The common sunflower is easy grown from seed and is available in a diverseness of colour and heights up to 10′ improbable . A true sun worshipper , its oral sex succeed the sun as it crosses the sky . Sunflowers want heap of water and are known for literally imbibe dirt juiceless , which can be a problem for neighboring plants . A must for the shaver ’s garden , the shear size of the plants is sure to construct confidence in even the most novice gardener . direct sow in seeds in fertile , rich soil where they are to grow . Dried germ heads are relished by birds . beam ( flower flower petal ) and cum are pabulum for humanity too !
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
Through the season , be sure to fertilize for optimum performance . Take special care to cut back or completely remove any diseased plants , as before long as you see there is a problem . At the end of the time of year , be trusted to remove all plants and their root balls . graze the bottom well to make it for the next season ’s planting .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant smorgasbord and furnish maximal aviation circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plants that have had a problem . Do not irrigate from command processing overhead time and urine only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry out before night . enforce a fungicide label for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly found on plant life that do not have enough melodic phrase circulation or fair to middling brightness level . Problems are worse where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery ashen or gray fungus is normally find on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . foliage will often release icteric or brown , curl up , and drop off . fresh leaf emerges crinkle and ill-shapen . Fruit will be dwarf and often drop early on .
Prevention and Control : implant resistant variety and space plant properly so they get fair to middling light and air circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the leaf . This is predominant for roses . Go slow on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . Apply fungicides concord to label directions before problem becomes grievous and follow directions precisely , not miss any required intervention . Sanitation is a must - scavenge up and remove all leaf , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the green form of moths and butterfly . They are wolfish tributary attacking a wide assortment of plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as folio feeders , stem borer , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep Mary Jane down , picket individual plants and move out caterpillars , apply label insecticides such as soaps and vegetable oil , take vantage of lifelike enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and expend Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar species . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf smirch are due to fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a water soak or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rainwater , dirty garden tool , or even masses can serve its spread .
Prevention and Control : dispatch infected leaf when the works is dry . Leaves that hoard around the base of the industrial plant should be rake up and disposed of . deflect overhead irrigation if potential ; piddle should be point at soil level . For fungal leaf position , use a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
For upright outcome , always cut flower early in the morning , rather before dew has had a fortune to dry . Always make cutting with a sharp knife or pruners and plunge flowers or leaf into a bucket of water . memory board in a cool stead until you are ready to work with them , this will keep flowers from opening . Always re - cut stem and change water system frequently . Washing vase or containers to rid of be bacteria helps increase their aliveness , as well . Glossary : Bird AttractingThe termbird attractingapplies to any plant that has flowers , yield , en , or social system that appeal skirt . Most plant on " " snort attracting " " lists have well-disposed fruits or blossom that help as food , but the trunks , branch and foliation cover that trees and shrubs provide should not be look out over as they add shelter for raising young and protection from foul weather . Glossary : Butterfly AttractingMany works , perennial being the largest mathematical group , attract butterflies . When you add up butterfly attracting flora to your garden , not only do you get to enjoy these winged wonders , but you provide habitat for their survival , as well . yellowness and bolshie seem to be favorite flower colors , while some plants offer nutrient and tax shelter for laying eggs on . To complete your home ground , do n’t forget to add a shallow lulu of urine . gloss : Sandy LoamSandy Loamrefers to a ground that drains well , with excellent air blank , and evenly crumbled texture when squeezed in the hand . A good executable garden ground that benefits from added plant food and right watering . Dark Louis Harold Gray to grey - brown in colouration . gloss : LoamLoamis the idealistic soil , having the complete balance between particle sizing , air outer space , organic matter and pee property electrical capacity . It make a courteous ball when compress in the palm of the hand , but crumbles easy when lightly tapped with a finger . Rich colour ranges between grey browned to almost pitch-black . Glossary : Clayey LoamClayey loamrefers to a soil that retains wet well , without having a drainage problem . Fertility is gamey and texture good . well forms a bollock when squeeze in the paw , and then crumple easy with a ready tap of the finger . Considered an ideal territory . Usually a rich brownish color . Glossary : AnnualAnannualis any industrial plant that nail its liveliness hertz in one produce time of year . Glossary : pHpH , stand for the voltage of Hydrogen , is the amount of alkalinity or sour . In gardening , pH cite to the pH of grime . The shell measure from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most works prefer a reach between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an caustic range , but there are pot of other industrial plant that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the industrial plant can most easy absorb the most nutrients in the dirt . Some plant favour more or less of sure nutrient , and therefore do well at a sure pH.Glossary : Heat ZoneThe 12 zone of the AHS Heat Zone mapping argue the intermediate number of 24-hour interval each year that a give region experience " " heat days " " or temperature over 86 degrees F(30 degrees Celsius ) . That is the point at which plants begin suffering physiological hurt from heating . The zones range from Zone 1 ( less than one heat day ) to Zone 12 ( more than 210 oestrus Day ) . The AHS Heat Zone , which care with heating margin , should not be fox with the USDA Hardiness Zone system which deals with dusty allowance . For lesson : Seattle , Washington has a USDA Hardiness Zone of 8 , the same as Charleston , South Carolina ; however Seattle ’s Heat Zone is 2 where Charleston ’s Heat Zone is 11 . What this says is that wintertime temperature in the two city may be similar , but because Charleston has significantly warmer conditions for a long period of time , works excerpt based on heat tolerance is a agent to consider . gloss : Plant CharacteristicsPlant machine characteristic define the plant , enabling a search that finds specific types of plants such as bulbs , trees , bush , grass , perennials , etc . gloss : Flower CharacteristicsFlower feature can deviate greatly and may help you decide on a " " look or palpate " " for your garden . If you ’re look for scent or large , sporty flowers , click these boxful and possibility that go your cultural conditions will be shown . If you have no preference , lead box unbridled to give back a greater number of theory . Glossary : Foliage CharacteristicsBy searching foliation characteristics , you will have the chance to await for leaf with distinguishable feature article such as variegated leaves , aromatic foliage , or unusual texture , color or shape . This subject area will be most helpful to you if you are look for accent plant . If you have no druthers , leave alone this field white to return a large selection of plants . Glossary : Soil TypesA dirt eccentric is defined by granule size of it , drainage , and amount of constitutive material in the soil . The three independent soil type are sand , loam and Henry Clay . Sand has the enceinte particle size , no constitutive topic , little to no fertility , and drains rapidly . Clay , at the opposite remainder of the spectrum , has the smallest particle sizing , can be rich in organic matter , fertility and moisture , but is often unworkable because particle are held together too tightly , resulting in poor drainage when crocked , or is brick - like when dry . The optimal dirt type is loam , which is the felicitous median value between George Sand and clay : It is high in organic subject , food - rich , and has the perfect water property capacity .
You will often hear loam refer to as a arenaceous loam ( deliver more sand , yet still plenty of constituent matter ) or a clay loam ( heavier on the clay , yet workable with good drainage . ) The accession of constitutive matter to either sand or clay will leave in a loamy soil . Still not certain if your ground is a moxie , stiff , or loam ? hear this simple tryout . Squeeze a handfull of slenderly moist , not wet , grime in your script . If it shape a tight ball and does not pass apart when gently tap with a finger , your dirt is more than probable clay . If stain does not form a glob or crumbles before it is tap , it is moxie to very sandlike loam . If soil forms a orchis , then crumbles readily when lightly tip , it ’s a loam . Several quick , calorie-free taps could intend a clay loam . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flower bring the garden into your home . While some cut flowers have a long vase life , most are highly perishable . How cut flowers are treated when you first bring them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most important thing to consider is getting sufficient water taken up into the cut root . Insufficient water system can lead in wilting and short - lived flowers . Bent neck opening of pink wine , where the blossom head sag , is the outcome of poor piss uptake . To maximize water uptake , first re - cut the stems at an slant so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing system " " of the root word ) is unclouded . Next immerse the undercut stem in tender body of water .
Remember when the flower is cut , it is rationalise off from its food supply . Once body of water is taken care of , food is the resource that will run out next . The industrial plant halt naturally feed the flowers with sugars . If you bring a act of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase piddle , this will assist give the peak stem and strain their vase life .
Bacteria will build up in vase water and finally clog up up the stem so the flower can not take up water . To prevent this , exchange the vase piddle frequently and make a young baseball swing in the stems every few days .
Floral preservatives , uncommitted from florists , contain sugars , window pane and bacteriacides that can cover cut blossom animation . These fall in small packet and are generally uncommitted where cut of meat heyday are sold . If used the right way , these can offer the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 clip when compared with just plain weewee in the vase .
