5 Ways To Revive Sunflowers That Droops?

Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are a true symbol of long sunny days. Their Latin name comes from helios (‘sun’) and anthos (‘flower’). They are heliotropic, meaning that the flowerhead follows the direction of the sun. It faces east in the morning as the sun rises, finally facing west as the sun sets, then returning at night to face east, ready for the following day. However, this movement stops when the flowerhead is heavy with seeds.

The sunflower symbolizes longevity, loyalty and love and comes in colors of red, maroon, brown as well as the usual bright sunny yellow.

It is a plant highly valued for its flowerheads and nutritious seeds, which are edible by humans and wildlife. It also provides nectar and pollen to bees, butterflies, and birds, which is vital in maintaining a healthy eco system. 

It is a vibrant plant that appeals to everyone, particularly children, and is a great introduction to gardening.

Although, in general, an easy-to-grow plant, there will be times when you might wonder why are my sunflowers dying or can sunflowers get too much sun. In this article, we answer these questions and give more tips on how to revive sunflowers.

5 Ways to Revive Wilting Sunflower Plants

Harvest on Time

Harvesting sunflower seedheads does not revive wilting sunflowers; it simply removes what appears to be a dying sunflower. However, it is essential to harvest the flowerhead when the seeds ripen to ensure they don’t get eaten by squirrels, birds, or insects—unless that is your intention.

Try to Avoid Transplanting

Hardened-off seedlings of sunflowers, whether planted in the ground or grown in containers, will survive the transition fairly well.

 In March, seeds can be sown indoors in seed trays using a specialist soil such as John Innes Seed Sowing Compost. Keep the tray in a bright, warm and sunny location indoors, where the seeds should germinate within two weeks. When around 2 inches high, they can be transplanted into individual 3-inch diameter pots and kept well watered. However, overwatering sunflowers can lead to root rot and the sunflower seedlings drooping. When 12 inches high, they can either be transplanted into larger pots for the summer season or into the ground after the danger of frost has passed by.

If sowing seed directly outdoors or transplanting seedlings, wait until there is no risk of frost. Prepare the soil by breaking into a fine breadcrumb-like texture and weed thoroughly. Incorporate some organic matter if your soil is heavy clay or nutrient deficient. For seeds, sow approximately ½ inch deep, then thin out to about 18 inches apart once they have germinated to allow room to grow and avoid the need to transplant a mature plant. If transplanting hardened off seedlings outside, dig a planting hole large enough to fully accommodate the root ball as well as some fill-back topsoil. Gently pad down and water thoroughly, again ensuring the soil is moist but not water-logged, as overwatering sunflowers can lead to root rot. Support the stems with a cane when they reach approximately 2 feet tall.

Try to avoid transplanting mature sunflowers that need to be dug up and resited. They might not recover from the shock of being disturbed, and you could end up with a dying sunflower. It is far better to provide the ideal growing conditions for your sunflowers in the first place.

However, if you do have to transplant a mature sunflower, take care when digging up so as not to damage the stem of the plant or the main roots, especially the long tap root. It is the tap root that provides most of the water to the rest of the plant and can extend up to 1 ½ feet and the same in diameter. Ensure that the new planting hole can accommodate the whole of the root ball, plus the fill-back of topsoil. Water thoroughly to help the roots recover from the stress of being moved. The plant might need staking for additional support until the root structure has recovered. Read our helpful guide on how to water plants after transplanting.

Water the Sunflower

Once established in the ground, sunflowers will grow rapidly within one season and require regular, even daily, watering if conditions are dry. Ensure that the water reaches the whole of the root system, including its depth and diameter. The soil should ideally be moist and free-draining, as it is essential to avoid overwatering sunflowers.

Sunflowers grown in pots need more careful monitoring as they can dry out quicker than if grown in the ground. Therefore, ensure the water reaches the bottom of the pot, but again, be careful you don’t end up with an overwatered sunflower. To avoid this, make sure there is adequate drainage material in the base of the pot and that you use general-purpose potting soil with added organic material.

The best time to water your sunflowers in pots or the ground is first thing in the morning or early evening. The only time not to water is when the flowerheads turn to seed and need to dry out. Or if there has been adequate rainfall and the ground is still moist. Overwatering sunflowers can cause both the stem and the roots to rot.

Provide Support to the Stalks

There are different methods to support your sunflowers, and it will generally depend upon the type of sunflowers grown and the site chosen.

For the dwarf varieties, there is usually no need to provide support.  However, taller growing varieties can either be placed at the back of a border, tied into fencing or trellis or supported with a tree stake or strong bamboo stake. If using a stake for tall sunflowers grown in the open ground, ensure the stake extends 1-1 ½ feet into the ground.  This is essential to support the weight of the whole stem and heavy flowerhead.

Tip: After harvesting your sunflowers, cut the stems down to base and leave somewhere they can dry out. They will dry into very hardy stakes that can be used the following year to support your new sunflowers. In addition, the stems can be cut to size to support numerous other plants. 

Choose Disease Resistant Varieties

Why are my sunflowers dying? Overall, sunflowers are reasonably disease-resistant, but they can succumb to the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which causes the stalk and flowerhead to rot. They can also be affected by downy mildew, gray mold, sunflower rust, and stem canker. A sunflower dying could be due to one of these diseases and the best treatment is to provide adequate growing conditions in the first instance so your sunflowers are less susceptible. It is also essential that any diseased plants are lifted and completely removed as this fungus can remain in the soil and affect other plants nearby or new plants that are planted in the same location the following year.

Some disease-resistant varieties of sunflowers to consider are: Ring of Fire, Teddy Bear and Vincent’s Choice.

How Long Will a Cut Sunflower Last?

Usually, cut sunflowers last around ten days in a vase of water, but some petals might drop after about seven days.

How To Revive A Sunflower In The Vase: 5 Ways!

First, it is essential to always place sunflowers in water immediately after cutting them from your garden or purchasing them from a store. If, after a few days, you notice your sunflowers dying in the vase or wilting, try the following five tips to revive your cut sunflowers:

Trim the stems

Thoroughly wash your vase before use. Then, trim the stems at an angle using sharp scissors or a pruner. This is essential as the end of the stem will seal after harvesting and needs to be reopened to enable adequate water to be drawn up to the flowerhead. Cutting at an angle also enhances how much water can be drawn upwards and reduces the amount of stem in contact with the bottom of the vase. This will lessen the risk of bacteria contaminating both the stem and water.

Add tepid water to your vase

If using cut flowers from your garden or yard, water the plant thoroughly, ideally in the morning, so it is fully hydrated before cutting. If using shop-bought flowers, soak the stems for an hour beforehand. Use tepid water in your vase to enable the stems to draw more water up to the flowerhead.

Change the water

Change the water every two to three days or when it looks cloudy. At the same time, remove any dying foliage and recut the bottom of the stems at an angle again to maximize water uptake.

Add sugar and lemon to the vase

Make your own flower food by dissolving half a teaspoon of sugar, a teaspoon of lemon juice and a few drops of bleach in four cups of water and stir into the vase water. bloomiq.com/cutflowers/8

Place out of direct sunlight

Can sunflowers get too much sun?  As cut flowers indoors, the answer is yes! While sunflowers growing in pots or the ground require lots of sunlight, as cut flowers, it is best to keep them out of direct sunlight to prolong their life. Also, avoid placing near ripening fruit due to the ethylene gas the fruit emits.

Sunflower Care Tips

Water Properly

The correct watering of sunflowers will depend upon which stage of growth they are at.

It is essential for seeds to keep the soil moist but not soggy until signs of germination occur, usually within ten days. As young seedlings, water in the morning or early evenings, and again just enough to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. If you notice your sunflower seedlings drooping, it could be from either overwatering or, in contrast, the soil is too dry.

As your sunflowers mature, they are usually drought-resistant due to their long tap roots. However, they will need watering in times of little or no rainfall. This is best done early in the morning or the evening. Whether growing in pots or the open ground, ensure the water reaches the bottom of the tap root. The soil should be moist, but allows excess water to drain away. The causes of a dying sunflower could be that you have an overwatered sunflower, and the roots and base stem could be rotting. Another reason for a sunflower dying is underwatering during prolonged periods of no rain or hot temperatures.

Keep it Stable

Sunflowers dislike root disturbance, some taller varieties could suffer if grown in an open space with high winds. To keep it stable, it will be necessary to use a bamboo or tree stake, ensuring the end of the stake extends approximately 1 to 1 ½ feet below ground level. Gently tie the stem to the stake using a soft string or similar. Make sure you allow room for the stem to grow and expand within the string. 

Other alternatives are to plant taller varieties at the back of the border or secure to a fence or trellis. 

Keep The Foes Away

After all the work involved in growing your sunflowers, it is only natural that you will want to enjoy these beautiful sunny flowers right to the end. Keeping foes away will be essential in achieving this. The following are some of the common pests that might be attracted to your sunflowers and the best way to deter them.

Aphids

Aphids will usually be noticeable on the underside of the leaves. If you are wondering why are my sunflower leaves turning yellow, it could be because of these tiny green insects sucking the goodness out of them. If it is a small infestation, they can be removed by hand by gently rubbing away. For larger infestations, try blasting with water on mature plants, apply an organic pesticide, or only use a chemical pesticide as a last resort.

Squirrels

It will be challenging to keep squirrels away from your sunflowers—or anything else that takes their fancy, for that matter. However, we have a few suggestions you might find helpful for protecting your sunflowers, which might also apply to other plants.

Bearing in mind that the squirrels will be after the ripened flowerhead seeds, you could cover the flowerhead with netting or aluminum foil until ready to harvest. Other options are making cardboard collars or use a post-surgery pet animal cone collar if you have one to hand. Some gardeners have had success by planting extra tomatoes nearby to attract squirrels as another food source. Another tip is to provide a feeding station of bird seed in another part of your yard or garden. This will attract both squirrels and birds away from your sunflowers.

Slugs & Snails

Slugs and snails love the tender leaves of sunflowers, particularly young seedlings. They also eat the flowers and seeds, leaving behind destroyed plants and trails of slime. As birds and other wildlife feed on slugs and snails, it is best to use natural remedies to deter these predators and avoid poisoning them. Only resort to chemical control if necessary. Natural methods include removing by hand or applying broken eggshells around the base of the plant. Other natural remedies are placing beer traps or scatter coffee grounds around the base of the plant.pestsbanned.com/slugs/do-slugs-eat-sunflower-leaves/ Attracting more natural predators such as birds or frogs is also a good method. Note: Birds also like to feed on sunflower seeds but usually go for an easier option, such as a bird-friendly feeding station.

Keep the Friends Close

As mentioned above, natural predators are one of the better ways to deter pests from your sunflowers and other plants in general. In addition to frogs and birds, the following are also beneficial.

Ladybirds

There are many varieties of ladybirds, or ladybugs, as they are sometimes referred to. Most are red with either two, seven, fourteen, or even twenty-two spots. A yellow ladybird with black spots, known as the harlequin, is also common in Europe and North America.  Although the yellow and red ladybirds consume pests such as aphids, greenfly and scale insects, the yellow harlequin will also consume the red ladybirds. So, red ladybirds are the ones to encourage into your garden or yard. A ladybird larvae will consume between two to five thousand aphids during its lifetime. Ladybirds like pollen-rich flowers such as marigolds and yarrow, if you grow these plants, you will attract them to your garden or yard. They are also attracted to nettles if you can leave a little space to let them grow. Try to avoid spraying pesticides at the first sign of an aphid infestation. This way, along with the attraction of the right flowers,  ladybirds will see your garden or yard as a feeding ground and will soon establish themselves as natural predators against aphids.

Bees

The well-being of our natural ecosystems is directly linked to the health of bees and other pollinators. Without pollinators, many of the plants we rely on for both food and the garden would not be able to fruit, set seed or continue to exist.

Sunflowers, with their bright yellow flowerheads, are a massive attraction to bees. The hundreds of small tubular flowers loaded with nectar and pollen are an ideal food source for bees.

Tip: Try growing both early and late-flowering sunflowers to provide an extended feeding period for bees.

Vigilant About The Diseases

Sunflowers are generally quite hardy if all their growing requirements are met. However, rust, powdery mildew and verticillium wilt can cause problems, as explained in more detail. 

Rust will present itself as red patches that grow into red bumps and are mostly seen on the underside of the leaves. Overwatering sunflowers are one of the main causes. To remedy, remove and dispose of affected leaves to increase the chance of survival, then treat with a fungicide.

Powdery mildew is a fungus and can be prevented by watering the plant at the base to keep the foliage dry. Also, consider buying disease-resistant varieties of sunflowers as mentioned above, and allow for ventilation by not planting too close together. There are many fungicides available to treat this fungus.

Verticillium wilt will cause yellowing of leaves that eventually drop off. The stems and branches will also die back and sometimes only present on one side of the plant. The only cure is to dig up and discard the plant.  Avoid planting similar plants in the same area for a couple of years as the disease can live on in the soil. gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/get-the-cure-for-powdery-mildew.htm

Weather is Crucial

Sunflowers thrive in the sun, with daytime temperatures around 70-78F and cooler evenings. They will not survive frost. Good drainage and air circulation are essential in humid conditions to prevent them from developing fungal diseases. Strong winds can cause stems to bend and root disturbance. To avoid this, plant your sunflowers in a sheltered position and ensure the taller varieties are well supported.

Mulch

A 2-inch layer of mulch will benefit sunflowers by helping prevent soil moisture loss and weeds from competing for space and nutrients. Mulch with straw, compost, or bark chips.

Pruning

Pruning sunflowers is optional and not necessary if you want to grow tall plants with a single flowerhead. However, if you have mass planting, you should remove unnecessary side stems and foliage to aid air circulation. Simply use sharp scissors or pruners and remove crowded growth from the sides, taking care not to cut the main stem while keeping the top leaves intact.

Final Words

We hope you have found this article helpful and inspiring. Growing sunflowers can bring a lot of joy to your garden and help wildlife and the environment. Here at Gardeners Yards, we welcome you to send in pictures of your homegrown sunflowers.