I number the seedlings as they sprout... Look at how small #1 is compared to #3 & #4.. crazy!
Look at the difference in growth rate!
Here they are in Jan..
Here they are in Feb..
Crazy lil Brug Babiez... I love em all.. I don't care how big or how small
Unless it is just the angle the picture is taken at, the pots look a lot bigger on 3 and 4. That could definitly make a difference.
Yes, the pots in back are bigger... I transplant seedlings as they outgrow their pot. As soon as the roots are out the bottom of a 4" pot, it goes in 1gallon.. when I see roots out the bottom of a 1 gallon, it goes in a 5 gallon. They all start out in tiny Dixie cups and graduate to bigger pots at their own rate..
Joyce, my first year growing sdlgs. and suckers has shown a variance in growth habit so I do not feel your plants are strange. They remind me of mine. Lol. They certainly look healthy -
Tussee
Perhaps you winked more at #3 and 4?
:-)
Observing growth rates is a great way to begin evaluating your new brug babies. So much fun!
It's hard to comprehend that every little seed in that seed pod is a unique individual. The flowers might look identical when compared to each other but there will be definite differences in growth rates, leaf textures and shapes, and of course overall health.
And in the end, so what if a brug flower turns out to look like something that already exist? You just might be growing something more tolerant to brug woes, much more floriferous, and with prettier leaves. An improved version!! It will be so interesting to see your comparisons of these plants all the way to flowers :)
There's just nothing like the excitement to be the first person to see a brand new brug flower!
So very well said Vicki. Thank you!
Last year I had such a huge batch of seedlings, it was no fun... most were just open pollinated and I had so many I missed the joys of growing them.. it was just a huge chore. It took weeks to get them all transplanted, hours to water every day.. then I learned what Broad Mites were... took a couple of months to get over that... it was just awful.
This year, I kept it under control. (the urge to own a billion seedlings) To date, I only have about 40 They are all very good quality crosses and I numbered them as they emerged so I have more complete records. Now I get to see things I didn't get to see last year... Like the growth rate, the changes in leaves as they mature.. all that. So this year is so much more fun than last year. I am armed to battle the bugs, I know what to expect, and it is wonderful to experience them this way.
It's a joy to see the changes they take on as soon as they hit a 1gal pot... they start to get strong.. leaves get bigger... then they go in a 5 gal pot and KAPOWIE.. Huge leaves, toothed edges emerge, trunks get big and fat.. it's like overnight they just jump into adulthood. LOL
You are so right about being the first person to see a brug flower.. and the first to smell the scent.. That was an awesome experience for me last year.. I will never forget how it felt like the best gift I've ever gotten. (besides my kids) I can hardly wait for it to happen again.. That is what inspired me to have mostly seedlings this year.
Your bugs all look really nice and healthy.