Some sunflowers grow too fast and have slender stems, but the flowers cannot be fully developed, which undoubtedly affects the ornamental effect of sunflowers. So, how do you make the sunflower grow shorter?Here are a few tips.
First of all, let's be clear that the growth height of sunflowers mainly depends on the variety and growing environment. Some varieties of sunflowers are naturally taller, while others are shorter. Therefore, choosing a dwarf variety is the first step in making the sunflower grow dwarf. In the market, there are many specially bred varieties of dwarf sunflowers, such as 'dwarf giants', 'dwarf stars', etc., which not only grow at a moderate height, but also have plump flowers, which are very suitable for home cultivation.
Secondly, reasonable control of the growth environment of sunflowers is also the key. Sunflower is a sun-loving plant, but excessive sunlight exposure can cause sunflower to grow too fast and have slender stems. Therefore, we need to provide proper shade for sunflowers. In the summer, we can build a shade net around the sunflower to reduce direct sunlight. At the same time, we can also adjust the planting position of the sunflower and plant it in a semi-shaded place, which can not only ensure the light demand of the sunflower, but also prevent it from growing too fast.
Thirdly, reasonable fertilization is also an important means to make sunflowers grow short. Sunflower is a plant that needs a lot of fertilizer, especially during the vigorous growth period, and needs a lot of nitrogen fertilizer to promote the growth of stems and leaves. However, too much nitrogen fertilizer can cause sunflowers to grow too fast and have slender stems. Therefore, when we fertilize, we should appropriately reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizer and increase the use of phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer. Phosphate and potassium fertilizers can promote the root development of sunflowers, making their stems thicker.
Finally, we can also control the growth height of the sunflower by pruning. At the beginning of the growth of the sunflower, we can cut off the top of the stem and leaf, which can encourage the sunflower to grow downwards and make the stem thicker. At the same time, we can also regularly prune off the overly lush stems and leaves during the growth of sunflowers to prevent them from growing too fast.