- Sclerotinia is a disease that can infect your sunflower and cause it to wilt. Sclerotinia is a bacteria in the soil that can move up through the flower and slowly kill the cell walls. This makes the flower loose its strength. The sunflower will begin to rot and wilt in the middle of the stalk. This is one of the most common types of sunflower disease, and it can occur anywhere in the world. This is sometimes also referred to as verticillium wilt.
- Sunflowers absorb and push out water to control and regulate the amount of water that is inside them. If they have the right amount of water, the suflower will stand upright. If they don't have enough water, the plant will lose pressure and the stalk will no longer be turgid. This will cause it to wilt.
- Air bubbles are one of the most common reasons cut sunflowers will wilt. The air bubble will travel up through the plant and cause it to wilt and die. You can prevent this by submerging the stalk in water and making an underwater cut. When you remove the stalk, a drop of water will be clinging to the stalk. This pressure will seal the end from the air and prevent more air bubbles. This is not a problem with planted sunflowers.
- Sunflowers need sunlight to grow and to stand upright. If they don't have sunlight, they will not have enough energy to turn nutrients from the soil into usable food. Without this, they will begin to break down and will eventually die. Wilting is one of the first signs of this happening. Prevent this by making sure there is enough sunlight in your garden for the flowers.
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