Can they grow faster than they get eaten? Only 1 way to find out...

Plant them out and direct sow some more amongst them. Maybe as other tasty things become available, the critters with the munchies will move elswhere. I'm so sorry for your frustration. I've been so lucky--Knock on Wood--that critters have left my containers alone. Of course, once mine are planted out, rabbits, deer, squirrels...the list goes on. I wish you luck.

Martha

The rabbits always ate the leaves of my small zinnias. I started putting bird netting over the plants last year and it worked. Going to try that again this year.

Betty

i dont get what they are in ...

and why you would kill a perfectly healthy seedling.. for a LITTLE LEAF DAMAGE ...

when this this is 2 feet tall .. do you think the embryonic leaves will matter???

if thats a milk jug.. the bug is probably in that soil.. let us know if you find it ...

i agree.. its probably time to direct sow..

ken

I agree with Ken. If that is a milk jug, the culprit is probably in that soil. It would be helpful to know what it is. I suggest you go out at night with a light and try to catch it in the act.

Those circular "bites" out of the leaves look like slug damage to me. Slugs feed nocturnally, so you should be able to catch them in the act with a flashlight.

If they are slugs, sprinkle Sluggo bait liberally. Slugs can attack zinnias after you set them in the garden. If the slugs enter and leave your containers, you can prevent that with a copper foil barrier. Metallic copper sets up an electrochemical "shock" to slugs so that they will not crawl across it. Slugs also do not like to crawl through sand. I use a sand mulch to protect plants in the garden. I have my tomatoes protected with a sand mulch now.

Incidentally, Sluggo is safe to use. It is based on iron phosphate, and any that isn't eaten by slugs can serve as useful nutrients to your plants. But first, confirm that slugs are the culprit with that flashlight.

ZM

That is either slug or earwig damage And I agree with Ken--it's probably in the container. You can check at night with a flashlight and see which bug it is. As long as there is some leaf the plants will continue to grow.

I found slugs and cutworms in the jugs. I put some snail bait in and around my containers. It's not raining like I want it too, so I'm waiting to plant them out.

Thank You all. By the way, they are in water/milk jugs, I am an Winter Sower.

Believe it or not, the zinnia's have recovered. I planted them yesterday. (SNAILS!)

Yeah zinnias!

Believe it or not, the zinnia's have recovered.

==>> i dont think any of us doubted they wouldnt ...

they are a workhorse of the garden..

and so easy .... even you did it.. lol ...

whats on the agenda next year.. now that you mastered zinnia?? .. lol

ken

Ken, I have not mastered them so they look like prize winning zinnia's. Those are tips I am look from you. I've pinched them back. (Good at pinching). But I want that Multi-flowered effect. I've planted the Big Red Zinnia's, Benary's Yellow and "The Cha Cha" series. I'm trying to mix some cosmos in the mix.

These Zinnia's grew practically 5ft. Just to think I was going to dump and start over. They are sure some tough flowers.

ssssoooooo

apparently you DID master them .. ye of little faith .. lol ...

these things are not all that mystical.. if we can save ourselves from trying to kill them with too much love.. especially when they are babes..

so i will ask again ... what will you try to master next year ...

ken

ps: thx for the followup ...

pps: when i start seeds.. i start by sterilizing the soil ... see link .. even if the bag claims its already done ..... i would have taken your milk jug.. filled with damp media.. covered in a gallon bag .. and nuked it [like the link says] until steam formed on the bag ... no need to cook the hell out of it ... that way .. if there was some bug egg in it.. it would be dead ... i would then leave the gallon baggie on it.. thru the first set of true leaves .. IN very bright SHADE .. [and do note.. this is all a day or two BEFORE you put the seeds in .. we dont nuke the seed]

Here is a link that might be useful: link