How To Care for Your Sunflowers

Beauty at its finest. The sunflower needs no introduction — but it’s more than worthy of one. This brilliant flower is as day-brightening as the sun itself. It’s fittingly associated with joy, good cheer, happiness, optimism, and the kind of radiant spirit that’s capable of turning every day around.

Who wouldn’t be enamored? Robust yellow petals aren’t all that the sunflower has going for it. The beloved flower adds rich color to summer landscapes when it blooms in the heat, remaining in play until fall’s first frost arrives. Even then, you may catch a glimpse of yellow before the chill truly sets in for the season.

More than just their beautiful color, sunflowers are noteworthy for their interesting characteristics. Some can grow as tall as 16 feet. They also earned their name for their wondrous habit of tracking the sun. They’re heliotropes, which means that in the morning, flower buds face east and follow the sun’s path throughout the day. How’s that for magical?

If you’re the lucky recipient of a sunflower bouquet, treat it with the TLC that it deserves! This radiant arrangement will add joy to your days just as long as it receives the care it needs. How can you be sure yours will thrive and stay fresh? Keep this information handy so your sunflowers continue to radiate with joy and optimism. Sunflower care requires time and effort, but the rewards are well worth it.

Caring for Your Sunflowers

Sunshine Day
Moisture Management
Temperature Needs
Excess Foliage
Regular Maintenance
Growing Your Own
Giving the Gift of Sunflowers

Sunshine Day

Is it any wonder that sunflowers love sunlight? These bright beauties do their best in their natural habitat. Keep your arrangement in a space where they can soak up full sunshine for anywhere from six to eight hours a day. That sunlight does a lot for the integrity of the sunflower, whose stems will grow thick and robust to provide support for the large petals. If your home is more shaded or you lack a spot where you can keep the arrangement in an adequate amount of sunlight for the needed amount of time, use a grow light instead.

Moisture Management

Water is vital to your sunflowers’ health. While they are tolerant of both drought and heat, you don’t want to introduce them to those conditions unnecessarily. Make sure they’re properly hydrated by placing them in a vase full of clean, lukewarm water. Add some flower food for a nutritious boost. To ensure that your stems receive the most amount of moisture possible, trim them at a 45-degree angle every other day. This will help your flowers look their best for as long as possible.

Temperature Needs

Just as sunflowers do their best when exposed to consistent sunlight, they also fare well when they’re placed in a setting that replicates their preferred warm-weather climate. This is, after all, the ultimate summer flower, so aim to facilitate their growth in a space that’s warm. Daytime temperatures should fall between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Excess Foliage

Check your arrangement carefully before placing it in water. Are there any leaves that fall below the waterline? If that’s the case, now is the time to snip them away. Otherwise, you risk introducing unwelcome bacteria to the vase, which affects how long your flowers live and leave them more vulnerable to premature wilting. No one likes a sad sunflower, so do your best to support them — this little move can add days to their life!

Regular Maintenance

Part of responsible sunflower plant care involves regular maintenance. To keep them happy and peppy, try to follow your care plan regularly. Daily care works best, as this lets you examine the stems carefully and confirm that they’re doing well. Change the water daily, trim the stems on schedule, and make sure they’re receiving adequate sunlight. If it’s not enough, don’t be afraid to shift them somewhere else. A warm and sunny room is great, but that grow light will come in enormously helpful if it’s your only option.

Growing Your Own

If you’re more of a DIYer and love to give your green thumb a workout, you’ll yield amazing rewards when you grow your own sunflowers. In general, the same sunflower care tips apply. The best spot to grow them is somewhere that receives plenty of direct sunlight for at least eight hours every day.

The quality of your soil plays a significant role, too. While sunflowers aren’t too picky, the soil should at least drain well. Avoid anything too compact and focus on providing your seeds with plenty of nutrients and a slow-release fertilizer to create a welcoming environment for growth.

To help them grow tall and shapely, plant the seeds approximately six inches apart from each other. That allows them enough room to thrive, without the possibility that they’ll rub against one another and disrupt growth patterns. During these early stages, water the roots deeply but infrequently. This will help establish robust roots without leaving them vulnerable to rot. Once a week is optimal.

Don’t overfeed your sunflowers, as this can shorten their life span in the fall. Instead, focus on supportive care. A touch of fertilizer added to water is usually enough to provide what they need during this growing stage. If you’re growing taller sunflowers, use bamboo stakes to hold them securely.

Finally, be mindful of the fact that sunflowers are just as appealing to certain critters as they are to you. Squirrels and birds are drawn to them. Fortunately, insects tend to steer clear. If there are deer in your neighborhood, keep them at a distance by surrounding your sunflowers with protective wire barriers.

Giving the Gift of Sunflowers

There’s no question of the humble sunflower’s impact. To brighten up anyone’s day, The Double The Sonny brings incredible joy and cheer. It brims with an abundance of the beloved flower, making it a lovely choice when you want to bring a smile to someone’s face.

Another option that honors the sunflower’s summer ties is The Solstice. This aptly named arrangement features a medley of bright yellow flowers mingling alongside rich greenery — including an artful succulent that adds a little textural appeal to the mix.

Sunflowers look great with other flowers, too! They’re just that versatile, making The Sierra a chic choice for dressing up a home or office. Lively pink and blue vie for the spotlight while varying textures lend the bouquet an artisanal quality.

Whether you receive them or grow them, sunflowers deserve only the very best. These easy tips will ensure they look their best and bring continued sunshine to your every day.