One of the easiest and rewarding plants to grow at home is
Sunflowers. Sunflower plants have bright yellow blooms that can instantly make
a balcony, patio, terrace, or small garden look cheerful and lively. The good part
is that you do not actually need a large garden space to grow Sunflower plants.
With the right growing container and proper care, sunflower plants can actually
thrive beautifully in pots.
Whether you want the dwarf sunflower plants for decoration
or the taller Sunflower plants varieties for a dramatic display, growing
sunflower plant in pots is simple and fun. This article will walk you through
everything you really need to know about growing healthy sunflower plants in containers.
Choosing the Right
Sunflower Plant Variety
To get started, the first step is selecting the right
sunflower plant type. There are some sunflower plant varieties that grow
extremely tall, reaching over ten feet, which makes the plant very difficult to
manage in pots. For container growing, the sunflower compact or dwarf varieties
are generally the best option.
Popular sunflower plant varieties for containers are:
· Sunspot
· Sunny Smile
· Little Becka
· Dwarf Sunspot
· Pacino Gold
· Teddy Bear
These smaller sunflower plant varieties actually grow well
in pots and they still produce beautiful blooms.
If you want to actually grow giant sunflower plants in a container,
you can, but you will really need a very huge and heavy pot for support.
Picking the Right Pot For
Planting
The Sunflower plants develop long roots, so choosing the
right pot is very vital. The pot you are using need to have enough depth and
width to support healthy root growth.
The Pot Size for
Sunflower Plants
· The small dwarf varieties: Six to twelve inch deep pots
· The medium varieties: Twelve to eighteen inch pots
· The giant varieties: Twenty inch or larger pots
The pot for planting must have drainage holes at the
bottom. Without drainage, excess water can easily cause root rot and then kill
the Sunflower plant.
Ceramic, plastic, terracotta, or fabric grows bags all
work well for Sunflower plants. On the other hand, heavier containers are
better for tall sunflower plants because they actually help prevent tipping
over during windy weather.
You Need To Use Good
Quality Soil
The sunflower plants prefer loose, rich, and well-draining
soil. Make sure you avoid using heavy garden soil directly in containers
because it can become compacted and then affect drainage.
A good potting mix for sunflower plants should contain the
following:
· Coco coir or peat moss
· Compost
· Perlite or sand for drainage
You can also add some good organic compost in other to
improve nutrients.
Make sure the soil stay moist but never soggy.
Planting The Sunflower
Seeds
Sunflower plants actually grow best when planted directly
into the container instead of being transplanted later. Their roots do not actually
like disturbance.
How to Plant the Sunflower
Seeds
1. Just fill the pot with potting mix.
2. Then make a hole of about one inch deep.
3. Place about one to two sunflower seeds into the hole.
4. Then cover lightly with soil.
5. Water the plant gently.
If both of the sunflower seeds germinate you can easily remove
the weaker seedling later so the stronger sunflower plant has enough space.
The sunflower plant seeds usually germinate within seven
to 10 days in warm conditions.
Give The Sunflower Plenty
of Sunlight
Sunflower plants really love sunlight and they really need
a lot of it to grow properly.
Sunflower plants require:
· At least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily
· A warm temperatures
· A good bright open locations
You need to place the container in the sunniest area
possible, such as:
· Patio
· Rooftop
· Window with full sun exposure
· Balcony
If there is no enough sunlight the sunflower plants may
become weak, leggy, and then produce smaller flowers.
Watering The Sunflowers
in Containers
The container sunflower plants dry out faster than the
sunflower plants grown in the ground, so regular watering is very vital.
Sunflower Plant Watering
Tips
· Make sure you keep the soil evenly moist during germination
· You can water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry
· Make sure you avoid overwatering
· Water the sunflower plant early in the morning when possible
During very hot weather you may need to water the
sunflower plants daily.
Be very careful not to let the container sit in standing
water because this can easily damage the roots.
Fertilizing Sunflower
Plants
The sunflower plants are moderate feeders and they really benefit
from occasional fertilizing.
You can use:
· A balanced liquid fertilizer
· A Compost tea
· An Organic plant fertilizer
You can feed them every two to four weeks during the
growing season.
Make sure you avoid over-fertilizing with too much
nitrogen because it can make the plant produce lots of leaves but fewer
flowers.
Thinning and Spacing The
Plant
If you actually planted multiple sunflower seeds in one container,
thinning is very vital once the seedlings begin growing.
Just keep only the healthiest sunflower plant in small pots.
Overcrowding can actually cause competition for nutrients and water.
Larger pots can support more than one dwarf sunflower plant
if spaced properly.
Supporting Tall Sunflower
Plants
Some sunflower plant varieties can become tall and
top-heavy, most especially once the flowers develop.
To prevent bending or breaking:
· You can insert a bamboo stake or garden stick into the container
· Tie the sunflower plant stem loosely with soft string
· Keep the containers in sheltered areas during strong winds
Support is really vital for giant sunflower plant varieties.
Common Problems When
Growing Sunflower plants in Containers
1. Yellow Leaves
This is normally caused by:
· Overwatering of the plant
· Poor drainage
· Nutrient deficiency on plant
You need to check the soil moisture and then improve
drainage if necessary.
2. Leggy Plants
Tall, weak stems generally mean that the sunflower plant
is not really getting enough sunlight.
You need to move the pot to a brighter location.
3. Pests On The Plant
The common pests are:
· Caterpillars
· Whiteflies
· Aphids
You can easily remove pests from the plant by:
· Spraying water on the sunflower plant leaves
· Using neem oil
· Hand-picking insects from the plant
4. Wilting
Sunflower plants may actually wilt temporarily in extreme
heat, although persistent wilting can indicate under-watering or root problems.
Flowering Time
Most sunflower plants bloom within:
· Seventy to one hundred days after planting
The exact timing actually depends on the variety and
growing conditions of the sunflower plant.
Once the plant flowers appear, they can actually last
several weeks. Sunflower plant blooms naturally turn toward the sun during
growth, which is called heliotropism.
Harvesting The Sunflower
Seeds
If you want edible sunflower plant seeds or sunflower seeds
for replanting, you need to allow the flower head to mature fully.
How to Harvest Sunflower
seeds
1. Just wait until the back of the plant flower head turns yellow
or brown.
2. Then cut the plant flower head with part of the stem attached.
3. And then hang it upside down in a dry place.
4. Rub the sunflower seeds loose once fully dry.
You need to store the harvested sunflower seeds in a cool,
dry container.
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