Sunflowers are some of the most beautiful flowers that you will ever see. The yellow outline and petals, coupled with the black center just makes them so different when compared to anything else on the market.
Not only that, but sunflowers are also available in several varieties. There are some varieties that produce oversized flowers, and there are others that produce lots of smaller ones.
Perhaps the most distinguishing and wondrous features of the sunflower is the fact that it continues to follow the sun throughout the course of the day. It is one of the things that sets it apart, and it’s also the main reason why so many people grow them in their garden.
Not only is the sunflower an excellent addition to any garden because of the way the flowers look, but it will also improve your experience with gardening as well.
Like most other big flowers, the sunflower also requires a considerable amount of care on your part. You have to make sure that you provide the plant with all of its needs, and if they are not met, the plant is going to suffer. There could be any number of reasons why your sunflower might begin to droop.
Because these flowers are so big, it’s pretty easy to identify when the flowers might just start drooping. This could be cause for concern, and it’s important for you to make sure that you care for the flowers properly.
Thankfully, when the sunflowers begin to droop, you should know that there is still time for you to get them back up. It might seem difficult, but you also have to think about taking remedial action to figure out exactly what’s causing the problem.
There can be anumber of reasons why the sunflowers might begin to droop. In the following few paragraphs, we will discuss some important reasons and figure out the kind of impact that they have.
1 – Improper Conditions
Like most other flowering plants, the sunflower also requires propercultural conditions that need to be met. If they aren’t met, the plant isn’t going to grow properly, and within a few days, you will notice the flowers drooping as well.
The seedlings of the sunflower are incredibly susceptible to poor care, and if the right growth conditions are not met, the plant is going to suffer.
Issues such as excessive shade or poor soil conditions are going to combine to make the sunflower droop. Some of the most common reasons why sunflowers begin to droop or wilt over the passage of time include poor conditions of the soil, or exposure to excessive frost. If weeds begin to grow in the garden, the plant is going to suffer as well.
You need to make sure that the sunflower is placed in moderately fertile soil. Not only that, but you need to make sure that the plant gets at least one inch of water on a weekly basis.
Again, whenever you have to water the plant, you need to make sure that you check the soil first. The top half inch of the soil must have dried first before you decide to water the plant again.
This is going to prevent issues such as fungal gnats and also ensure that your plant remains healthy.
2 – Diseases
Another reason why the sunflowers might begin to wilt or droop over the passage of time is because of diseases. There are plenty of different kinds of fungi that might impact the plant, and some might even cause them to die off.
Most of the seedlings that get infected fail to emerge from the soil, and the ones that do are usually stunted or die off much earlier than you would like.
Thankfully, there’s a pretty simple way to ensure that your plant does not fall prey to diseases or fungi over the passage of time. Like most other things, it all starts from the kind of conditions that you provide the plant.
A considerable number of the issues related to your sunflower plant can be resolved as long as you are able to keep a check on the soil and ensure that the amount of water is not increased in the soil.
Whenever you water, you should always make it a habit to first check to see if the soil is dry. Poke a finger inside up to the first knuckle and then determine whether the soil is dry or not. If it isn’t, you should consider waiting a day or two.
The sunflower does not do well with an excessive amount of water in the soil, and it’s basically the gateway to a whole host of other problems that you really don’t want.
3 – Pests
Then, there’s the problems caused by pests. Pests love the big leaves and the sunflowers, and if you are not careful with garden maintenance, your entire garden is going to be covered with these harmful pests. It’s highly important that you take a close look at the plants from time to time and figure out exactly what’s wrong.
For instance, spider mites are a major problem and can cause extensive damage. Spider mites usually like to stay under the leaves of the plant, so that’s what you have to check first and foremost.
Secondly, you have to consider the probability of other pests such as mealybugs, since they like to feast on undisturbed plants as well.
You might want to consider using a traditional liquid-based insecticide to get rid of these pests. Not only that, but you should also consider washing the plant as frequently as you can.
However, just make sure that the soil is dry before you do that, because all of the water is going to trickle downward only.
You will have to apply the solution every few days if you want to see a positive response. These are just a few things that you should know about caring for the sunflower, and the reasons why the sunflower often begins to droop.