What's wrong with my sunflowers

[FloralDaddy]

I planted 4 sunflowers and now there bloomed but they always look wilted and the leaves are starting to turn yellow and there's a lot of brown/dead spots but its more on the lower leaves I water them every other day and miracle grow once a
week[ ATTACH]9132[/ATTACH]

 

[lynpenny]

First off they have had more miracle grow than they need. Really it is sunflowers they grow everywhere without fertilizer. and they don't take a lot of water either. I would say over care is the problem here.

 

[Crabbergirl]

Hi Floral daddy,
I do agree with Lyn on the fertilizer. They really don't need any Not sure they like the rocks either. There may be a mineral leaching from the stone that affects them

 

[FloralDaddy]

Ok so don't fertilize anymore and how much should I water them and how often?

 

[Wombat]

I agree with the other comments but maybe as a safeguard check for mites as well as my sunflowers were attacked by these little buggers last year. I water mine about twice a week, but just check the moisture level in the soil before you decide to water as they hate wet feet.

 

[FloralDaddy]

I think mine have Mites theres little black specks on the undersides of the leaves.

 

[Wombat]

Well if they have mites treat them asap otherwise your sad sunflowers will be no more, mites will decimate them

 

[FloralDaddy]

How do I treat them

 

[Wombat]

This link has number of ways to get rid of them, choose which is the best for you. They're a bit difficult to dislodge and also check your other plants, if indeed you do have them. Good luck

http://www.getridofthings.com/garden/pests/get-rid-of-spider-mites.htm

 

[FloralDaddy]

Ok so I've now tried spraying water with a little dish liquid in it and that didn't work. Next I tried half water half 91% rubbing alchohol and that also did nothing. I'm out of ideas any help would be much appreciated

 

[RonsGarden]

Put a couple of drops of cooking oil! The dish soap will emulsify the oil to make it stick on contact.
Spray either in the early morning or late evening.
The oil should do the trick and asphyxiate them.

 

[RonsGarden]

Actually the rubbing alchohol would have worked if you didn't dilute it!

 

[FloralDaddy]

Tried not diluting it and it ate right through the leaves like acid

 

[RonsGarden]

Sorry to say this but, please plant them in another area next year!
The issue may be the result of where you planted them!

 

[Crabbergirl]

I agree with Ron! It has to be environmental