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Sad sunflower

maz123maz123 Posts: 7
in Problem solving
Hi there - hoping for some help. I am in the process of hardening off a sunflower grown indoors from seed. Repotted at weekend and giving some time outdoors each day before hopefully moving out after weekend. The leaves are all gradually wilting though, started at bottom and working up. Upper leaves now discolouring. I’m wondering if it’s a water issue but it’s getting a good drink each evening before being brought back inside. Any ideas what I’m doing wrong?? 

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Plants can look a bit droopy for a day or two after the shock of repotting. 
    I wouldn't be too concerned as it may well begin to perk up very soon. I'm wondering if maybe you're being a little too generous with the watering, maybe someone can confirm. 
  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    See I would say not enough water!  I've grown eight from seed this year and God they are so high maintenance with their water requirements!  I planted them out probably about six weeks ago, in the sun, not sure if that was the right thing to do - as soon as it gets hot I have to water at least twice a day (when they were still in pots it was the same, I thought ground would give me a break).  Do the leaves not perk up a couple of hours after watering?
  • maz123maz123 Posts: 7
    Thank you for the responses. I thought maybe it was a response to repotting but the fact that it seems to be gradually working up the stem over the course of today makes me think not. 

    I normally only water once a day - in the evening when it’s out of the sun. It’s back indoors now - haven’t watered yet so might try and see what happens. Some of the leaves are ‘flipping’ over. It’s so weird 
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    Ours are sitting outside in their small pots quite happily and have been for a few weeks. I probably water them every three days or so, like @Songbird-1 I give them a good drench. I have an old washing up bowl so I cram as many of the pots as I can into that add a good few inches of water and leave them to soak it up. I can them swap in and out any remaining pots as needed. It’s an easy way to do it and uses water much more efficiently.

    Once they are in the ground, I rarely water them or any other plants. Good soak when they go in and maybe one more but after that they are on their own. A lot of plants can droop at the end of a hot or breezy day but will be perky again in the morning. I only water if they are still drooping in the morning

     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • maz123maz123 Posts: 7
    Thank you for comments. I’m hoping it is just shocked from transplanting and nothing more. Have just put outside and leaves are still droopy. Not going to water today and see if overwatering is doing this. The top leaves appear to be ok but the other leaves are all either drooping or turning upside down. It’s quite overcast today so will see if this makes a difference based on what @Songbird-1 said above. Picture of it today:
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