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Sunflowers leaves turning brown and wilting, insect droppings on leaves

ninjagomacWgQoihXPninjagomacWgQoihXP Posts: 8
in Problem solving
So i’ve got a really frustrating issue on my hands, I have about 10 separate potted sunflowers in my greenhouse and over the last few weeks all of them have started to get brown wilting leaves with huge bites taken out of leaves and black insect droppings on some of the leaves. My sunflowers have had all of the correct conditions so I’m very confident it’s not a fault of mine but I’m wondering if anyone on here might have past experience with an issue like this or might be able to identify the critter eating and destroying my sunflowers ! 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm wondering why they're in a greenhouse.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ninjagomacWgQoihXPninjagomacWgQoihXP Posts: 8
    Fairygirl said:
    I'm wondering why they're in a greenhouse.  :)
    It’s what I’ve always done, planted in April-June, kept in greenhouse until late July and early August and then started adjusting them to outside conditions in full sun and they’ve always resulted in healthy unproblematic sunflowers. The winds have been unseasonably strong lately here so I’ve had to keep them in the greenhouse for an extra week-ish because the pot falls over if outside at all at the moment so hoping the winds ease.  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Are you in the UK? There isn't really anywhere that sunflowers would need to be inside at this time of year.  :)
    As @Songbird-1 says - they'll be dying of thirst and far too hot. They need supports suitable for their height whether inside or out, and in pots they need to be somewhere you can provide that - whether against a fence or wall, or secured to a purpose built support of some kind, to safeguard them from wind - just as you'd do with any tall potted plants.
    Ideally - a square pot, or one with straight sides is best as they're more stable.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ninjagomacWgQoihXPninjagomacWgQoihXP Posts: 8
    Fairygirl said:
    Are you in the UK? There isn't really anywhere that sunflowers would need to be inside at this time of year.  :)
    As @Songbird-1 says - they'll be dying of thirst and far too hot. They need supports suitable for their height whether inside or out, and in pots they need to be somewhere you can provide that - whether against a fence or wall, or secured to a purpose built support of some kind, to safeguard them from wind - just as you'd do with any tall potted plants.
    Ideally - a square pot, or one with straight sides is best as they're more stable.  :)
    Fairygirl said:
    Are you in the UK? There isn't really anywhere that sunflowers would need to be inside at this time of year.  :)
    As @Songbird-1 says - they'll be dying of thirst and far too hot. They need supports suitable for their height whether inside or out, and in pots they need to be somewhere you can provide that - whether against a fence or wall, or secured to a purpose built support of some kind, to safeguard them from wind - just as you'd do with any tall potted plants.
    Ideally - a square pot, or one with straight sides is best as they're more stable. 
  • ninjagomacWgQoihXPninjagomacWgQoihXP Posts: 8
    Fairygirl said:
    Are you in the UK? There isn't really anywhere that sunflowers would need to be inside at this time of year.  :)
    As @Songbird-1 says - they'll be dying of thirst and far too hot. They need supports suitable for their height whether inside or out, and in pots they need to be somewhere you can provide that - whether against a fence or wall, or secured to a purpose built support of some kind, to safeguard them from wind - just as you'd do with any tall potted plants.
    Ideally - a square pot, or one with straight sides is best as they're more stable.  :)
    Yeah I’m in South Wales. I do notice they dry out quickly and their leaves seem to be more affected on warm sunny days so you’ve made a good point, I’ll leave them out full time and see if anything improves. Thank you :):smile:
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