I have a big sunflower plant in my yard that has been growing quite well for a few years. I love when they begin blooming with their big, bright flowers. I have noticed something this year that is troubling. At the base of the flower head, there is a white creamy liquid that looks like a white lotion. There is no smell to it. It's kind of gooey and it drips. It hasn't affected the flowers yet at all, but can anyone tell me what this is? Is it bad and how do I get rid of it?
Thanks,
Tiptoethroughthetulips
Sunflower growth
I love to grow sunflowers for so many reasons: their quick growth, their beauty, and the delight they bring to the little ones who visit. I've been surprised on a couple of levels this summer, though, in my own yard and elsewhere. First, I sowed a lot of seeds in containers, planting a new set each week so I'll have blooms over time in August and September. I couldn't help but notice that the last ones I planted are the biggest by far! They're all from the same packet of seeds, and I did not fertilize these, and they're actually in more shade than the others (which get more water, too, as they're nearer to the hose). Even so, these tall ones aren't much more than a foot high. Well, I was startled yesterday to see a group of extremely tall sunflowers, in bloom, in a nearby neighborhood! It just seems too early for the Northeast. If it had just been one flower at that height I'd assume it was purchased out of a greenhouse, but it was a large number. I should stop by that house if I ever somebody out in the yard so I can ask what their secret is!
Sunflower mold
Sorry to hear about your sunflowers. There is a white mold disease that sunflowers can get, and it will rot the stalk and flower heads as the disease progresses. Hopefully you've caught it soon enough. You should go to your nearest garden center and ask for an anti-fungal spray that is ok with sunflowers. And after your sunflowers stop blooming, transplant the sunflower plant to another part of your yard. The spores from that mold disease can linger for quite a while in the soil, so getting your sunflower plant out of there is your best bet for long-term health.
Williewonka