Do you love the bright colors of Sunflowers and wish you can wake up each day to the sights of these colorful flowers?
Then you would want to know if you can grow Sunflowers in pots to bring their cheeriness indoors.
Luckily, Sunflowers can be grown in pots but the question is, “what is the best pot size for Sunflowers?”
This step-by-step guide will show you how to grow Sunflowers in pots , the best pot size to use, and the right seeds to use choose. What more? This guide also contains the necessary planting and care instructions for Sunflowers.
Do Sunflowers Grow Well in Pots?
A Sunflower, also known as Helianthus annuus, will grow well and perfectly in pots. All you need is to use a pot of the right size for the Sunflower.
Some varieties of Sunflower grow much bigger than other varieties.
So be sure to check the height information of the Sunflower variety you’re purchasing on the seed packet.
Growing Sunflowers in Pots
If you’re new to growing Sunflowers in pots, here’s what you need to know to achieve success:
1). Choose the right Sunflower seed
The first thing you need to do is to get your seeds. There are lots of Sunflower varieties to choose from. These varieties come in different colors, heights, textures, and flower sizes.
With all these choices available, you can easily find one that will suit your space, color scheme, and garden style. Tall sunflower varieties include Mongolian Giant, Mammoth Giant, and Russian Giant. All these can grow up to 3m in height.
Sunflowers are not limited to the yellow color. The Velvet Queen, Red Giant, and Prado Red are all exotic red shades. The Prado Yellow, Choco Sun, and Hallo are all good for bold yellow color.
If you need some lovely white varieties with chocolate brown centers, try Italian White, Moonwalker, or Moonlight. You can grow the Teddy Bear Sunflowers for kids – they are dwarf, very compact, and have wonderfully soft, fluffy flower heads.
Other dwarf sunflower varieties include Elf, Elegance, and Little Becka, which grow 16in. to 36in. tall. Lemon Queen Sunflower can grow about 5ft. (1.5m) tall.
2). Choose the right pot size for Sunflowers
The best pot size to grow your Sunflowers depends on the number of sunflowers you want to plant in each pot, as well as the height of the sunflowers you want to plant. The right pot size for dwarf Sunflowers is about 12in. to 16in. (30cm. to 41cm) while mammoth Sunflowers need a pot that can hold about 5 gallons (19L).
More so, use pots with about 15 cm to 20 cm diameter to grow mammoth Sunflowers, and pots with about 10 cm to 15 cm diameter to grow dwarf varieties.
Even if you make the wrong choice of pot size when planting your Sunflower seeds, you can always re-pot your Sunflowers into a larger pot if you notice that your Sunflowers have grown too big for the original pot, so you don’t need to worry too much about getting the right pot size from the beginning.
If you don’t have a pot but repurposing a previously used container for growing Sunflowers, make sure that the repurposed container is clean and sterile.
You should also make drainage holes in the container. Without these drainage holes, your Sunflower seeds may rot. Also, place a saucer or plate underneath the container to collect run-off water.
3). Prepare the pot for sunflower
Fill in the pot with well-drained quality topsoil, compost, or well moistened, good quality potting mix. Keep the soil or compost moist but not soggy. The soil should have a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5 and contain over 3% organic content.
Make sure that the pot has drainage holes to prevent the Sunflower seeds from getting rot. If you’re repurposing a previously used container, make it clean and sterile.
3). Planting the Sunflower seed
Now that you have gotten the right seed and prepared the right pot, the next step is to plant the Sunflower seeds.
Plant the seeds a half-inch to 1in. deep into the potted soil and 4in. to 5in. (10cm to 13cm) apart but don’t sow them too close to the edges of the pot.
Keep the soil moist and not soggy. You may add a thin layer of compost to the top of the soil after sowing the seeds.
Normally, it takes about seven to 10 days for the seeds to germinate. But the amount of time it takes for Sunflowers to grow depends on factors like the variety you choose, the weather, and the time of year. Sunflowers grow faster in warmer temperatures and longer days.
There should always be an indication on the back of the seed packet to show you how soon your sunflowers would bloom after planting. If you’re in a rush, choose a fast-growing Sunflower variety.
Sunflowers grow best in locations with full sun. Place the pot in an area that receives plenty of direct sunlight for six to eight hours daily. Keep the temperature between 75°F to 85°F. Sunflowers prefer long, hot summers to flower well, but can also grow well in locations with shorter summers.
4). Care for the growing Sunflower seedlings
When the seedlings have grown to about 3-in.ch to 6-inch, you may need to transplant them individual pots or larger pots of about 12-inche to 18-inch deep.
Plant one Sunflower plant per 8in. pot or three Sunflower plants per 15-inch. pot. Just make sure that you properly spread out the plants. Sometimes, you can keep the seedlings 6in. apart.
Keep the potted soil moist and well weeded. Use netting or plastic berry baskets to protect seedlings from hungry or nesting birds.
5). How Much Water Do Sunflowers Need?
Sunflowers need regular watering to keep them healthy. Also, water is one of the key elements necessary for growth – alongside sunlight and good soil.
Always check the soil, potting mix, or compost in the pots regularly, and water them if it feels dry. While you’re aiming to keep the soil or compost moist, don’t get it soggy.
Sunflowers need more water in the early stages of their growth. We recommend that you give your Sunflowers at least 2 gallons (7.6L) of water a week while the seeds are sprouting. This will help them to build strong stems.
Sunflower plants that don’t get enough water during their early stages will have thin and weak stems that can’t hold the heavy flower head upright.
Conclusion
Growing sunflowers in pots is an easy and interesting task. Simply choose the right Sunflower variety and the right pot size and within a few weeks, you would have your Sunflower blooming in your home.