Hi,
I looked at some seed I planted and some of them germinated but abruptly terminated. Is there any usual reason for this?
Thank you again,
intercessor
Death of a seedling :*(
What sort of planting media did you start them in?
It was this stuff http://www.schultz.com/ProductCategories/Soilsamendments/MoisturePlus/. Got it damp and then put in a small ziplock bag with the seed .25 to .5 inches down.
Hmmm.... I think this mix is for more established plants. I like to recommend a soilless seed starting mix, usually made of finely ground sphagnum peat, perlite, and maybe fine pumice. No fertilizer added (except Scott's brand seed starting mix has 0.01% phosphate). Your seedlings may have been too wet, especially with those moisture crystals. Also unspecified organic materials may have harbored fungus that may have been OK for more mature plants but not for seedlings. That is why a seed starting mix is best. In addition to Scott's, Jiffy puts out a suitable mix.
I just barely dampen my mix with even moisture throughout. I dump the mix in a big bowl, add maybe 1/4 cup water per half gallon mix and mix well. I don't water again except for the surface which might dry out too soon-- I just use a spray bottle for that. I wait a few weeks after they come up before I fertilize with a very weak water soluble fertilizer. Give it another try.
Do you cover the container or have it open? I'll have to look again for the seed starting mix, none of the stores seemed have it. How many people have seeds started in a 4b-5a the day before it snows :*) ? I know I got them quite wet. I was thinking the product needed to be wet. When I scaled though the mixture was barely damp, so maybe that will do better. For one batch of seeds I did bake the mixture to sterilize it. That may do better.
Thank you,
intercessor
I zip the baggie closed but I also cut a notch on each side just under the zipper to allow some air flow. Yes, it might be difficult to find starting mix now in the off season. Maybe one of the big box stores will have it (Home Depot for example). If your seeds are trumpet or asiatic you may be better off waiting until late winter or early spring to start them. At least you know your seeds are good.
I used some peat, fine perlite and sand.....mixed up and barely dampened in baggies.....seemed to work ok, some didn't make it, most did. Once larger leaves were present, I opened the baggies. I water with a spray bottle when they dry out...I'll try to get a pic.
I start seeds in baggies with well wrung out peat moss, vermiculite, whatever I have lying around. Once they have germinated well,(you can see this by all the little white rootlets showing on the sides of the baggie) Then into the fridge they go for 9 or 10 weeks vernalization. Then I pot up in the warm in soiless mix WITHOUT FERTILIZER OR ANYTHING ADDED).
While they are in the fridge, check the baggies now and then. If they start getting too dry, give thenm a few drops of water. I mean drops. If/when they start showing green growth in the fridge, bring them out and pot up. Seeds that dont show sisgns of germination, just keep 2 weeks in fridge, 2 weeks in room warmth, 2 weeks fridge etc etc until they do germinate. I have some seeds that have taken 7 or 8 months to germinate.
All of this nice advice:*) I planted this early hoping I could get an extra growing season in :*0. There are so many lily combos already I imagine anything that comes up will be out there already???
What are the chances of each seed producing a different bloom from the same cross?
Do any of you have pics of home grown blooms? This is fun, when it goes right...
intercessor
Oh yes,
siblings will often - usually be different. I usually start about half of a cross in baggies and plant them out. Usually they all get composted when they bloom but they are often quite diff. Some even are yellow while others are mainly pinkish. It all depends on the dominant gene. Often some siblings are quite alike but not alltogether the same. Have to say I've yet to have a single one I thought was different enough to grow on or send to test gardens.
inanda