There’s nothing quite like a sunflower’s bright, cheery face perched high on its stalk. But while the flowers reach for the sky, their roots like to spread out wide to keep the plant steady and well-fed. This can make things a little tight on a balcony, but don’t worry—if you pick the right variety, you can absolutely grow these beauties in containers!
Find a Sunny Spot
Not every balcony is a match for sunflowers. These plants are true sun-worshippers and need a warm location that gets at least five hours of direct sunlight every day. Honestly, a south-facing balcony is usually your best bet to keep them happy.
Go Small for Big Success
In a garden bed, some sunflowers can tower over 6 feet tall. While their growth will be naturally stunted in a pot, they can still get pretty top-heavy. Since balconies tend to be windier than garden beds, I highly recommend sticking with dwarf varieties. Otherwise, you’ll spend all your time staking every single stem to keep them from snapping. Here are a few of my favorite small sunflowers:
- Double Dandy
- Italian White
- Orange Sun
- Sunspot
- Teddy Bear
How to Plant Your Sunflowers
You can get a head start by starting your seeds indoors in March, or you can just pick up some young plants from the nursery later in the spring. Starting early means you’ll get to enjoy that blooming season even sooner!
Skip the narrow window boxes for these guys. Instead, grab a large, deep pot with drainage holes that can sit right on the balcony floor. Use a loose, nutrient-rich potting mix. Just remember: don’t move your sunflowers outside until May, once the threat of frost has totally passed.
Caring for Potted Sunflowers
Living in a pot under the blazing sun means these plants need a little extra TLC. Sunflowers are “heavy feeders,” meaning they crave nutrients. Since potting soil runs out of fuel pretty quickly, you’ll need to fertilize regularly. A liquid fertilizer added to your watering can once or twice a week works wonders.
Watering is a daily chore, and it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. On those scorching summer days, you might even need to head out with the watering can a second time in the afternoon.
Pro Tip:
Even though sunflowers are thirsty, they hate “wet feet.” Make sure to empty the saucer under the pot as soon as the soil has soaked up what it needs so the roots don’t sit in standing water.
