If you want to enjoy the canary yellow blooms, then here’s everything about How To Grow Sunflowers On The Balcony for a fantastic display!
Sunflowers are gorgeous plants that can brighten up any space. Here’s all you need to know about How To Grow Sunflowers On The Balcony to attract attention from people and bees alike!
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Best Types of Sunflowers for the Balcony
As sunflowers can get quite tall, you must choose a variety that stays compact while giving you big yellow flowers! Dwarf Sunflowers are the best choice, and here are the best ones you can grow!
1. Elf
One of the most popular sunflowers to grow, this plant grows upto a mere 12-16 inches. They grow in beautiful yellow clusters that will make your balcony look stunning!
2. Dwarf Incredible
The plant offers full-sized flowers on mini stems. It grows up to 10-14 inches tall, and its compact size makes it ideal for small containers.
3. Pacino
The Pacino sunflower grows to a maximum height of 14-24 inches and blooms multiple flowers that look great when planted in an ornamental pot.
4. Suntastic Yellow
This variety can grow up to 16-20 inches tall. It grows small-sized flowers with dark yellow- gold petals and a black center.
5. Teddy Bear
They don’t look like the typical sunflowers but do look quite amazing. They are also edible and you can use them in salads! The plant grows up to 14-18 inches tall.
6. Little Becka
Growing up to 2-3 feet tall, it is not as compact as the other dwarf varieties but does look the part with large flowers having red-brown faces.
7. Pale Purple Berkheya
Light and unique, these sunflowers grown in small bunches of lilac shaded blooms. They grow upto 12-16 inches and flower in the late summer.
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8. Topolino
This variety produces a lot of flowers in a bright shade of canary yellow per plant! The plant attains a height of 18-24 inches.
9. Firecracker
One of the smallest varieties, it looks great in small pots with its 10-14 inches of height. It produces large flowers with an orange-golden hue.
How to Grow Sunflowers on Balcony
1. Choose the Right Pot
Select a big pot with drainage holes. Sunflowers have long roots, so the pot should be at least 12 inches deep and wide enough to allow proper growth.
Most of the dwarf varieties do well in 10-12 inches pots. You will need a bigger container if you are growing multiple plants together. You can also use plant stands to provide more height to the pots.
2. Use Quality Soil
These plants are not too fussy about the soil, so you don’t have to worry too much about this part. As the roots of the plant like to spread, they do great in well-draining, loose soil, and slightly acidic soil.
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3. Plant the Seeds
Plant sunflower seeds about 1 inch deep in the soil. Space them out, leaving at least 6 inches between each seed. Press the soil gently over the seeds.
4. Sunlight is Key
Sunflowers are in love with sunlight and need quite a lot of it to bloom perfectly. If you have a south or west-facing balcony, then your plants are going to flower without any difficulty! For prolific blooms, the plant should receive 5-6 hours of direct sun.
5. Water Wisely
Naturally, sunflowers are drought-tolerant, so avoid overwatering them at all costs. Make sure that you are using pots with drainage holes that allow the excess water to seep out.
As the plants will be out in the open on a balcony, getting a lot of sun and air, it would be wise to water them regularly.
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Growing sunflowers can be a fun and rewarding experience. Just give them love, sunlight, and water, and soon you’ll have beautiful sunflowers brightening up your balcony!
Sunflower Growing Tip: Want to grow sunflower in container? Make sure you provide some support. You can use a stake or a small trellis to help them stand straight. Tie the stems gently for support as they grow.
Taking Care of Sunflowers in Balcony
Fertilizer
Add plenty of organic matter to the soil as sunflowers are heavy feeders. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer once in 4 weeks to ensure the plants stay healthy and bloom profusely! Do read the label for dosage and instructions.
Pests & Diseases
Sunflowers are susceptible to wireworms, mealybugs, and diseases like mildew and blight. Use insecticidal soap to get rid of the pests, and always ensure you prune infected leaves and stems, so the disease does not spread throughout.
Deadheading
Snip away the fading flowers along with their stalks to encourage new blooms. It also makes the plants look neat.
Here’s how to deadhead sunflowers the right way
Support and Shelter
While growing these plants in a balcony, they will be susceptible to winds. Make sure they are protected by growing alongside walls. The stems can sometimes droop with the flowers’ weight, so you can provide support of wooden sticks.
FAQs
Q: How often should I water my balcony sunflowers?
Water your sunflowers regularly, making sure the soil is moist but not soggy. Water them when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Q: How do I protect my balcony sunflowers from pests?
Keep an eye out for pests like aphids and mealybugs. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to remove them gently from your plants.
Q: What should I do with the sunflower heads after they bloom?
You can harvest the sunflower heads once the petals wilt. Let them dry in a warm, airy place, and then you can enjoy the seeds or save them for planting next year.
Q: How tall do dwarf sunflowers grow?
Dwarf sunflowers usually grow between 10 to 24 inches tall, making them perfect for balcony gardens with limited space.
