Portulaca seedlings are crazy slow

I collected seeds from my portulaca last fall and planted them in early December. They sprouted within a few weeks, but now, at the end of February, they are still tiny two-leaved sprouts. They haven't grown a bit. I don't see how they can live and not grow. They are in a very sunny spot - we have a full window wall facing south with an overhead area of windows, although the over head is curtained, or else we'd die of over heating. Any suggestions?

They may need bottom heat. I've had portulaca volunteers for years, and they always showed up in early summer, (June?) when the soil was consistently warm.

Or, they may need a longer period of sunlight. If you have a plant light, throw one under it and see what happens.

I agree. When unsolicited, it's definitely a summer weed.

I think they are just not getting enough light, I've grown them and getting ready to start some now and they grow pretty fast really under lights, if you don't have lights set up maybe they will hang in there until you can get them outside once they are in the warmth they'll start growing faster, I've never used a heat mat on mine but they do get the heat from the lights.

Thanks to all. Just this last week they finally sprouted new leaves and began to show the portulaca thick shiny quality. I suspect it's because of the markedly lengthening days. Next year I won't bother to plant the seeds until mid February.

Or you could start them the same time you did but put some lights a few inches above the seedlings and leave them on for 14-16 hrs. Most seedlings will get leggy if you don't get them enough light, so actually you're lucky that your portulacas didn't start to grow sooner because if they had they probably would have got really leggy from not having enough light. You don't need fancy grow lights, plain old fluorescents will do the job.

I thought mine were sick or something. They popped up in no time at all. I was rather heavy handed on the sewing and they came up really thick. I have them under lights(1 1/2 or 2"). They have been there for about 3 weeks and I only have a second set of leaves on a very, very few. Any advice on how to seperate them. Could this be the reason they are slow growing. Thanks in advance for any advice.
gp

Try clump planting them, I've tried a few plants this way and it really works, critter wrote an article on it here it is:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/862/

thanks bug, that was helpful!!! maybe there is hope for them yet!!!

I clump planted mine last summer and it worked great! There was probably 10 per cell and you never woul dhave noticed!

these were sowed on 3/15 and germinated on 3/20... they are slow moving

http://davesgarden.com/community/journals/viewentry/179172/

Those are really healthy looking seedlings Onewish! What are those white flowers to the side?

Steven

edited to add: I think I've answered my own question, they look like Lobelia(?)

This message was edited Apr 18, 2008 10:36 AM

thank you....Lobelia grown from cuttings I bought

http://davesgarden.com/community/journals/viewentry/183867/

They're really nice cuttings, I've got a bunch of seedlings sprouted...........they are SO smaaaaalll!

i have read they take months to bloom... when did you start them?

about a month ago, I started them last year and they should be flowering buy July.....Maybe some types take longer then others?

never tried it ... until this year myself.... the cuttings too

last year I grew the prettiest lilac flowered ones from seed, so this year I mixed the lilac with some mixed trailing types....I love the way the flowers seem to float on the plants...