74 shares. Skinny, Spindly Seedlings Need More Light or Need Pinching Zinnias need many hours of bright, direct sun to flourish. Hero … What do we think it is and how do we stop/kill/catch it . Slugs perhaps, but pillbugs don't eat live plant tissue. The pests are actually under the waxy substance, where they feed on the plant juices. Insects, gophers, moles, and voles may still be able to get into the row covers, … $("#"+thisid).html(foo); Deer. From The Garden Forum: Help! e.preventDefault(); They are usually just under the surface within one to three inches from the stem. Slugs and snails will make a meal of zinnias as well. function Frog_Reply(pid) { Would appreciate any advice, thanks. Something is eating my seedlings 7 Replies; 3119 Views; davetoddy. 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. var url = "/frogs/ajax/post_comment/"+pid+"/"; My problem with using this as your everyday eating area is that it is carpeted. function _ShowAnswerButton(pid) { $("#"+thisid).attr('style',''); $("#"+thisid).slideDown(); Flint, MI. data: $("#"+thisid).serialize(), $("#show-reply-form-"+pid).hide(); In this video I will be showing you what is eating your bok choy leaves. Did they tear it out with talons of steel. You can treat the infestation with insecticide, but be careful of chemicals that do more harm than good. Also, you will find the damage done to your leaves in the morning because slugs mainly feed when it is dark. Place it on the soil around the stem of your transplant, burying the cardboard about one inch into the soil. If your answer is yes, slugs are the pests eating your Zinnias. }); Seeds of zinnia flowers should usually be sown directly into the sunny flower bed, as developing roots do not like to be disturbed. They ate the rose down to the wood. Nanniemo Posts: 200. I've only seen one … Something Is Eating My Zinnia Seedlings - Knowledgebase Question. Something Is Eating My Zinnia Seedlings - Knowledgebase Question. This will prevent cutworms from cutting off your tender plants. You can try cardboard or paper towel rolls. They just didn't grow very much. $("#"+thisid).hide(); Tear a strip of newspaper about 2" wide and a foot long. Cutworms are often found in the top inch or two of soil, curled in a 'C' shape. What a delightful surprise! The only bugs I've seen look a bit like extra thin and leggy grasshoppers. I've re-seeded both years, with same results. Let the seed pods dry until they are brown and crunchy. }); Growing zinnia plants can be inexpensive, particularly when growing them from seed. Sometimes it takes several minutes to find it. Anyone have any suggestions how to keep the horrible pests away from my plants! I planted zinnia seeds under a row cover after the first batch of about 100 new seedlings just disappeared overnight in the same bed. Many types of rodents can create a series of tunnels, while larger animals like squirrels may leave more obvious … May 2016 in Problem solving. Other natural control methods include lady bug beetles and lacewings; you may try using a culture from a garden supply center. }); « Return to the Garden Knowledgebase Homepage. All three di seases a re favo red by warm, wet or very humid weather, overhead sprinkling, excess shade, and crowding of plants. $.ajax({ Cutworms seem to like zinnia seedlings. What's eating my Zinnias. type: "POST", There are lots of zinnia varieties to choose from. $("form.frog_reply_form").submit(function(e) { How to grow Zinnia Plants. Probably earwigs. I always dig down with my finger around the remaining stem to find the culprit and destroy it. I think they're quite partial to not only Zinnias but also Dahlias. Oh well then I had both last year. However, in July, I began watering them deeply at least twice a week and what a difference it made! Pick them out and smash them. Zinnia > Leaves > Holes in leaves or leaves chewed off. Just take an empty paper towel or toilet paper roll and cut the cardboard into 3-inch long sections. 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. 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. } var thisid = $(this).attr('id'); For years I have great success growing zinnias from seed. Three common leaf spot diseases mar the b eauty of this be dding pla nt. By Plant; Indoor. Where you see damage, dig around the plant base with your finger. Almost half are gone! By Plant; Gardening 101. There are also nematode … } plant pauper Posts: 6,234. Pin This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google 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. 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. Log in or register to join the conversation. The predator slugs aren’t as big of a problem, but if your garden’s plagued by plant-eating slugs, you need to find. Unfortunately, unless you see signs of what could be eating them it can be very hard to tell what will be the culprit. It's coming back now that it's fenced. 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. Perennials. var mySplit = thisid.split("-"); Something is eating holes in my Zinnia leaves! }); 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 $(document).ready(function(){ I have noticed holes in the leaves of near-by basil plants and in coleus as well. Anyone know what it doing this and how to get rid of them. Try to go out at night with a flashlight to see if you can catch somebody in the act. } I planted many baby Zinnia's in my flower beds just recently. Annuals. Have you planted Zinnias in the SAME area, I know you said you have planted them before BUT have you used that area. Minnehaha County South Dakota. Typically, Slugs are lousy chewers-they don’t eat neatly. Tips & Tricks. 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. } 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. I suggest you clear an area of all mulch and try again. Annuals. 1 of 5. } Start s… Zinnia F1 Hybrid Tall Liliput Zinnia Zinnia Yellow Flame. $.get('/frogs/ajax/print_comment.php', { pid: data} ).done(function(foo) { They've been in one of the plastic greenhouses for a couple of weeks & also outside in the sunshine during the day. Would appreciate any advice, thanks. What Animal is Eating My Seedlings? $("#replyform-"+pid).slideDown(); Question by DebraAnn678 May 25, 2001. … Terms of Service apply. Early in the summer there isn’t as much for them to eat, however, so they go after your zinnia seedlings, your butterfly bush foliage, or the emerging shoots of dahlias. Fungal Leaf Spot Diseases. but blood meal and animal deterrent sprays were no help at all. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); if ($(window).width() > 1024) { $("#show_answer_button").hide(); But it was bright yellow! I'm not even bothering this year because something round here clearly loves them. While garden seeds are commonly eaten by mice, most seedlings are damaged by voles, chipmunks, rabbits, or squirrels. Other plants in the garden have not been effected (yet). You can also use the all-natural method that has proven effective for thousands of years. I have sprayed the plants with Sevin but the holes continue to happen. I have photos if you would like to … 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. Growing zinnia doesn’t cost you a bomb. Hi everyone, can anyone tell me what's been chomping away at my Zinnia seedlings and what action (if any) I should take. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) are one of the most popular summer- and autumn-flowering plants. I haven't actually seen any insects on them, but I've seen slugs and 'pillbugs' consistently over the last several years. Try a "collar" around the plant stems to act as a barrier. Another possibility would be cutworms, which, like slugs, are also nocturnal munchers. there is a 4th one - that is undisturbed in the container. 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. What’s Eating My Sunflower Leaves? Zinnias affected by scales develop small, waxy areas on the leaves. Out came the bag of diatomaceous earth, my favorite way to stop the … Logged snowdrops. }, © 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". By Plant; Outdoor. 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. document.write(''); there was 1-2 leaves of zinnia on the dirt. 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