False Sunflower Care
Here are the basic tips on growing false sunflowers successfully.
Light
These plants preferfull sunto grow and bloom their best.
Soil
False sunflowers can thrive in a variety of soil types.
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They can even tolerate dry, poor, rocky, sandy, and clay soils.
However, they prefer average, well-draining soil with a neutral soil pH for optimal growth.
These plants also aren’t overly picky about humidity.
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Fertilizer
You likely won’t have to fertilize your plants unless you have very poor soil.
Rich soil can cause a lot of leggy stem growth on false sunflowers.
So go easy on theorganic matterand fertilizer.
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Types of False Sunflowers
You will be hard-pressed to find a bad false sunflower.
Most varieties are easy to grow and bloom reliably.
Deadhead spent flowers to stimulate new buds.
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After the false sunflowers have stopped blooming in midfall, prune the plants to about 2 inches tall.
you could also wait to prune them in the early spring after the threat of frost.
Many varieties get top-heavy and require staking.
Prune or pinch them back in midspring for a shorter, sturdier plant.
However, doing this will delay blooming for a couple of weeks.
Dividing your plants every two to three years will keep clumps from dying in the center.
Do this in either the spring or fall with these steps.
For spring, start seeds indoors four to six weeks before your last frost date.
In the fall, direct sow in mid- to late August.
However, seeds started in the fall should provide blooms the following summer.
Overwintering
False sunflowers that are planted in the ground can be left untrimmed until spring.
However,aphidsandpowdery mildewcan be a problem for the plants.
Provide good air circulation for your flowers to help prevent and mitigate these issues.
What Do False Sunflowers Look and Smell Like?
Scentless false sunflowers have yellow rays and an orange-yellow center disk.
Note that these plants grow fairly quickly but they likely won’t bloom in their first year.
This process not only keeps the plants looking fresh and neat but also encourages more flowers.
Trimming the plants if they get too tall or look scraggly will also encourage further flowering.
But as always, keep an eye out for a couple of minor issues.
Crumpled Leaves
If you notice crumpled or otherwise damaged foliage, check for an aphid infestation.
Try removing aphids with a strong spray of water before turning to insecticides.
Remove mildewed leaves, prune for good air circulation, and use fungicides if the problem persists.
False sunflowers come back every year, but these flowers typically have a lifespan of around five years.
They can self-propagate by seeds, or you’re free to propagate them yourself to get new plants.
False sunflowers continue blooming for a total of about six to eight weeks in the summer to early fall.
