How to grow potted sunflowers? A detailed guide to care methods

How can you grow sunflowers at home? If you still think that way, you are out of date! Times are progressing, and small ornamental sunflowers have now been developed. Come and see how to grow them!

Care methods for potted sunflowers

Potting up

If you are sowing sunflowers from seed, this potting-up step can be skipped. Gardeners can also directly buy sunflower seedlings to plant.

To learn the detailed sowing method, read the article on how to grow ornamental sunflowers. The editor will be a bit lazy and skip it here... Temperature

Sunflowers are fairly adaptable to temperature and like a warm environment, but they can also tolerate low temperatures. As long as the temperature is not below 10°C, they can grow healthily.

The most suitable temperature for growth is 18-30°C, with 10-18°C at night. Keeping the day-night temperature difference at 8-10°C is beneficial for the growth of stems and leaves.

Within the suitable temperature range, the higher the temperature, the faster the plant grows; when the temperature is low, the plant grows slowly, which affects flowering.

When the temperature is too high, above 25°C, pay attention to ventilation; below 13°C, heating and insulation are needed.

The effect of temperature on sunflowers

Light

Sunflowers are very sensitive to light and need sufficient sunlight. Only with ample sunlight will the plant grow robustly and the flowers be brightly colored and glossy. If there is continuous cloudy and rainy weather, the leaves droop and appear yellow-green, and the flower heads vary unevenly in size.

Watering

Sunflowers have well-developed root systems and are drought-tolerant yet also not drought-tolerant. From sowing to budding, a dry environment is beneficial for the growth and development of their root systems, but as light intensity increases, water evaporation speeds up, and the plant needs nutrients to bloom and bear seeds. Especially during the flowering season, supplementing water can ensure the quality of the flowers. Particularly when the pot is small and the plant is large, replenish water in time and follow the principle of "alternating dry and wet."

The effect of watering

Fertilizing

Sunflowers like fertilizer. During the growing period, apply fertilizer once every 7-10 days.

During the seedling stage of sunflowers, nitrogen fertilizer is the main type to promote robust branches and leaves. After budding, appropriately increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote flower bud development and benefit flowering. When the plant's branches and leaves are weak and the leaves are withered and yellow, supplement fertilizer in time, otherwise the ornamental sunflower will lose its value.

Pruning

The main ornamental feature of sunflowers is the huge flower on the main stem, so during the growing period, promptly prune excess side buds. But if you want it to bloom more, you can pinch the growing tip during the seedling stage to promote branching, and there will be flowers blooming.

If you choose a tall, large plant, you can spray 89 solution on the leaf surface 20 days after germination to control its growth height. Plants that grow too tall can be supported with stakes to prevent lodging.