We all know sunflowers also known as Helianthus annuus bloom beautifully and provide nutritious sunflower seeds. They are even the best companion plants to protect against damage to other plants that need less sunlight. Sunflowers indeed love the sun, but do sunflowers need a lot of water too? Let’s find out the answer to this question in this article.
Do sunflowers need a lot of water?
This may be surprising but sunflowers are drought resistant, which means less maintenance and you can take that trip without any worry, your sunflowers will be as healthy as you left them.
Watering schedule
- Water every day for 7-11 days until germination takes place
- Water at least 1 inch per week to keep the soil moist, if you thought sunflowers like to be wet, you are correct wet but flooded – moist soil is perfect for them.
Attention
If you are growing them in a vase full of water, keep in mind the following steps-
- All the leaves shall be cut below the waterline to prevent damage due to overflooding
- Cut a small section of the stem at an angle which is under water – it will lead to healthy growth just like you go to trim your hair.
- Place the cut stem in another container with fresh water for the new growth
- Add a tsp of sugar, 2 tsp lemon juice, and ½ or 1 tsp of vinegar in water to keep sunflowers healthy and prevent early wilting
- Ensure that after cutting they aren’t placed under direct harsh sunlight
- Focus on checking the water and changing it.
If sunflowers are grown in pots
If you are wondering, can I grow sunflowers in pots? let me tell you one advantage of potted sunflowers is that they can be kept indoors or outdoors, but do sunflowers need a lot of water indoors too?
You may cut down on water as the evaporation may be lesser as compared to outdoor just to keep the soil moist.
Ensure the following for a perfect potted sunflower-
- The pot is spacious with seeds sown in the 1-inch-deep hole
- The soil is treated with manure before the sowing begins
- Soil is of temperature between 55 to 65 degrees F for proper germination
- Pot had drainage holes to prevent waterlogging Do Sunflowers Need a Lot of Water
- Keep the soil moist, ensure seedlings get 1 inch of water per week
- Use a balanced fertilizer for nutrition after 2-4 weeks as per the requirement
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs):-
Q1. Do Sunflowers Need a Lot of Water?
Ans. Overwatering is not recommended as it can lead to root rot, sunflower is drought resistant so relax and water the plants that really need it.
Q2. Why Should Do Sunflowers Need a Lot of Water?
Ans. Yes, but only till the seedlings come out, after that they only require 1 inch of water per week for optimal growth.
Q3. Do Sunflowers Need a Lot of Water, is it Bad for Sunflowers?
Ans. Yes, too much of anything is bad for everyone, sunflowers can not stay in an waterlogged environment, so to prevent them from developing root rot, don’t water them daily.
Q4. How many days can sunflowers grow without water?
Ans. Not many days, if the weather is too hot, sprinkle some water daily, but if not leave \a few days of watering.
Q5. Do sunflowers need full sun to grow optimally in summer?
Ans. Yes, they need sunlight of at least 7-8 hours per day to bloom perfectly so find the perfect spot before sowing the seeds.
Q6. Are sunflowers thirsty?
Ans. Not always if the soil is moist, but if you think the sun is too harsh on them sprinkle some water daily.
Q7. How long do sunflowers last?
Ans. The plant lasts for 3-4 months depending upon the variety but the flowers bloom for a week or two but then you can have those nutritious sunflower seeds.
Q8. Do sunflowers need a lot of water even if the flowers have died and fallen off naturally?
Ans. An annual variety will need no watering with no new stems left, but don’t forget perennials are watering to grow more, although you can store the sunflowers fresh in water for some days for decorative purposes.
