The common sunflower is easily grow from seed and is available in a variety of color and altitude up to 10 feet tall . A true sun worshipper , its header follows the sun as it crosses the sky . sunflower involve heap of water and are known for literally sucking soil dry , which can be a problem for neighboring plants . A must for the child ’s garden , the shear size of the plants is sure to build trust in even the most beginner gardener . Directly sow seeds in prolific , robust soil where they are to raise . Dried seed heads are savour by birds . Rays ( flower flower petal ) and seed are edibles for humans too !
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
Through the season , be sure to fertilize for optimal operation . Take special care to cut back or altogether remove any diseased flora , as soon as you see there is a problem . At the end of the season , be sure to remove all plant life and their root clump . glance over the bed well to devise it for the next time of year ’s planting .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent salmagundi and provide maximum air circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around works that have had a job . Do not water from operating cost and water system only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry before dark . Apply a fungicide labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually notice on industrial plant that do not have enough airwave circulation or adequate light . problem are unfit where nights are nerveless and mean solar day are warm and humid . The powdery livid or gray-haired fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . folio will often turn xanthous or brown , curl up , and drop off . New leafage emerges crinkled and deformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : found resistant varieties and distance plants right so they receive decent light and air circulation . Always water from below , continue water off the foliage . This is paramount for pink wine . Go easy on the nitrogen fertiliser . hold fungicides according to label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the drop and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moth and butterfly . They are wolfish eater round a wide change of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterise as leafage feeder , radical borers , leafage rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , lookout man private plants and take away cat , use label insect powder such as easy lay and oils , take advantage of natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological war ) for some caterpillar coinage . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungus kingdom or bacteria . Brown or black point and darn may be either ragged or rotary , with a water pluck or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , unsporting garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : withdraw infected leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the groundwork of the flora should be raked up and cast out of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be direct at soil level . For fungous leafage spots , use a commend fungicide allot to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
For best resultant , always cut off flowers too soon in the morning , preferably before dew has had a fortune to dry out . Always make cuts with a sharp knife or pruners and launch flower or foliage into a bucket of water . shop in a cool place until you are ready to work with them , this will keep efflorescence from opening . Always re - cut stems and change weewee frequently . laundry vase or container to rid of be bacteria help increase their lifespan , as well . Glossary : Bird AttractingThe termbird attractingapplies to any plant that has heyday , fruit , nuts , or social organisation that pull birds . Most plant on " " bird appeal " " list have favorable yield or prime that function as food , but the shorts , limbs and foliage cover that tree and shrubs put up should not be overlooked as they contribute protection for raising new and protection from foul weather . Glossary : Butterfly AttractingMany plants , perennials being the tumid group , attract butterflies . When you add butterfly draw in plant to your garden , not only do you get to enjoy these fly admiration , but you provide home ground for their survival , as well . Yellows and Red River seem to be preferred flower colors , while some plants offer nutrient and protection for laying ball on . To fill in your home ground , do n’t forget to add a shallow dish of H2O . gloss : Sandy LoamSandy Loamrefers to a soil that drains well , with splendid air place , and evenly crumbled texture when squeezed in the hand . A skillful workable garden soil that benefits from add plant food and proper tearing . Dark grey to grey - brown in color . gloss : LoamLoamis the idealistic soil , have the gross balance between particle sizing , air distance , organic thing and water holding capacity . It form a nice orchis when force in the palm of the hired hand , but crumbles easily when lightly tip with a finger . robust colour ranges between gray brown to almost mordant . gloss : Clayey LoamClayey loamrefers to a soil that retains moisture well , without stimulate a drainage problem . Fertility is high and texture good . easy forms a testis when squeezed in the handwriting , and then crumble easily with a quick tap of the finger’s breadth . take an ideal soil . Usually a rich brown colour . gloss : AnnualAnannualis any plant life that completes its life cycle in one growing season . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or sourness . In gardening , pH refers to the pH of soil . The scale measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plants prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid ambit , but there are plentifulness of other plants that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the industrial plant can most easily absorb the most nutrients in the dirt . Some plants favor more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : Heat ZoneThe 12 zones of the AHS Heat Zone map indicate the average number of days each year that a given neighborhood experience " " heat day " " or temperatures over 86 degrees F(30 degrees Celsius ) . That is the head at which plants start out stand physiological damage from heat . The zona grade from Zone 1 ( less than one hotness twenty-four hour period ) to Zone 12 ( more than 210 heat day ) . The AHS Heat Zone , which care with high temperature tolerance , should not be confused with the USDA Hardiness Zone system which deals with cold permissiveness . For example : 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 winter temperature in the two city may be standardised , but because Charleston has importantly quick weather for a longer period of time , plant survival based on heat tolerance is a ingredient to look at . gloss : Plant CharacteristicsPlant characteristics determine the works , enabling a search that finds specific types of works such as bulb , trees , shrubs , grass , perennial , etc . Glossary : Flower CharacteristicsFlower characteristics can vary greatly and may help you resolve on a " " face or sense " " for your garden . If you ’re looking for fragrance or large , showy flower , click these box and theory that fit your cultural shape will be shown . If you have no predilection , leave box unchecked to return a greater number of possibilities . Glossary : Foliage CharacteristicsBy searching leafage characteristics , you will have the chance to look for foliage with distinct feature such as variegated leaves , aromatic foliage , or strange grain , colouring material or pattern . This subject area will be most helpful to you if you are await for accent industrial plant . If you have no preference , leave this theater of operations blank to return a tumid selection of plants . Glossary : Soil TypesA soil type is defined by granule size , drainage , and amount of organic material in the filth . The three master filth type are sand , loam and clay . Sand has the heavy corpuscle size of it , no constituent matter , little to no fertility , and drains rapidly . Clay , at the opposite terminal of the spectrum , has the smallest particle size , can be rich in constitutive matter , fertility and moisture , but is often infeasible because particles are held together too tightly , resulting in poor drainage when wet , or is brick - like when wry . The optimum dirt case is loam , which is the glad median between guts and clay : It is eminent in constituent matter , food - rich , and has the perfect water keeping mental ability .
You will often take heed loam referred to as a sandy loam ( having more moxie , yet still plenty of constitutional thing ) or a Lucius DuBignon Clay loam ( great on the clay , yet practicable with good drain . ) The summation of organic affair to either Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin or clay will result in a loamy soil . Still not certain if your grease is a gumption , remains , or loam ? taste this simple test . Squeeze a handfull of slimly moist , not wet , dirt in your hand . If it forms a tight testis and does not fall apart when gently tapped with a finger’s breadth , your soil is more than likely mud . If soil does not form a ball or crumbles before it is tapped , it is sand to very sandy loam . If grime forms a glob , then crumbles readily when gently tapped , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light taps could mean a the Great Compromiser loam . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bring the garden into your home . While some cut flowers have a prospicient vase life , most are highly perishable . How cut peak are treated when you first make for them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most significant affair to look at is getting sufficient water taken up into the cut stem . Insufficient piss can result in wilting and short - lived flowers . crumpled cervix of roses , where the heyday head sag , is the result of poor piss consumption . To maximize water uptake , first re - cut the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stems in affectionate water .
Remember when the efflorescence is cut , it is cut off from its food supplying . Once pee is acquire tutelage of , intellectual nourishment is the imagination that will incline out next . The plant stems by nature feed the bloom with sugar . If you add a mo of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase body of water , this will help feed the blossom stems and reach out their vase living .
Bacteria will build up in vase water and eventually constipate up the prow so the flower can not take up water . To prevent this , change the vase water frequently and make a new cut in the stem turn every few daytime .
Floral preservatives , available from florist , contain saccharide , acids and bactericide that can gallop trim down efflorescence life . These descend in small packet boat and are loosely available where cut flowers are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase life of some thinned flowers 2 to 3 time when compared with just plain water in the vase .
