Life Cycle of a Sunflower

One of the most recognizable flowers and crowds favorite are the sunflowers. As a matter of fact, Vincent Van Gogh, who is a famous painter, had come up with a series of still life paintings of this flower and named it as “Sunflowers.” But do you how this tiny seed turns into a cheerful and inspiring bloom? If you want to know the transformation then here is the full life cycle of a sunflower from seedling until it blooms.

 

The Amazing Transformation of Sunflower

Phase 1

Just like with other types of flowers, sunflower also starts as a seedling. You have to plant the seed into the soil and wait for 3 days for it to germinate. When the case breaks, the roots will start to come out that will be pushed down the soil.

Phase 2

After a week, you will notice that a shoot will start to develop out of the soil and looks like its craving for the sunlight. Once the shoot has come out, the leaves will start to open that will continuously grow together with the stem. You will also notice that it’ll get wider as time passes by.

Phase 3

The seedling will continuously develop until it produces a bud. The bud will eventually unfold slowly followed by the flower head.

Phase 4

When the flower head had finally opened, this is the time that you will start appreciating its beauty. You will surely feel hypnotized with the bloom of sunflowers.

Phase 5

After exposing its beauty for a long season, the petals of sunflower will begin to wilt. The whole flower will eventually dry up and the seeds will be released and scattered.

Phase 6

Once the seeds of the sunflower settle in the ground, you can expect that it will grow again and repeat the cycle. This will more likely happen if the seed drops in an ideal soil for it to grow and develop.

 

Reasons for Growing Sunflowers

With a variety of flowers that you can grow in your garden, sunflowers can be one of the best options not only because they are easy to grow but they can also add life to the environment because of its beauty. In fact, sunflowers are known to be a cheerful type of flower that could uplift your mood. This is a summer flower that is not only admired because of its beauty but also for other reasons such as the following.

• Sunflowers perform an essential role in maintaining a clean environment. They are often planted to dry the wetlands and also to clean contaminated water, soil, radioactive substances, and lead with their deep roots. They can also soak up harmful chemicals and water.
• The seed of sunflower can also be considered an ideal food for nature. It is for the fact that these flowers are rich in selenium that could reduce or slow down the production of cancer cells. It is also a great source of zinc, B-1, B-5, B-6, folate, phosphorous, copper, tryptophan, manganese, fiber, and iron. Sunflower is cholesterol free and the seeds can supply the body with omega 3 fatty acids and amino acids.
• The stems of sunflowers can also be used in the production of paper and clothing as well as in making microscopic slide mounts. It was also used as life preservers.
• Sunflower oil became popular during World War II as an alternative to the Russian Mammoth seed. Giant sunflowers produce one big flower that is too heavy and usually follows where the sunlight is. One interesting fact that you should know about sunflowers is that the seeds conform to the sequence of Fibonacci.

 

Growing Tips When Planting and Growing Sunflowers

Sunflowers will also be one of the types of flowers that are easy to grow. However, you just have to keep the seeds away from squirrels and birds. If you’re planning to grow sunflowers in your garden, then you can consider the following tips.

• Choose what variety of sunflower you would want to have in your garden. Though sunflowers are known to be yellow in color, it is important for you to know that you can also find other varieties such as red, maroon, bright orange, and yellow. It can also be possible for you to grow giant sunflowers or miniature sunflowers.
• You have to consider the color and the size of sunflower that will suit your garden. You can have giant sunflowers to create a stunning background in your garden and the smaller ones at the edges.
• Knowing that sunflowers love sunlight, you have to look for a perfect spot where these plants can get enough light for them to grow well. Sunflowers require 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight every day.
• Dig the soil between 20 to 30 centimeters deep. You have to get rid of any debris and rocks around the area where you will plant the seeds.
• It is essential that you plant the seeds the proper way by reading the instructions provided in a seed packet for you to know the exact seed depth that usually depends on the variety of sunflowers. After planting the seed, cover it with soil and make sure to water it thoroughly.
• For giant sunflowers, you have to make use of garden stakes to protect the flowers.
• One the bracts started to dry up then it only means that it is time for you to harvest the seeds and the flowers.