How Do I Stop My Sunflower Leaves Turning Black?

Question

My daughter has a sunflower growing in a large pot, which has been a healthy plant up until the last week. The leaves are all turning black. How do I prevent this and what would be the cause? The plant is starting to flower, so I would love to save it as my 3-yr old girl has put her all into growing it. I wonder if where we live isn’t good for sunflowers. . . we are in Christchurch, New Zealand. Cheers!

Answer 1

Sunflowers need alot of dirt to grow , because there roots are very long, they cannot grow in pots unless its a big barrel. You can easily transplant it outside or in a larger pot where It will be alot happier,

First dig a hole, big enough for the plant roots to fit and about four fingers more so the stem can be secure, put the plant in the whole, fill the hole back with dirt, put a stick by the plant to lean against, water the plant after trans[lanting. water everday. until the roots catchin new dirt it will take a day or two for this to happen. and watch your sunflowers grow, also all dying leaves or blackening leaves clip off with your finger nails. stem and all.

Here another reason why I like sunflowers, when the head starts to dropped over dont pull it out of the ground, just cut the cut head off the plant, put it in the dirt, next year or when the the weather is good you will have thousands of new little sunflowers growing. .

Answer 2

lSunflowers need alot of dirt to grow , because there roots are very long, they cannot grow in pots unless its a big barrel. You can easily transplant it outside or in a larger pot where It will be alot happier.

First dig a hole, big enough for the plant roots to fit and about four fingers more so the stem can be secure, put the plant in the whole, fill the hole back with dirt, put a stick by the plant to lean against until the roots catchin new dirt it will take a day or two for this to happen. and watch your sunflowers grow.

Here another reason why I like sunflowers, when the head starts to dropped over dont pull it out of the ground, just cut the cut head of the plant, put it in the dirt, next year or when the the weather is good you will have thousands of new little sunflowers growing.

Answer 3

Sunflower plants are suseptible to diseases in wet, hot conditions. Several forms of rust and/or fungal problems could be the cause of what you are describing. You might want to use an all-purpose fungicide according to package directions.
This article might help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/sunflower/sunflower-problems.htm