Weird Wilting!

Ok so I was growing 5 sunflower plants next to each other and decided I should thin them out so that they wouldn't be crowded and each would have more nutrients. I didn't really want to just dig up a couple and throw them away as they seemed quite healthy. In view of that I dug them up and transfered 3 to a new area with more room. I then attached them to supports and watered them in and stepped back to admire my work!

A couple of hours later and they have all wilted!! The leaves have gone all floppy and even the stems have weakend and it is only the twine attaching them to the supports keeping them up!

So it appears my seedlings don't like moving house! What gives? What can I do? Maybe send them a 'New Home' card?

 

Hi Jase , seedling are really delicate and expecially sunflower , try to sock some new seeds overnight and pot them individually ,move them out and plant them where you want to grow.
2nd option buy some new plants
3rd option , the weather is start to warm up so they can be planted straight in the soil , but unless a warm autumn you will not have sunflower.
next time make sure that the plants are big enough to be moved

 

Don't pull them out yet, they might recover a bit overnight. If they are in a sunny spot you could expect them to wilt - I believe the sun has briefly appeared this afternoon where I live, anyway. If they forecast sun for tomorrow consider putting a temporary shade of some sort over them.

If they're still wilted in the morning I wouldn't give much for their chances, but anything's worth a try.

 

Sunflowers do that. Keep them very well watered over the next 12 hours or so, I mean proper well watered.

 

Thanks for your replies all .

Well the update is that they seemed to have perked up a bit! This could be the greatest comeback since Lazarus! It has rained quite a bit here (Nottingham) so maybe that helped.

Also I should really have said they are about 10 inches tall so maybe describing them as 'seedlings' was wrong? Probably 'young plants' is more accurate but idk. When do 'seedlings' become young plants??!

 

Great news!

 

I take it then that your seedlings are outside. Take care to protect them from strong wind, which will just batter them down (although they usually perk up again later), and slugs and snails, which devour young sunflowers in an instant.

 

Yes they are outside as I'm only in a terrace house with a small front and rear garden. I planted them outside as seeds about 5 or 6 weeks ago. As for slugs and snails they seemed rampant in my garden a couple of years ago.

Since then though I have taken out the old small fountain area (that they loved!) and generally tidied up. This together with collecting them on damp evenings followed by (dare I say) a quick stomp underfoot seems to have reduced there numbers considerably!

I've also put down slug pellets but now it would appear they much prefer next doors sweet peas! My gain and his loss but such is life I guess!

 

You've done well, getting two sunflowers raised outdoors. I can't even get them going in pots.