers.
• Japanese beetles hate geraniums. So, you can easily prevent these annoying pests with geraniums. 
• You must keep Pests and children away from geraniums as they can cause vomiting and indigestion in young children and pets. 

Geraniums Pests and Diseases

Geraniums can become prone to various pests and diseases due to the following reasons:

• Not keeping the plant for at least 4-6 hours in sunlight per day.
• Over or under-watering of the plant.
• Improper soil drainage facilities.

In such conditions, your geranium plant’s leaves would turn yellow, and even your plant would wilt. 

So keep them in proper sunlight and water them adequately. Also, maintain a good soil drainage facility. 

Summary

Annual Geraniums are lovely and aromatic flowers loved by most gardeners. Geranium cuttings are placed in containers, pots, or beds to grow into a plant. It is challenging to plant them in such a manner, but if you follow the above-discussed tips and tricks, it will be fun and exciting to plant them. 

Ensure to water them properly, expose them to the sunlight, protect them from frost and cold, and maintain a good soil drainage facility. It would help your plant to be away from any pests and diseases. And you can enjoy lovely colorful, scented geranium flowers almost every season. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do geraniums come back every year?

Yes, Geraniums can come back year after year. A geranium’s exact lifespan will depend on your variety and how it is cared for. Most varieties will live for several years if given proper care. It is possible to grow geraniums from seed, but it is often easier to purchase already established plants.

When planted in well-drained soil, kept moist, and provided with adequate sunlight, geraniums can thrive and flower all summer long.

For a lovely springtime bloom, potted geraniums just need to be brought indoors during winter. In order for them to thrive, expose the plants to 55 degrees F while shielding them from chilly nights and frosts.

Are geraniums annuals or perennials?

Geraniums are classified as both annuals and perennials. Annual geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorm) bloom from spring until frost, while perennial geraniums (or true geraniums, or cranesbills, as they’re sometimes called – botanical name: Geranium spp.) are evergreen, with blooms appearing intermittently throughout the year. 

As a general rule of thumb, annual geraniums are planted directly in the ground and will die back at the end of each growing season. 

Perennial geraniums can be grown in containers or planted directly into the soil, and they’re hardy enough to survive the winter in most climates.

Can you grow geraniums from seed?

Yes, you can grow geraniums from seeds! This is a relatively easy process that requires only minimal supplies. You’ll need geranium seeds, potting soil or seed starting mix, and small pots or trays.

Although they can work as indoor plants, that’s not really what people have in mind when they’re planting snapdragons. Outdoors in a flowerbed is where they shine best, but can they survive the summer? Do snapdragons like full sun exposure?

Snapdragons thrive better when they get six hours of full sun daily. However, they might need partial shade during excessively sunny days, especially if the temperature exceeds 75°F.

Don’t let all that scare you. In this post, we go over all you need to know about snapdragons’ sunlight needs. Let’s dig in!

How Many Hours of Sun Do Snapdragons Need?

To get the best bloom out of a snapdragon, you need to give it 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. To balance this, aim for morning shade and afternoon sun.

Of course, that’s assuming that you’re planting them in their preferred climate range. They work best in USDA zones 7-11. Snapdragons in hotter regions might need more shade and vice versa.

The reason why adjusting the sunlight exposure is such a crucial aspect here is that it makes a world of difference in the bloom.

Snapdragons have some of the prettiest flowers you’ll ever see, but that’s all gone if they don’t get enough sunlight. Moreover, insufficient sun time can increase the risk of mildew.

On the other hand, excessive sun time can cause the foliage to burn at the tips. It can also cause the flower to wilt and lose its luster.

Where Can You Place Snapdragons?

To maintain the delicate balance between sun and shade, you need to think about the place you choose for your snapdragons.

Antirrhinum snapdragons can grow both potted and unpotted. This means that you can either grow them indoors or outdoors, provided that you cover the plant’s requirements.

Let’s take a closer look:

Outdoor Snapdragons Sunlight Needs

Generally, the best place to keep your antirrhinum flowers should be one with morning shade and afternoon sun. This could be either a flower bed or a stand-alone planter.

All in all, going for potted snapdragons might save you a bit of a hassle. This way, it’s easier to move them around if you notice that there’s something wrong with their sun exposure.

If you want to protect your snapdragons from intense sunlight, you can either set up a wooden garden shade or place it next to a taller tree.

Just make sure that whatever shade you use doesn’t restrict the air circulation around the flower bed. A fresh breeze can make all the difference with these pretty blooms. It keeps the fungus and mildew away.

That’s also why we recommend that you keep each plant at least six inches apart. Interestingly, whenever snapdragons self-seed, they space themselves out at just the right distance.

Indoor Snapdragons Sunlight Needs – Can They Grow in Indirect Sunlight?

You can opt to keep it indoors as long as you keep the sunlight needs in mind. For one, you can choose to place them near a window that receives a lot of noon sun.

If you notice that it’s not enough, investing in a houseplant grow light might be a good final resort.

Plus, you’ll still need to provide an efficient degree of soil drainage and the spacing inside the pot. A little tip to go by here is to look beyond the aesthetic.

For instance, terracotta pots can look stunning, but not all of them have good drainage. Look for something with small holes drilled into the bottom, and keep a saucer underneath to avoid making a mess.

When you’re picking the planter size, remember that you need to leave a decent space in between. That’s why it might be better to avoid clustering up snapdragons in one container.

Finally, try and place your indoor pot somewhere slightly cooler at 70°F for the day and 40°F for the nighttime. This boosts the blooming vitality.

Do Snapdragons Survive the Winter?

Now that you know how much sunlight is crucial for a snapdragon’s growth, you might be wondering how they can make it through the winter.

The good news is that wintering those beauties is a breeze!

Because of their sun-loving behavior, it can be hard to imagine snapdragons as cold-hardy plants. Yet, they can even hold their ground in the face of sub-freezing temperatures.

Remember that cold weather doesn’t necessarily mean cloudy.

However, you’ll want to make sure that they’re well established to boost their winter hardiness. Mostly, spring is a good time to seed them. If you live in colder regions, aim to plant around September.

Throughout the winter, adding a layer of pine straw mulch can help protect the roots from a nasty frost burn.

Once the spring rolls back in, use an all-purpose 20-20-20 fertilizer. Those have an equal 20% concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which is just enough to revive the plant.

What Else Can Affect a Snapdragon’s Bloom?

Sunlight is usually a common cause of headaches when you’re growing snapdragons. However, if you’re still struggling with the bloom despite giving it the right sun time, you might want to move on to other potential culprits.

Mildew and Fungus

Both downy mildew and verticillium fungus can cause wilt. They can clog up the water supply systems, killing the plant from the inside out.

If you’re outside the ideal USDA zones and you’re growing the snapdragons as annuals, you have a bit of an edge here.

You can simply wait the bloom season out, increase the watering frequency, and let the infection take its course. Later on, get rid of the whole infected mess; root, soil, and all.

Underwatering

Underwatering is a common reason for subpar bloom, especially for plants that spend hours and hours in direct sunlight.

You’ll know that your snapdragon is thirsty if it loses its turgor. If that’s the case, keep the top two inches of soil moist all the time. If it’s a potted plant, you might need to water it daily.

Missed Pinching

Pinching back, or removing the top parts of the plant, encourages further growth. This sounds counterproductive, but it can have a significant impact on bloom vitality.

Ideally, you do this after establishing the plant. If the window for pinching has already passed, wait for the bloom and harvest a sizable portion of the central stem.

Just keep in mind that there isn’t much that a pinch could do till you fix the snapdragon’s sunlight-shade balance. After all, snapdragons need a healthy dose of sunshine!

What Happens if Snapdragons Don’t Get Enough Sun?

Snapdragons are known as short living plant but if you take proper care of them they can bloom in summer as well in autumn.

They need at least 6 hours of sun per day so in case you keep them in shade make sure they get enough sun to bloom.

Lack of sunlight will cause few blooms whereas too much sun burns their leaves from the edges.

Can Snapdragons Get Too Much Sun?

Snapdragons are not resistant to too much sun. Too much sun leads to the burn in leaves and therefore a proper sunlight is required for more blooms.

Keep them in shade in summer and put them to sun in winter to get more blooms from them.

Can snapdragons tolerate full sun and heat?

I have seen snapgragons blooming perfectly in partial sun in summer and even in shade. When the heat becomes intolerable for them they stops blooming.

To help them blooming profusely, keep them in partial shade and water them frequently to survive in summer and bloom again in fall.

Are Snapdragons perennial?

Snapdragons can be annuals as well as perennials. Some snapdragons varieties are pure annuals and they grow, flower, and die in single growing season.

However, there are other varieties of snapdragons that are perennials and they survive winter and grow again in spring from the same seeds.

Summary – Snapdragon Sunlight Requirements

Snapdragons are beautiful and versatile flowers that can add color to any garden. They prefer full sun but can also tolerate partial shade.

Keep an eye on your snapdragons in hot weather, as they may need some afternoon shade to prevent wilting. With proper care, snapdragons will flower in spring and fall.

Delicious raspberries are a fruit that can be enjoyed all year, especially if you grow your own. Raspberries come in three varieties that you can grow in your garden: red, black, and purple. Because raspberry plants need full sun to produce fruit, you may wonder, “Do raspberries need full sun?”

Raspberries, like most fruit-bearing plants, receiving six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day is essential for fruit production and quality. It also inhibits the growth and spread of fungal and bacterial diseases. However, in some cases, raspberries may require some shade to grow properly.

Sweet, tangy, and delicious, raspberries are some of the easiest and most rewarding fruit crops to grow in your garden. So keep on reading to find out more about raspberry sun requirements and how to maximize fruit production.

How Many Hours of Sun Do Raspberries Need?

One of the most essential aspects of growing raspberries is their need for sunlight. Raspberries grown in USDA zones 3–10 require full sun, especially during the growing season. They should receive from six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day.

The amount of sunlight raspberries receive has a direct impact on their fruit production. The more sunlight raspberries get, the more fruit they produce during the blooming season.

What’s more, those six to eight hours of direct sunlight are critical for the quality of the raspberries.

Water, carbon dioxide, and light are converted into the sugars found in these delectable berries during the photosynthesis process, which can’t occur without sunlight. More sunlight stimulates sugar production, resulting in sweeter raspberries.

Keep in mind that raspberries don’t have to sit in full sun for 6-8 hours straight. It makes no difference whether they get those hours of sunlight consecutively or spread out throughout the day.

Most raspberry plants grown in USDA zone 2 include several yellow raspberry varieties, such as Fall Gold, Anne, Goldie, Kiwigold, Golden Harvest, and Honey Queen. These raspberries are the hardiest of all raspberry varieties. They grow best in morning sun and afternoon shade.

Can Raspberries Grow in the Shade?

Raspberries can grow in partial shade, which is somewhere between 1.5 hours and four hours. However, they won’t be able to bear much fruit. The berries will also taste tarter than sweet due to the lack of sugar production.

Fruit production in total shade, on the other hand, is unlikely. If the raspberry crop produces any fruits, they will be the furthest thing from sugary because photosynthesis, and thus sugar production, will be disrupted.

If you live somewhere that doesn’t get much sun or your garden is sheltered from sunlight, you should consider growing gooseberries, sour cherries, and currants instead of raspberries. These fruits belong to the same family as raspberries but can grow in shade.

Is It Possible for Raspberries to Grow in Indirect Light?

While not the most ideal, raspberries can grow in indirect or filtered light, which is sunlight that passes through a medium or comes through a window.

However, fruit production and quality will undoubtedly decrease, but the raspberries won’t reach a point where they won’t produce any fruit at all—unless watering and soil conditions are poor.

The only time filtered light doesn’t affect raspberry fruit production and quality is when the raspberries are grown in greenhouses. In fact, because greenhouse-grown raspberries almost always have the best fruit quality, their production is increasing globally.

Greenhouse-grown raspberries are higher in quality, mature earlier, and have a longer shelf life. The environment inside a greenhouse is consistent; temperatures don’t fluctuate and humidity levels are set so that the plants don’t dry out but also don’t allow fungal diseases to thrive.

Still, it’s vital that the greenhouse’s location be free of any sunlight obstructions. Even in the greenhouse, the raspberries require full sunlight to thrive.

What Happens to Raspberries If Exposed to Too Much Sun?

You must be wondering can raspberries get too much sun? What happens if raspberry plants gets more sunlight than required?

Raspberries require direct full sun to thrive and produce fruit. Still, they may need some shade in certain situations. Temperatures above 90°F, low humidity, and high elevations can all make sunlight unbearable for raspberries.

Here’s what happens to raspberries if exposed to too much sun in unfavorable conditions:

• Sunburn
• Shriveled foliage
• Foliage turning brown
• Smaller fruit
• Brown or white spotting on the fruit
• Soft and mushy fruit

Furthermore, too much sun causes the raspberries’ soil to dry out faster. If the raspberry plant isn’t adequately watered, the fruit may be small and seedy.

What Happens If Raspberries Don’t Receive Enough Sun?

The location where you plant raspberries is incredibly vital to their fruit production and health. If your raspberries don’t get enough sunlight, they can develop a variety of problems, including:

Inability to Produce Fruit

Raspberries are prolific fruit producers, but they need full sun to do so. If raspberries don’t get the recommended six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day, the amount and quality of fruit they produce will be affected.

Fungal and Bacterial Diseases

Every element of growing raspberries, like with any other plant, works together to create the ideal environment for the plants to grow and thrive.

Raspberries require a lot of water, but the amount of sunlight they should receive ensures that any excess moisture evaporates.

When raspberries don’t receive enough sunlight, their soil may not dry quickly enough between waterings and become oversaturated with moisture. This sodden environment fosters the growth of fungal and bacterial diseases.

Fungal spores and bacterial cells germinate when exposed to moisture. If your raspberries are planted in a shaded area or don’t receive full sun, the drying time will slow down and humidity levels increase.

On the other hand, lack of moisture can weaken them and inhibit their spread. These spores or cells will die if they become dry. That’s why it is critical to allow the raspberries enough time to dry in the sun.

Do raspberries need lots of water?

Raspberry plants have shallow roots and therefore, they require soil moisture. You should water raspberries plants in the morning.

These plants need 1″-2″ of water per week in growing season and 4″ of water per week during harvest season.

Can raspberries get too much sun?

When a raspberry gets too much sunlight, these are the symptoms seen in them – Sunburn, shriveled foliage, foliage turning brown, smaller fruit, brown or white spotting on the fruit and soft and mushy fruit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can you grow raspberries best? 

Raspberries require well drained and fertile soil to grow and thrive. You should not forget that full sun is primary requirement for them to thrive and produce best raspberries fruits.

How can You grow bigger raspberries? 

If you want to get bigger raspberries, prune them to at least 5 canes per foot and cut the top off. This will reduce the quantity of fruits but at the same time you will get bigger raspberries.

What kind of soil does a raspberry plant need? 

A raspberry plant grow well in slightly acidic soil to the neutral soil having a pH value of 5.5 to 6.5.

Summary

Raspberries are an excellent addition to any garden. They’re easy to grow, and there are numerous varieties that bear fruit in the summer and fall.

However, without an adequate amount of daily sunlight, raspberry plants may not bear much fruit, if at all. The fruits will also taste tarter and less sweet.

That’s why you should take into consideration where you plant your raspberries to ensure that you have the best fruit production and quality.

Growing petunias in your garden is a sure-fire way to add long-term color to your outdoor living space. Petunias, blooming from spring to frost, are showy and fragrant, offering your garden a wide variety of lovely pastel colors, but do petunias need full sun or shade to bloom?

Petunias need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to grow and thrive. While these prolific bloomers can still produce flowers with four to five hours of sunlight, six hours ensures abundant and long-lasting flowers. That’s why petunia plants should be grown outdoors in a sunny location.

One of the easiest and most colorful flowers to grow in your garden are petunias.

Continue reading to learn more about petunia sun requirements and how to grow the most vibrantly colored garden.

How Much Sun Do Petunias Need?

Petunias are the flowering annuals and the ultimate sun worshippers. Regardless of their size and variety, petunias need full sun to grow healthily and produce tons of colorful blooms.

Full sun is receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. For petunias, they’ll need to be planted in an area that receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. The hours don’t have to be continuous, though!

Petunias will get their fair share of full sun even if they’re planted in an area that receives three hours of direct sunlight in the morning and another three hours in the afternoon.

If you have an indoor petunia, you should consider moving it to a south-facing window. This position ensures that your petunias are exposed to light as the sun moves from east to west.

Some gardeners may recommend that petunias can thrive on four to six hours of direct sunlight a day. However, four hours of sunlight isn’t enough for petunias to thrive and produce long-lasting, colorful blooms.

Can Petunias Grow and Bloom in Indirect Sunlight?

While bright indirect sunlight isn’t the most ideal, petunias will still grow, produce flowers, and stay healthy. They just won’t grow as quickly or as magnificently as petunias grown in direct full sun.

To compensate for the lack of direct sunlight, petunias should receive at least eight hours of bright indirect light per day. They can even be left for up to 12 hours. Artificial light will most likely provide your petunias with the extra growth boost it needs to blossom beautifully.

If you can’t get 10–12 hours of indirect sunlight where you live, you can always use artificial light.

Just keep in mind that while artificial lights can help your petunia plants grow, they’re not meant to replace natural sunlight. They should also be used on your plants for at least 14 hours per day.

What’s more, even in partial shade, petunias will struggle to bloom. The more shade your petunias are exposed to, the less flower production they’ll have. The flowers will also fade in color much quicker

That’s why it’s crucial to keep your petunias, regardless of variety, in full sun if you want them to bloom profusely.

Is It Possible for Petunias to Receive Too Much Sun?

For sun-loving petunias, there’s no such thing as too much sunlight. These flowering plants will bask in as much sun as they can get, thriving and producing an abundance of showy blooms.

That said, while petunias are heat-tolerant, they’re susceptible to overheating in temperatures above 90°F. Petunias, both indoor and outdoor, require adequate moisture to avoid dehydration.

If these flowers are exposed to excessive heat without regular watering, their leaves will turn brown and their flowers will wilt beyond recovery.

You can protect your petunias in high temperatures by watering frequently and insulating the soil with mulch, which conserves soil moisture and protects the plants’ shallow roots.

What Happens If Petunias Get Too Little Sun?

Petunias need full sun to thrive. As a result, if they don’t get enough sunlight, they may begin to look and act strangely.

Here’s what happens if petunias aren’t getting enough sun:

Lack of Bloom in Flowering Plants

A lack of blooms is the first sign that your petunia isn’t getting enough sunlight. Petunias require full sun to bloom. So, the less sunlight they receive, the fewer flowers they produce.

Yellowing and Wilting Leaves

In most cases, petunia leaves turn yellow and wilt due to either under- or over-watering. Still, such changes in petunia foliage may indicate a lack of sunlight.

Groundcover petunia is one variety that’s prone to yellowing and wilting leaves due to a lack of sunlight. Potted petunias are also susceptible to the same fate if they’re not placed near a window that receives direct full sun.

Thinning Out and Leggy Stems

Petunias are known for their compact growth, but if not exposed to enough direct sunlight, they thin out. Instead of its lush green foliage and vibrant blooming, you’ll be able to see right through the plant.

What’s more, when petunias aren’t exposed to direct sunlight, they can become leggy. Petunias that are leggy appear thinner and weaker.

Excessive Soil Moisture

Heat-tolerant petunias prefer semi-dry soil, so excessive soil moisture is never good for these heat-tolerant flowers.

Direct sunlight evaporates excess moisture in the soil between waterings. If petunias don’t receive enough sunlight, the soil may retain moisture for longer than if it were exposed to sunlight.

Fungal Diseases in Petunia Plants

Excessive soil moisture in a shaded area is the perfect breeding ground for a variety of fungal diseases.

Petunias grown in soggy, poorly draining soil are more likely to develop root rot and crown rot, as well as other fungal diseases that can stunt plant and flower growth.

How to grow more petunia flowers in full sunlight?

Petunias need good sunlight to grow large and produce a lot of flowers. However, sunlight is not all that is needed to grow petunias.

Here are my some plating petunias hacks for getting a ton of petunias.

Petunias Need Good Quality Soil

With a good amount of sunlight, petunias plants also need a great quality soil for full coverage bloom.

If you are going to plant petunias in raised garden beds, make sure to use a bed garden mix and use cow manure. This mix will provide nutrients needed for fast growth of petunias.

However, if you are planting petunias in the ground, use compost or aged animal manure to boost the plant growth. You can also use pelted chicken manure to boost the plant growth.

Petunias Need Water Regularly

Petunias need regular watering to produce flowers. If you have planted it on the ground, water them every 2-3 days in the first week and later 3-4 days later on.

Hanging baskets and pots dry out quickly than raised garden beds and so they need more watering. Make sure to mulch petunias with bark to reduce the water evaporation from the soil and keep the moisture intact.

Use Nitrogen Fertilizer and Seaweed Solution

Petunias need seaweed solution of liquid nitrogen fertilizer for healthy growth of plant and flowers. Liquid Nitrozen is easily absorbed and growing flowers need extra nutrients for fast and perfect growth. Make sure to use liquid fertilizer once every month.

However, if you don’t get enough time to look after your petunias use pelleted chicken manure. It provides slower delivery of nitrogen to plants and lasts up to 3 months.

Deadhead Petunia Flowers

You need to deadhead petunias more frequently to get more flowers. You don’t generally need tools to do it, use your fingers to pinch off the flowers.

Deadheading petunias provide more room for new flowers and sunlight.

Choose a Petunia Type That Spreads And Grows Large Flowers

There are four types of petunias namely Grandiflora petunias, Multiflora petunias, Milliflora petunias and Spreading petunias. My personal favorite is Spreading, also known as wave. They can spread can around 2.5 feet wide and are always covered with flowers.

They are present in many colors including hot pink, lilac, red rose and purple.

How Many Hours of Sunlight do Petunias Need?

Petunias need at least 6 hours of sunlight but produces thrive mostly when it gets 8 hours of sunlight. You can even plant petunias in shade but in that case it will produce less flowers.

If you plant petunias in pot, you can place your pot in the areas that receives good sunlight.

How can I Keep My Petunias blooming?

To keep your petunias blooming you must choose a place that receive sunlight, water them regularly, use slow nitrozen release fertilizers, keep deadheading flowers, mulch bark to reduce water evaporation and maintain soil mosture.

How Long do Petunia Flowers Last?

Petunias flowers can last up to 7 days and then it starts drooping. You can pinch them with your fingers to let the new flowers replace them and also mulch bark to keep them hydrated.

In the growing season, use slow release fertilizer like pelleted chicken manure to make them thrive at their peak.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can petunias be in shade?

Petunias can grow in shade but then it won’t produce as much flowers as they produce when kept in direct sunlight. The lesser the sunlight it receives, the fewer the flowers bloom.

Do petunias like a lot of water?

Petunias are sunlight plants and therefore they require more frequent watering compared to indoor plants. When planted in pots and hanging containers, they dry out quickly and therefore watering is required more often to keep the moisture in the soil.

Do petunias prefer morning or afternoon sun?

Petunias require full sunlight to thrive. So, while planting petunias, make sure to choose a flowering bed that receives good morning sun and at least few hours of sunlight in the afternoon. Petunias won’t flower or produce less blooms if placed in shade.

What will happen if my petunias don’t get enough sun?

If your petunias don’t get enough sun it will lead to wilting. Petunias need full sun to produce more flowers and if they are placed in partial sunlight at least 5 hours of sunlight is mandatory for them to produce a decent amount of flowers.

Summary – Do Petunias Need Full Sun?

Petunias are annual flowers and one of the most ideal flowers for beginners as they require little care and produce tons of beautiful, vibrant flowers. The flower production may be compromised, though, if petunias don’t receive enough direct sunlight.

With that in mind, if you live in a shady area or have a shady garden, you should skip on growing petunias.

However, if you live in a sunny area, now you know how much petunias thrive in the sun. You can add them to sunny garden beds with other sun-loving flowers!

Pansies are surely some bold fellows; we’ll give them that! With their bright, daring colors, heart-shaped petals, and large flowers, you can’t brush past them without doing a double-take. Now, if you’re ready to include pansies in your garden, a few questions might be on your mind, including: Do pansies need full sun?

Yes, pansies grow best in full sun, which also means that they need four to six hours of direct sunlight each day. However, this only works if the climate is on the cool side. If not, offering too much sun to pansies in too-hot regions could cause the flowers to wither away.

If you have more questions, we’re here to answer all of them in this article so that you’re 100% ready for your own arrangement of growing pansies. Buckle up!

How to Ensure That My Pansies Don’t Receive Too Much Sun?

Despite being famous for their love for direct sunlight, exposing your pansy plants to too much sun isn’t a good idea.

Their pretty petals might soon droop and die, the leaves turning brown and the stems losing their vibrant green color.

Therefore, you must carefully choose the spot where you’ll be planting your pansy flowers in your back or front yard.

Their location must be somewhere that gets three to four hours of the morning sun, shade or filtered sunlight during noon, and again, three or four hours of the late afternoon sun.

Of course, this is the case if you live in a region where the weather is considered mild or cool weather.

More specifically, if the temperatures during the day are always below 75 degrees Fahrenheit, that should be suitable enough for your pansy plants to receive six hours of sunlight.

However, if the daytime temperature goes above 75 degrees, your pansies will need partial shade. This translates to only four or five hours of sun per day, in the mornings or late afternoons.

A good way to battle high temperatures is to increase the amount of water that you give your pansy flowers.

This way, the water in the soil won’t evaporate too quickly in the sun, saving your pansy flowers from having to deal with droughts.

Do Pansies Grow in Shade?

For a plant or flower to grow in the shade, it must get more than three hours of sunlight each day. With that in mind, you might wonder if pansies can handle these conditions.

Unfortunately, pansies need at least four hours of sunlight, and that’s only if they’re planted in an extremely hot region. Therefore, full shade isn’t an option for our pretty little ladies.

What Are the Best Places to Grow Pansies Outdoors?

There isn’t a specific spot where you should plant pansies; the only rule here is that this location should get direct access to morning sun and shade in the intense noon heat.

That being said, pansies can be planted anywhere that fits this description, such as:

• Directly into the ground (in a flower bed)
• In pots on a windowsill or a bright surface next to a window
• In large outdoor containers or window boxes

Can You Plant Pansies Indoors?

Pansies can add a lovely touch of elegance to your living room or kitchen and a splash of color to improve the overall mood of your interior space. To make sure they grow into beautiful blooms, you must take care of a few things first.

For starters, the temperature inside your house must be steady, specifically between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Then, you’ll need to find a nice location for your pansy pots so that they get bright sunlight from outside. Place them next to a big window that isn’t covered by any shades, even those of the lightest type.

After that, treat your pansies like you’d do if they were outdoors; provide three to four hours of direct sunlight in the morning and follow them up with some shade during the hottest hours of the day.

When it’s late afternoon or evening, it’ll be time to expose your flowers to three hours of the sun once more.

How to Tell If My Pansies Aren’t Getting Enough Sunlight? Can Pansies grow in Shade?

The greatest thing about pansies, and plants in general, is that they’ll immediately give you signs if they aren’t in a good place.

This applies to the scenario when they don’t get as much sun as they need.

If that occurs, you’ll notice these symptoms on your pansies:

• Wilting leaves, flowers, or stems
• Long and leggy runners growing off your pansies
• Pale green or yellow leaves
• Too small leaves
• A noticeably low growth rate

What Happens If My Pansies Don’t Get Enough Sunlight?

If the previous symptoms go unnoticed, pansies can face more trouble than you might’ve geared up for. See, not having access to a sufficient amount of sunlight each day puts the flowers at risk of diseases, especially root rot.

Plus, not enough exposure to the sun can lead to stunted growth, no flower production, and an overall unhealthy plant with too-long limbs.

How many hours of sun do pansies need?

Generally, pansies need 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. But in warmer climate, you need to put it in shade and protect the plants from direct sunlight as too much heat can slow the flowering pansies.

There are other varieties like cool wave pansies that can grow in partial shade.

So, if you are wondering about how much sun should your pansy plants require to thrive, 6 hours is what they need!

Do pansies need to be deadheaded?

Pansy plants must be deadheaded to maximize the flower blooms and minimize the rise of infection during winter.

Do pansies come back every year?

Pansies need sunlight to grow, so during winter or freezing cold weather they die.

However, if you have mulched them and protect their roots, they can bloom again in spring. Remember that this can be done in moderate weather areas and not in freezing cold ones.

Do pansies self seed?

There are a wide varieties of pansies and hence, you can find different varieties of pansy seeds too.

If you live in a moderate area, you can see them coming back naturally from their seeds, if you don’t clear their bedding plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of soil do pansies need?

Planting pansies in a fertile, well drained soil gives them enough potential to thrive. You can also plant them in a well draining pot, hanging planters with native soil and decomposed compost.

Can Pansies Get Too Much Sunlight?

In hotter regions, pansies need partial sunlight. While in cool weather, they need around 6 hours of sunlight to produce colorful blooms.

Too Much Sunlight in hot weather can lead their petals to droop and die.

Final Thoughts

Do pansies need full sun? It’s a question that many have asked in their pansy-care journey, and now, after you’ve read our guide, you have your long answer.

Pansies require full sun to grow into happy and healthy blooms, but only if the weather is moderate or cool.

In hotter climates, pansies are best kept in partial shade to avoid exposure to intense sunlight, which might cause them to wither and die.

If you come to think of it, growing pansies isn’t as hard as you might’ve thought; these plants are pretty tough, which only suits their confident look!

Zinnias have a classical beauty that makes them blend perfectly in any garden. The only hiccup here is whether or not growing in the shade of another tree is something these flowers are capable of doing. So, does zinnia need full sun to survive?

Zinnias need full sun not only for optimum growth but also to prevent diseases ranging from mildew to fungal infections. However, they are hardy and could tolerate partial shade, especially in warmer regions.

In this post, we go over the elegant zinnia’s sunlight needs for outdoor and indoor planting. We’ll also cover the flower’s compatibility with artificial grow lights. Let’s get started!

Does Zinnia Need Full Sun To Thrive?

Caring for a plant is much easier if you understand the science behind it. Don’t worry, though. We won’t get into complicated jargon.

The gist of it is that there are two main reasons why zinnias are the sun-loving plants that they are. Let’s take a closer look:

1.   Full Sun Boosts the Growth Rate

Sunshine is a crucial part of any plant’s growth rate and flowering potential. Even more so for annual plants. Those have quick cycles that can be thrown off balance with even the most subtle changes.

Zinnias that grow in shade will be less likely to produce healthy flowers. That’s if they bloom at all.

Plus, you can’t expect the zinnia to reach its ideal height (around four whopping feet) without something as essential as enough sun time.

2.   Full Sun Keeps the Diseases Away

Zinnia, like any other outdoor plant, is susceptible to a wide range of infestations, including aphids, mites, mildew, and verticillium fungus.

A combination of adequate sunning, high drainage, and good air circulation can help the plant fight these pests and infections.

That’s because cool, shaded, and humid areas encourage fungal and bacterial growth, which will eventually wear the plant down.

How Much Sunlight Is Enough for an Outdoor Zinnia?

Let’s start by saying that it’s very hard to expose zinnia to too much sunlight. While reduced sun exposure can harm the plant, you don’t have to worry about heat burns at all.

They adore the sun and are also extremely heat tolerant. Those hardy flowers will handle up to a 100°F as long as you water them regularly.

The challenge is to find the minimum amount of sun time that you can’t drop under. If you’re going for direct sunlight, aim for at least six hours of daily sunning.

Keep in mind that the entire period between sunrise and sunset doesn’t count in full. In most outdoor planting beds, you’ll get morning shade and afternoon sun.

To put it simply, you might need anywhere between 6-12 hours of daylight. It all comes down to where you choose to put the zinnia in the garden.

We recommend a south or west-facing flower bed for maximum effect. That’s not all. You’ll also need to check that nothing is getting between the zinnias and air circulation.

Would a Zinnia Tolerate Heat Well?

Zinnias aren’t just capable of surviving intense sunlight. They are overall well-adapted to survive summers in warm climates, too.

It’s actually the frost that you should be worried about. If you get harsh winters where you live, you might need to move the potted flowers indoors. That’s a whole hassle, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

For optimal temperatures, zinnias need a daytime range of 75-85°F. You can always check the general climate compatibility through the USDA hardiness zones.

Zinnias can grow almost everywhere in the United States, but they’re better acclimated to zones 7-9. They’re quite versatile and drought-tolerant species!

What Happens if Zinnias Don’t Get Enough Sun?

If Zinnias don’t get enough sun, they become weak and become susceptible to fungal infections. The flowers will not bloom and the infections will cause the plant to die.

If you want to save your zinnia plant from dieing, make sure to place zinnias in direct sunlight. If the weather conditions are not good or its cloudy from days, check for the fungal growth in zinnias.

• Zinnias growth stops, if they don’t get enough sunlight.
• Lack of sun causes several bacterial and fungal infections in plants.

Can Zinnias Grow Indoors?

It’s possible to grow zinnia in pots, and they can germinate from seeds without hassle. However, when you’re trying to grow zinnias indoors, the real challenge is getting the full sun part right.

Start by planting the seeds from any zinnia growing kit 5-7 weeks before the late-spring frost. Try to keep the soil temperature around 70-80°F. Use a heating mat if your home is on the cold side.

You can try to keep the plant in a window that receives the most sunlight, but it won’t be as efficient as outdoor beds, though.

For instance, six hours of direct sunlight are enough. Meanwhile, you’ll need to push that to around eight hours of indirect light to make up for the lost intensity.

Another crucial aspect to consider is the drainage. Excess water can accumulate in planters and encourage root rot. So, be sure to find a pot with bottom holes and fill it with porous soil.

You might also need to fertilize every other week to keep the soil rich. You don’t want to risk any imbalance, from soil to sunning time. Moreover, you can pump your chances by using grow lights.

Can Zinnias Thrive Under Grow Lights?

Grow lights are quite a handy tool for indoor gardening. They can open up the door to grow plants even if you don’t have the ideal sunlight-shade balance.

Unlike regular lamps, a grow light covers a wider range of warm and cool ends on the spectrum. This is essential for mimicking the effect of natural sunshine on plant growth.

When you’re planting indoor zinnias, growing lights can provide an extra boost of artificial sunning. However, you’ll need to know how to pick the right one.

The relationship between a plant’s needs and the efficiency of an artificial grow lamp can be measured in terms of Day Light Integral (DLI) and Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD).

To put things in perspective, the peak DLI for zinnias is 12.5 mol.m^-2.d^-1. We won’t bore you with the calculations, but at six hours, you need a grow LED that can go up to 550-600 PPFD.

If you get one with higher intensity, make sure it’s dimmable. Alternatively, you can go for weaker lights if you increase the operation period.

It’s an overall decent option, but nothing beats the natural sunshine for the zinnia!

Conclusion – Does Zinnia Need Full Sun?

You can grow zinnia in your backyard and it can grow well in sun as well as in partial shade. But when it is grown in sun where it receives more than 6 hours of sunlight, chances of being susceptible of infestations and fungus reduces. However, you can zinnia indoors under artificial grow lights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I grow zinnia in shade?

You can grow zinnia in shade where it can receive partial sunlight or under grow lights. But, you will have to look out for infestations that may come due to not getting enough light.

How many hours of sunlight do zinnias require?

Zinnias require at least 6 hours of sunlight for nice growth. It also need well draining fertile soil for perfect bloom. If it doesn’t receives proper light, you will see less flowers.

Do zinnias do better in pots or in the ground?

You can grow zinnias in pots, wooden half-barrels or a hanging basket but it must have a hole for water drainage to prevent fungal growth in soil.

Why are my zinnias dying?

If you are living in a warmer climate, your zinnias can die due to lack of water. The leaves will shrivel and turn brown. However, they may also die due to fungal growth when they don’t receive enough sunlight and don’t have a proper water drainage.