Q&A for How to Grow a Sunflower in a Pot

Yes, if outdoor plotting is not available, sunflowers can be grown in pots. After beginning the flower in a smaller peat moss pot, they need to be transferred to larger pots that are at least 18 inches deep. Place the pots in full sun and water consistently.

In order to adequately water a sunflower, you should feel the soil and when the first inch appears dry, it is time to water. In hot climates, sunflowers may need to be watered several times a day.

Sunflowers can withstand periods of shade, however, for optimal growth sunflowers need long periods of direct sun.

Go with a large pot. If you're not sure what size you need, opt for the larger pot. Sunflowers need a lot of room to grow.

Full-sized sunflowers grow best in the ground or transplanted into the ground once they sprout their second set of leaves. It's best to choose a dwarf variety of sunflowers when you're growing them in a pot.

It is possible to grow sunflowers indoors but you need to provide optimal conditions and it's best moved outdoors once frost is no longer a concern. Choose the best window spot for placement of the container, the part of your house that gets plentiful sunshine throughout the growing season days. If your house isn’t great for sunshine, use LED or fluorescent grow lights to provide sufficient light. Choosing a dwarf variety of sunflower is best for indoor growth, both because some are more suited to the indoor environment (lists of such varieties are available from reputable plant sites) and they won’t take up too much space. The plant must be kept warm, from germination through to the end of its life. Ensure the soil is fertile and well-draining and keep watered and fertilized as appropriate.

Several times a week. Watering should equal 1 inch per week. If rain falls, it is not necessary to water.

Sunflowers do grow best when they're grown directly in the ground, or you can start them in containers and transplant them into the earth when they get their first true leaves (the first 2 leaves that sprout after their seed leaves). However, if you only have space in containers, go with as large of a container as possible, and choose a dwarf variety or smaller variety if possible.

That's up to you--you can either cut the dying flower head off, or leave it on the plant to dry out the seeds (if they are an edible variety). Once the seeds are dry, then snip off the flower head.

For flowers you want to keep in a vase, trim the stalk right above 2 leaves. In general, maintain your plant by trimming off any weak, dying, or diseased stems, leaves, and flowers. If you're growing a perennial sunflower that grows back each year, cut it down to 1/2 its size in the late spring to encourage more growth in the summer.

It's best to plant sunflower seeds about 4 to 6 weeks before your area's last predicted frost date. This gives the seeds time to sprout and establish themselves. Sunflowers grow and bloom throughout the summer to early fall.

If you have a perennial variety, yes. However, most sunflowers are annuals. Annuals only grow and bloom once, then die off in the winter.

Most sunflowers are annuals, meaning they only last for one growing season. However, with proper care, your potted sunflower should live for several months, and you may be able to grow a new one from its seeds.

Most varieties don’t, although you might get new sunflowers from seeds produced by your old ones. If you want a sunflower that will come back, look for a perennial variety. Keep in mind that perennial sunflowers usually produce smaller blossoms than annuals.

Yes, you certainly can plant a sunflower in a pot. The dwarf sunflower varieties are best for container growing, unless you have a very large pot to accommodate the larger varieties. As a rough guide, a dwarf sunflower can be planted in a 12 to 16 in (30 to 41 cm) pot, while large sunflowers require a container size of at least 5 gallons (19 L).

Yes, this is a great idea! Sunflowers will make lovely borders around a vegetable garden and can even be a good companion plant for such vegetables as cucumbers, squash and sweetcorn. They are not recommended to be grown near beans or potatoes.

Yes, giant (or mammoth) sunflowers can certainly be planted in containers. However, the container must be large and sturdy, with a size of at least 5 gallons or 19 liters. If you have a large container, it quickly becomes heavy, so ensure that it is positioned where you want it to stay or place it on a roller base for ease of shifting. Be careful about the weight distribution of the container too, especially if you’re growing the sunflower on a balcony; don’t overload the weight the space is capable of holding.

Sunflowers face the sun to ensure that all parts of the flower get sufficient sunlight throughout the day. It also takes the pressure off the stalk from having constant sunshine on the same parts of the stalk all day. This gives different parts of the stalk a shaded rest from constant sun, throughout different times of the day.

Sunflowers grow best in rich, fertile soil that drains well. A pH of 6.0 to 7.5 is best but the sunflower can tolerate a fair range of soil conditions, although poorer soils may result in less impressive flowers.

This depends on the type of sunflower you’ve planted. Annual sunflowers, once they have grown and gone to seed, will not bloom again the next year. However, perennial sunflowers such as H. salicifolius and H. maximiliani are hardy and long-lasting, and will provide new blooms in following seasons. Perennial sunflowers have much smaller seed heads, tend not to bloom in the first year of growth and grow slowly. If you want your sunflowers to bloom year after year, choose the perennial varieties.

Annual sunflowers usually don’t need pruning unless they’re especially scraggly or were planted together in such a tight bunch that they need some sort of thinning. Perennial sunflowers, however, may need a prune now and then to keep them in good shape and condition. For help with the pruning requirements, see How to Prune Sunflowers .

Absolutely, you can grow sunflowers in a planter. Choose the dwarf varieties to ensure the sunflower or sunflowers grow well and don’t end up being stunted, unless the planter is exceptionally big and deep.

Normally, plants need to be "hardened off" when being moved from inside to outside. This just means a gradual transition, such as 30 minutes outside the first day, 60 minutes the second day etc. - preferably in shade or semi-sun conditions. Eventually, the leaves will turn dark green and you can move them outside full-time.

It is recommended that you put something underneath, so when you water the plant it doesn't go everywhere.

Yes, you can. This will help the other buds stay nice and healthy, and they will indeed grow back.

Yes. You don't want the roots to get cramped, and sunflowers aren't usually damaged from being transplanted, so feel free to do so.

Yes, because of Fototropism, your plant will turn to which ever direction the sun is.

Yes.

Make sure they are getting plenty of water and sunshine.

Put it in the brightest spot you can find, ideally close to a window. If that's still not enough, try keeping your sunflower on a porch outside.