Sunflowers are one of the most beautiful, heartening flowers in existence. Their beautiful petals seem to spread sunlight, and the plants offer healthy oils, bird seeds, and beneficial oil. Native to the Americas, sunflowers enjoy and require the sun’s light – needing about eight hours of sunlight each day.
According to Guinness, sunflowers grow to different heights, with the tallest rising to just over thirty feet. There are so many reasons you should bring the beauty of sunflowers into your home and your garden, but when you do, it’s important to know how to care for them, as well.
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Why Sunflower Plants Are Good for Homes
Sunflowers are great plants for the home. They symbolize positivity, life, and joy. These cheery flowers offer an instant feel-good effect for most people.
Sunflowers have been used to treat fevers, sores, spider and snake bites, malaria, and lung illnesses. While the most common color is yellow, other varieties are copper, red, brown, and orange. They are pretty easy to cultivate as they don’t need much attention and can flourish in most soil.
The tiniest variety, dwarf sunflowers, can be grown in a 15-cm container with a soil-based potting mix. Many sunflowers are annuals planted in May and wilting in August. However, perennial sunflower varieties live for two years.
Are Sunflowers Good for Feng Shui?
Feng shui has been used to encourage positive energy and balance in your home. Good feng shui is all about balance, and the bright, sunny nature of sunflowers can bring positivity to any room. Whether live or artificial, the sunflower represents happiness and attracts good luck.
An artificial sunflower plant can certainly be incorporated successfully into your feng shui. Yellow and orange varieties give off positive, sunny vibes around your room. They also provide a feeling of warmth and comfort.
Artificial sunflowers are also perfect for those with seasonal allergies. When placing your artificial sunflowers, concentrate on the rooms in your home that will have the most significant influence on your positivity. Sunflowers can calm you before bedtime if placed in your bedroom.
Sunflower Plants Are Easy to Grow and Maintain Any Time of the Year
Sunflowers are great in the garden, but they grow well indoors if the conditions are favorable. No matter the time of year, if you place them in the correct position to receive about eight hours a day from the sun or grow lights and water them weekly, they will flourish.
Start with the right home for your sunflower. Small variety sunflowers can grow in one- or two-gallon containers. Larger species need five-gallon containers, 12 to 18 inches deep.
Sow your seeds carefully. Poke the seeds into the soil about one inch deep. Use well-draining soil and keep it moist while the seeds germinate, watering them each day. When planting them outdoors, they are placed about a foot apart. Inside, you should plant them closer.
Once they have germinated and have started to grow, only water them about every five to ten days. Make sure you keep the top four to six inches of the soil moist. If you fertilize, follow the directions as the application time differs for each product.
When the sunflowers begin to grow, place them in the spot they will remain. The best place for sunflowers is near west- or south-facing windows, getting six to eight hours of sun daily. The best sunflower varieties for indoor growing include Little Becka, Moulin Rouge, and Taiyo.
How Do Sunflower Seeds Grow?
Growing sunflowers outdoor is a pretty easy task. Perfect for your garden or vegetable garden, they can serve as border plants, providing height to your flower bed. Time planting for late spring when the ground has warmed up.
To grow your sunflowers from seeds, start by picking the sunniest area. Remember that those plants nearby may be shaded by them as they grow tall. Next, prepare your soil. If your soil is heavy, mix four inches of compost into it.
Use fertilizer for nutrients before planting your sunflowers. Mix the compost and fertilizer in the top six inches of the bed. You need well-draining soil with a pH of six to seven and a half for sunflowers to grow well.
Plant your sunflower seeds a half inch deep and six inches apart. They will begin to sprout in 10 to 14 days. Water the ground well and keep the soil moist.
As you care for them throughout their life, give them an inch of water each week until the top six inches of the soil is moistened. Control weeds with mulch, or you will have to pull them.
What Kind of Soil Do Sunflowers Need?
Soil is essential to sunflowers, and you should use loam soil with an acidic, alkaline pH of six to seven and a half. Loam soil is made up of sand, silt, and clay. It is capable of keeping nutrients and water and provides adequate drainage.
How Much Water Do Sunflowers Need?
It’s important to keep sunflowers watered, especially when they begin to grow. When germinating, they need frequent watering to keep the soil moist.
Sunflower Plants Are Relatively Inexpensive
Sunflowers are not expensive plants. Seeds are available in 100 count packages ranging in price from $3 to $10. Sunflower plants can be purchased from home and garden stores for less than $10.
Decorating with Sunflowers
Decorating with sunflowers is a breeze because they can thrive in high or low sunlight. The plants are perfect for adding a splash of color or using their golden hue to pair with another color to create the color scheme of your room. Purchase or assemble your own sunflower arrangement for a centerpiece or napkin holder.
Artificial sunflowers are great for creating your own décor. You can use artificial sunflowers to create an initial sign for your teen or find more ideas for sunflower décor to pair with your home-grown sunflowers here.
Artificial Sunflower Plants Often Look Just Like the Real Thing
If you travel, don’t have a green thumb, or have allergies, you may not want live sunflowers in your home. Artificial sunflowers can bring the same joy into your home without all of the upkeep. Use them to create a door wreath or arrange them in a vase.
We hope you’ve enjoyed all the sunflower tips. Please comment below with any advice you have about growing sunflowers and incorporating them into your home décor!
