I have a problem

Well I let this go till the last possible minute. Except my dau fell off a swing at school and was knocked unconscious today so I spent the day on that. She turned out to be ok. I meant to do something about all my WS seedlings though and now I really have to figure something out.
I came home to 76 degrees outside and several of the containers looking like they needed water. We are going away for a few days and now I'm wondering how to hold these seedlings? I am considering just planting all of them clumps in the garden and walking away. I really don't know what to do. The ones that are a real enigma are the dahlias. I don't see a way to keep them happy for more than a day. Any ideas?

alyrics,
Couple of questions. Have you hardened the seedlings off? I mean have the tops been off the containers during the day and nite? As well, do they have their 2nd set of true leaves? If you will only be gone a couple of days do you have an area of deep shade that you can place the containers until you get back. I hope others will chime in here with some advice.

Oh Donn what do you suggest!

Michelle

Edit
Glad to know that your daughter is ok!

This message was edited Apr 11, 2006 7:26 PM

Water them well before you leave and move them to a shadier location. They will be fine.

So glad she's okay!

Someone here once suggested putting the containers into a cardboard box with water in it. They get soaked, but don't end up sitting in the water for days as it does drain out of the cardboard after a while.

Yeah, the cardboard thing is working out really well. I forget who posted it, but it's working like a charm. Everything stays moist but not soaked.

Alyrics, I woud suggest getting some boxes, watering your containers and setting them in the shade like everyone else suggested. The ones that seem to work best are about a foot tall....seems to be less evaporation....even in direct sun.

Glad your daughter's okay. That's scary.

alyrics: Glad your daughter is OK.

I'd agree with everyone else: bottom water thoroughly and put in shade. If you're gone only a day or two they'll probably be fine. Or do you have a friend or neighbor who you could show how to do it for you? Think positive, maybe it will rain while you are gone!

I have a similar problem. I found out today I need to have two surgeries soon. Even if someone could tend to these babies while I'm in the hospital, (my friends have black thumbs), it will probably be a long time before I could get all this transplanted into the garden. I have about 80 containers, and, after sowing and nursing them all this time they might well all end up just croaking there.

Karen

Oh Karen, that's awful. I hope your friends can do it for you after your surgery (with your supervision). I've followed your WSing and know how dedicated and comitted you've been. Good luck and blessings!

Thanks everybody - I think I'm going to hustle and find somebody to water for me - how much can they mess up? Well if they do then I'll just have less to plant. I have had the lids off on some of the pots but not all. We are forecasted for lows in the 40's so I think they will be ok, but the same forecast has only 10 -30% chance of rain for the next 10 days. Can't count on that.

Another thing - some of the pots have the beginnings of moss on the soil surface, even tho the seeds have germinated. Should I be concerned? I sterilized my containers with bleach and used a bagged soil-less potting mix - I forget which one.

My opal basil has germinated and those tiny purple leaves are really cute. Most of my seedlings are still on the cotyledon leaves - I think just the poppies, centaurea and shasta Alaska are making the 1st true set of leaves.

Karen - I hope you find a resolution for the seedlings but more importantly that you come through the medical issues with flying colors. We'll be thinking of you.


This message was edited Apr 11, 2006 11:36 PM

Do you have a baby pool? Set it up in the shade, and put a couple of inches of water in it, followed by your containers.

In the future, don't plan trips during WS season. ;>}

donn thats easy for you to say! I have a beautiful new under the bed plastic box that is probably almost big enough to hold all the pots. So much for the winter blankets - lol

Don't worry about the moss...I get it every year and the seedlings come up right through it. I'm thinking it just means your containers are nice and moist.