Sunflower is a very popular ornamental plant, and it has become a favorite among many gardening enthusiasts due to its drought and heat tolerance. However, if not cared for properly, the growth of sunflowers will be affected, and they will not grow as desired. How can you make sunflowers grow well? Let me introduce you in detail.
Soil
Sunflowers grow best in fertile, loose, and well-drained soil. If the soil is too dry, you can sprinkle some decomposed straw or plant ash on the surface before watering to increase the soil's water retention capacity.
Temperature
Sunflowers are tropical plants that are warm-temperature and drought-tolerant, with a suitable growth temperature of 18-30°C. If the temperature is low, appropriate measures should be taken to keep it warm at night.
Light
Sunflowers love a sunny environment and need at least 6 hours of sunlight daily; otherwise, it will affect their growth and flowering.
Watering
Sunflowers need sufficient water during their growth process. Watering should be moderate, neither too much nor too little. Generally, water 2-3 times a week, each time making the soil thoroughly wet.
Fertilizer
Sunflowers need to be fertilized 2-3 times a year. Use nitrogen-containing fertilizer in the early growth and budding stages, and potassium-containing fertilizer during the flowering and fruiting stages. Too much or too concentrated fertilizer can cause the leaves of sunflowers to turn yellow, wilt, or even die.
Pruning
Sunflowers grow vigorously and can easily have stems that are too long to support the flowers. At this time, you should prune the flowers in time to promote branching, increase leaf area, and improve light energy utilization efficiency.
Weeding
During the growth of sunflowers, the soil needs to be kept moist and loose, but it is also easy for various weeds to grow. Usually, weed in time to maintain the soil's air permeability and permeability.
Pest and Disease Control
Sunflowers are susceptible to diseases such as powdery mildew and gray mold, and are also disturbed by pests such as aphids and spotted stem borers. Prevention is the main focus; regularly spray pesticides or use natural pest control measures to prevent pests and diseases.
Sowing
Sunflowers are generally sown in spring and autumn. Before sowing, you should choose fertile soil and prepare it thoroughly to make it loose, which is convenient for seed germination and rooting.
Transplanting
During the growth of sunflowers, if the roots are too dense, they should be transplanted in time. During transplanting, pay attention to protecting the roots and reducing damage to the plant.
Supporting
Sunflowers are tall and can easily fall over when they are growing vigorously. At this time, you can set up supports such as stakes or wire mesh next to the sunflowers to support them.
Repotting
Sunflowers need to be repotted once a year. When repotting, pay attention to choosing fertile, well-drained soil, and appropriately reduce the amount of watering after repotting.
Maintaining Humidity
Sunflower leaves are tender green and yellow with high gloss, and they need suitable humidity to maintain healthy growth. Generally, when growing indoors, you can place a hygrometer next to the flower pot and water according to the humidity.
Disease Treatment
If you find that the sunflower plant has yellowing, wilting, or dead leaves, you should find the cause in time and take corresponding measures to prevent the disease from spreading further.
Although sunflowers are not difficult to care for, there are many details to pay attention to. Only when we are well aware of every detail of care can we make sunflowers grow better. I hope this article will be helpful to your sunflower care.