I think I have a problem with my Sunflowers but don't really know. Can anyone help me?

Question

I bought several sunflowers already started at the nursery. I planted them in my garden where they did great for a few days.

NOW they have ALL closed up like clam shells. every single one in the various places around the garden where I planted them. The leaves are all green, but not a single head is open. They have all closed up. What is going on? Is that normal or are they all diseased or something?

Answer 1

There are a few different things that could be going on with your flowers.  First of all, what color are the petals?  If they are yellow, then it is going through shock.  My guess is that this is not the case.

If the yellow petals are brown, then the flower is simply down blooming.  While sunflowers grown in the garden from day one will flower longer, the shock of transplanting and the warm temperatures of summer likely sped up the flowering process so the bloom did not last as long.

Sunflowers aren't meant to grow in pots (unless it is a new hybrid for such).  When they a grown like that in a greenhouse environment and forced into flowering, it stresses th plant and forces it into blooming.  Blossoms derived in this method will not last as long.

Unless you purchased pots of Russian sunflower (the ones that get really tall - 10ft), the plant should put out side buds and rebloom.  Simply water and fertilize the plants like normal and within a short time you will have more blooms