I started some seeds about four weeks ago and need some help The seeds were ordered from a internet supplier. Some of the seeds were Datura and some were Brugs. Some of the Datura seeds are up, and they are about one inch tall. Should I put some fertilizer on them? Also none of the Brugs are up yet-is that normal? I used starter seed soil and put them in peat cups. I keep them damp--not wet. This is my first time with seeds. Any help would be appreciated. Bob
Baby plants
Hi Bob, Thanks to a Friend here I was given some seeds too. They've been planted for about 2 weeks and none are up yet. If yours have been there for 4 I'm not going to worry too much as I know that they can take some time to sprout. I will be watching your thread though for answers. I want so desperately to have them grow for me. Come on growers....help us out. Please?????!!!!!
This is just my opinion, but I think something that is becoming a big problem with growing seeds of almost any kind is....fungus gnats. It seems they must be hiding in our soilless mixes and when they (soils) are used and are moist and warm, the fungus gnats are hatching out. The dang gnats are coming from somewhere....so the soil is my best guess. Growing your seeds in "STERILIZED" potting soil, inside a plastic bag so the fly by gnats can't get in there is the best insurance for germinating your seeds. Within ten days or less, unprotected brug seeds can be bored into by the gnat larva and your seed is gone. Save some money by sterilizing the soil with boiling water, microwave, or oven heat. The plastic bag is a must. Pot and all must go inside to keep the gnats from getting to it. I have lost lots of seeds but now that I do what I've mentioned, I'm having very little loss. Some seed just naturally doesn't grow because it is empty, so I expect a few to not germinate. Another thing I do not do is re-use soil. All of my used soil is tossed into the flower bed. I guess that is re-using it, but not for starting seeds anyway. Again, this is just my opinion, but it might just save you some seeds and time if you try it.
Shirley
This message was edited Mar 23, 2005 9:13 AM
Hi, I will say that you need not fertilize your Datura and insure they have a bright window or artificial light source.
I can only speak of my recent new brug seedlings that took less than two weeks to show signs of growth. This was in a room that got only window light and and the temperature was around 68 degrees. Southern exposure. I now have some that are just popping up and it's been about 18 days. From my reading it's not uncommon for them to take longer.
Most of the time I have heard that the Datura takes much longer for germination you are lucky to get such a quick result from your datura seeds. I have not planted any datura for the last two years and they come up by self seeding. When one of those pods pop they are all over the place! My datura is belle blanche and what a producer of blooms.
Hope some of this helps but I'm sure one of the more experienced Brug gang will do much better at results from brug seeds.
9283bo, hi and welcome to the Brugmansias and Friends Forum!
I have planted some of my last years datura's which were LOVELY btw lol....and they were planted in peat pods such as you said you are doing. I put them inside of foil tray after soaking the pods, then I put over the tray the 'press n' seal' (new on the market to cover food) then I placed the tray into a clear plastic trash bag and tied it up! Placed it on top of a heating pad and had some light overhead (Gro-Light). Germinated in 14 days for the Datura...the tomatoes were only 8-10 days to germinate. I planted only 6 Datura but put more in the pods just in case, and planted 41 tomatoe seeds (Burpee, Better Boy) and all 41 came up from the tomatoes and 4 are popping up of the datura's I planted.
This method is great for me! I gave my seeds a chance with success, not to have the opportunity to get the fungus knats. They are just aweful! They've made a feast out of some of my seeds. So I live and learn. But this is the best advice as far as the knats go for me.
I wish you luck and success and keep us posted and if you have any questions just ask. Someone knows by experience cos' we've all been there once.
Have a wonderful day! Happy Easter!
Julie/BaBs
Hi, I had fairly good luck with brug seed,I used method above. I didnt use peat pots just tray planted but enclosed in plastic bag. If i run out of bags use saran wrap.
Man, I have been plagued with fungus knats this year - didn't realize that they actually ATE the seeds!!! Do they bother plants that are already growing? Everytime I water things, the gnats fly up and I am madly pinching them trying to kill them.
Question: do the gnats eat all seeds??? or do they just love brugs?
I don't know what they eat, but can tell you that brug seeds must be dessert. They love them. Try watering from below if you can and let the surface remain dry. It might help. The gnats don't eat the seeds, it is their eggs that hatch and bore into the seed. Nasty little critters. Mosquito dunks soaked and used to water the brugs will kill the larva, but you would have to do it all the time. I used some stuff I bought from Planet Natural called Scan Mask. It is good for 18 months and I just used a pinch of it. I've not seen more than two gnats since I used the stuff. As for bothering already growing plants...I'm sure if there are small roots, they are feasting. Then they turn into gnats and lay eggs and the cycle just keeps going on and on. Oh yes, there is some stuff called Gnatrol that helps, but if I had to help you spend your money, I'd buy Scan Mask. It is great.
Shirley, where did you find the Scan Mask?
Ada, I got mine from Planet Natural. No shipping and it arrives quick.
Thanks, Shirley. I'll have to check them out..
Shirley...great information. We have a lot of fungal knats...but I haven't seen them in the greenhouse...but they could be lurking. I have had the same experience with the covered pots (in the plastic bottles)...much better rate of germination!!
Thanks again.
Carol
Brugie I went to Planet Natural and put in Scan Mask, they don't have it? I don't need it now but would like to have it on hand if I do need it.
http://www.planetnatural.com/site/beneficial-nematodes.html Try this URL. They have it.
Did we or did we not hear to use mosquito crumbles for fungal gnats?? I used mosquito crumbles, in all my pots and I didn't have gnats. I'm going to use them again this year too. I have some left over dunks I'm going to crumble and use them too, for mosquitoes, as well as anything else they might zonk...
You did Sherry. The stuff from Planet Natural is good for 18 months. Just a little pinch into a pot and then I'm going to dump that pot into a bigger pot when I'm planting and hope that it continues to work. I sure don't have gnats in the house or the greenhouse now.
Shirley, now find something to get rid of whiteflies. LOL
Ada, I'd love to find something. If it would just work. Avid is supposed to work on them, but it doesn't.
I've tried everything I can find and still no luck. I believe they thrive on all these chemicals. LOL
I for sure think slugs thrive on pure poison, whew!!!