Rosmond X Rothkirch seedling problem

Rosmond X Rothkirch seedlings, mine germinated but the tops look like they burned off. Any ideas why this would happen?

So far this has happened with the last 2 (germinated pretty well at the same time) and I only have 3 more I am waiting on to germinate......the leaves appear at the on set of the plant peaking out and look normal then within a few hours dry up.

I have them under grow lights and keep them moist not wet.

They were soaked in the 1% bleach solution pior to planting.
Advice would be appreciated I would sure like to save the ones I have left..... :o)
Dee

Did the seed coat get stuck on it? Sometimes if you keep germinating seeds under plastic and remove the plastic too quickly the shock is a little too much for them. They're used to the damp conditions under the plastic and you need to ease them out into the open. I usually just open the plastic up a lil to let some air in a first before I completely remove it.

Hate to say it but that seedling looks like a goner. If they still retain cells at the growing tip there's a good chance they can muster up the stregth to put out new leaves. That one looks as though it below the growing tip tho. Hope I'm wrong.

Right, looks like the seedcoat had trouble falling off. You will be surprised though that many of these "headless" seedlings will actually recover and grow. Brugmansia are unique in that respect, so give it some time. From your photo, I think you will be okay- and that is an interesting cross, would like to see it bloom!

I am no expert but i have, have had a lot of headless seedlings recover from this, so please don't throw away this great cross till it is totally DEAD, you will be pleasantly surprised. I had some down in cups like this. and i thought maybe they weren't getting enough air cirulation and cut the rims down so the seedling was out in the open, i do not know if this helped or not, just giving you my experience with this same thing happening. they were rosamond x lamour seedlings, and i am fixing to germinate some of this cross you have also. were did you get your seeds? i got mine from calas store she sells some great crosses!

I am going to hold on to these until they fall totalllllly dead. I have this posted on BGI and some are saying the same thing, they just might recover so hold on to them. A few have had this happen and the plant did recover, but.......

I do agree with Poppy, it is awfully far down on the stem to hold out much hope but there is still hope as long as it is alive. I have seen some pretty amazing things with these so if it does survive I won't be surprised....

These were some of my most coveted seeds and I really thank Kell for sending them to me..... she reall out did herself and sent me some really wonderful seeds including some wonderful L'a Crosses. Some of them are germinating and no problems with um.....
;o) Dee

Edited for spelling....


This message was edited Apr 30, 2004 10:10 AM

WW , you did say that they initally had leaves.......... right?
...................Do you spritz them while under lights? I would do this in the morning and wait till the leaves on these babies are dry before turning the lights on. The water magnifies the heat/light and can burn the tender 'new' tips.
I must be heartbreaking to watch these special babies die off.
:'(

I sure hope mine do well, i am so looking forward to growing these out. I also have some crosses going now, from Kell. she is a sweetie isn't she.very elusive though, wish i could see a picture (hint hint kell) of the sweet person that has gotten me started on my beautiful babies. I hope to have that very special one she has been dreaming of in my batch (fingers crossed). I had three Gl x ? to germinate and are doing really really good.

Good luck WW. I have never had one that recovered from this and put out new leaves. All of mine eventually withered away. I hope yours make it.

Oh no fun Willowwasp! If I have any left of this cross after I send out my last seed commitments I will send you more. I have had a few do that also while in the bag. I thought it was the mositure that did it.

Thanks Amanda for your kind words! But you are the sweet one!

Thanks so much Kell, still trying to find out more about this problem and maybe we can find out why this happens.

Yep it is heartbreaking to lose some but I guess it can't be helped.

I am still going to hang on to it and see what happens, it is still growing taller but so far no new leaves have come back.
I'll let yall know how it is after the weekend......
:o(
Dee

I'm growing some of Kell's seeds also and hope i grow the one she's been waiting on. LOL

Me too Ada, me too!

I just picked my first of 5 huge L'Amour X RK pods and 2 BF X RK today. I wish I had some room left.

Here is a picture of my seedlings of the same cross....

and they are doing the same thing...I did the clorox soak then potted the seeds up (uncovered) and put them out on the porch where they germinated....

and here is one just coming up and I can see the leaves are already brown.....

Moon,I do not know if I am seeing that picture right?it almost looks like the stem is browning behind the leaves,could this be damping off?,I have never used the foam cup.

Root - the stem is fine, it's the leaves that are brown only. Also I have noted that the little stem with the brown leaves in the second picture is still growing. I'm using a plastic cup.

I don't know what damping off in brug seedlings looks like so I am not gonna say it is not it....lol. But, if it was damping off would the little stem still grow - wouldn't it just die? The leaves were brown from birth - it never had green leaves.

See,I am not seeing it right,I thought it was a foam cup,LOL!my eyes are cooked today,sorry,I hope someone comes along that has better eyes,I will look again tomorrow,sorry if I confused you,Monika will be up soon,and I am sure she has a better eye than I.

LOL....

Not sure Moon,I have never had damping off,I guess I have been lucky,it is just what I have read that brought it to mind right off.I hope you can save some of them.

I started some seedlings in foam cups this year, I really like them! You can make the drainage holes whatever size you want & how many you want, you can write the cross right on the cup & date planted.
Good luck WillowWasp & Moonlighting, hope that your seedlings straighten up & fly right! I have one seedling where the seed coat was stuck on, and I managed to mangle it trying to ease it off. It didn't look like it had any part of the seed leaves, but the stem was fine. I left it alone except for watering, and it looks like it's growing a tiny leaf!
Kell, if you run out of room, I'd be happy to grow out some of your babies.

My kell's seedlings

More Kell's seedlings

And more Kell's seedlings. The flash makes them all look yellowed but they aren't.

And the last Kell's seedlings.

Looking good Ada. I have so many all over my house, my husband is really grumbling! And of course with so many babies you have all the accouterments to feed and care for them all over! I am going to have to do a count, but I have soooooooooooooooooo many. When I stop and look at them and realize they will be all 6 ft tall soon I shudder.

Ronna, send me your address.

Kell, I can't wait until mine are six feet tall. LOL

Forgot to mention that my seeds are from Cala.....

Ada - your seedlings look really good!

LOL. I just was looking at Cala's store and saw this seed cross. I was thinking I must buy them. Then I looked at this thread again and realized I have this cross also! LOL.

This cross is very special. I hope we get a darker Rosemond from it. Rosamond is my favorite brug I think! And I have some great ones so that is saying alot!

I love the pic Kell!! Your yard will be stuffed even MORE to the rim soon!

kell...your photo and brug are beautiful ! I hope I like mine as much as you do yours! Since I love pink, I am quite sure I will!

Some of mine from that cross did the same thing but they are getting leaves back.

Kell, the photo of your yard is enchanting, it's like a fairy land, you are one more talented girl!!!! I'd love to know what the other plants are. I know one thing, despite what some think, my brug garden is not over planted and I want it to look just like yours. I've always dreamed of having a garden like that...SLike

Kell, how tall is your tree and how long did it take to reach that height?? I think I see wisteria in the background, and some perenials but I have no idea what they are. Is that another tree by your brug and what is that tall green plant, with the spiked balls around it, it looks like it was built, instead of growing out of the ground. I'm crazy about your plants and love your arrangement and selections. SLike

That is a sucker Sherry. My favorite alley tree material and they grow fast. I cut it off the mother plant when it was tall enough to be a tree. It took about 1 year. Maybe 10 feet. All those plants are in pots.

What is an alley tree??? A big tree?, a tree with one trunk? and how do you know if you have alley tree 'material'?? I guess a brug sucker is just like any other sucker??? Did you cultivate the sucker for that purpose??? I know one thing - I want a photo in my garden that looks just like yours, that is just sooooooooo pretty!!! SLike
BTW, which state are you in, CA??

Kell, if you need help growing out those special seeds, I will be glad to help. Linda

Sherry......buy Monikas book ASAP! It answers so many of your questions and has pictures also to explain all. It is just great.

Monika is the gal who coined alley tree. It is the style in which she grows her Brugmansia. I prefer it to the bush type growth. It is a single trunk tree. Get her book, you will learn so much!

And yes, I encourge sucker growth just to get alley trees fast!
Of course I have no alley like Monika does, but that doesnot discourage me!

Main Entry: 1al·ley
Pronunciation: 'a-lE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural alleys
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French alee, from Old French, from aler to go
1 : a garden or park walk bordered by trees or bushes

Well, bad news the seedling is dead. Dryed up to nothing....I looked in the other two peat pots and found nothing so I am guessing the seeds rotted. One still has a chance, the seed was there and was white soooooo .......ho hum.... thats all I have, hoping one will make it..... :o(
Dee