My granddaughter has given me a sunflower seedling in a pressed paper container about the size of a Dixie cup. The seedling is about three inches tall and a few roots are coming out through the bottom of the container. How do I transplant my sunflower? Do I leave the seedling in the container? It looks as if the container will disintegrate as the seedling grows. Also, it is not yet above 50 degrees at night on a regular basis, but it is not freezing. Do we need to wait until it is? I want this little project to be successful, so would appreciate all of the help you can give me.
You can actually do one of two things: either carefully remove the seedling from the cup for planting or simply remove the bottom and plant the entire cup, which will eventually decompose. If your seedling has not developed a strong stalk, you may want to transplant it into a larger container (using one of the methods above) and then wait until temps warm up a bit. Then locate a sunny area for planting. Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/sunflower/growing-sunflowers-in-your-garden.htm
Can I plant the seed of a salted edible flowerseed (from a flowerseed David brand) bag? Is that the 'seed' we plant to grow a Sunflower plant?
Whatever items you have on hand that will hold soil should suffice. These articles should help as well: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/urban/raised-beds-for-urban-settings-no-digging-required.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/raised-vegetable-gardens.htm
My sunflowers, grown from seed, have small black worms eating the top leaves. What are they, and how can I treat the problem? I live in West Palm Beach, Florida. The plants are in pots, in full sun. Lately, we have been getting daily rain and I have moved the pots to a covered area to prevent them from drowning. Can I spray the leaves with a soap/water mix?
There are actually a few pests that like to nibble on sunflowers, especially young ones. Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/sunflower/sunflower-problems.htm
What herbicide can be used in sunflowers safely for broadleaf weeds over the top? Can Classic be used or Pinnecible?
This article may help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/sunflower/weed-control-in-sunflower-fields.htm
I bought some little sunflowers from a supermarket and found some new heads growing. So I cut back some of the leaves to give them more light and they began to grow fast. But they look very sad; they are not fully out yet and are drooping down. I think they're of the dwarf kind. I have repotted them too, which they seem to like as are growing rapidly. About 5 heads. Please, can someone advise? Thanks.
They may not be getting enough water. Sometimes the soil of a plant can get overly dry, and it will actually start to repel water. You can correct this by submerging the pot in water until air bubbles stop coming out.
Also make sure that there are drainage holes and that the water is able to drain away so that the plant does not develop root rot.
I have a young Sunflower that has some of the leaves turning white, inward from the leaf tips. Is this OK, and will it sort itself out? Also, there are a number of small buds opening under the main flower head. Can I remove these for re-planting as individuals or should I leave them alone?
The white leaves are an indication of a condition of "powdery mildew". It is a fungus that occurs on plants when the weather has been damp and the plants have remained wet too often. I would cut down on the watering and treat with fungicide, specifically aimed at powdery mildew. Neem oil is actually good. Here is more info: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
As for the buds, leave them be. You cannot remove them and replant. You can only grow these plants from seed. The budding growths will not root.
I am looking for chemicals to control weeds in sunflowers.
I'm assuming you want a chemical to spread over the entire bed that will kill the weeds but not the flowers. There isn't one. You can spot spray the weeds with and herbicide or you can do it the old fashioned way, pulling one weed at a time. Either way, you might consider mulching to keep future weeds under control.