I grew some Ramblin Nu Blue petunias from seed this year, and they are doing great in plastic pots and in my raised bed. But in my containers that have the brown fuzzy stuff (can't think of what it's called), the leaves are yellow with dark veins and the flowers are also looking lighter in spots. I don't have this problem with verbena planted in the same containers. And my Ramblin Red petunias in similar containers are doing fine. What am I doing wrong?
Here's what they look like in the raised bed - to compare.
Did you mean the Spanish moss - the brown fuzzy stuff you referred to? If not, try to figure out what it is for us, please - in case it's important. Did you make your own soil, or are you using one that came from a bag? What brand? Are you using a "bloom-booster" type of fertilizer - one with the middle number (P) higher than the other two numbers N&K?
Al
Maybe something in the liner is affecting the ph of the soil? Or may have been sprayed with some herbacide to kill it prematurely or dry it faster so it could be harvested and put in your container? Just guessing as I have had no experience with those containers. You could try this: trade places with one of the discolored plants and a healthy one and see if the new one in the basket develops the same problem.
Well, you want to figure out what's wrong before they die, but I think they look pretty cool!
I did some searches online, and I think that it's chlorosis. I'm going to measure the soil pH today, and get some iron sulfate . . .
http://www.griffins.com/tech_service/bulletins_2005_iron_deficiency_in_crops.asp
I find that those type of baskets dry out very quickly and also the nutrients wash away too fast. I have found that lining them with plastic (slice a few holes in the bottom of the plastic for drainage) and adding a good slow release fertilizer for hanging baskets will help. I use Smart-Cote brand of fertilizer (14-14-14). I think your plants are small enough that you would be able to repot it without a problem. A plastic grocery bag would work. It looks like nutrient deficiency. Nice basket!
This message was edited Jun 9, 2009 1:41 PM
Here's some with sphagnum moss & plastic lining
and a couple more with the liner
i would try a good, all purpose fertilizer with micros. you need more than iron for healthy plants. a liquid dilute or osmocote is best imho.
You can tell your plants are chlorotic at a glance - no research necessary. "Chlorosis" covers a LOT of territory, the causes varied, and the remedies many, which is why I asked the questions I did. Since you didn't answer, I'll leave you with the thought that when you start adding singular elements or supplemental compounds w/o knowing why, and ignoring the underlying cause, you're far more likely to end up with more issues than you started with.
Al
Sorry Al, didn't mean to skip the answers to your questions, I have 3 little kids and not a lot of time on my hands, so I thought I'd just send that quick post about what I found online before sending a longer post with answers to questions, etc when I had more time:
1) Did you mean the Spanish moss - the brown fuzzy stuff you referred to?
Not Spanish moss, it's the kind of liners that Joanna has pictured in her photos.
2) Did you make your own soil, or are you using one that came from a bag? What brand?
I used promix bx with osmocote mixed in, and then about 2 weeks ago I added plant tone to all my planters (5-3-3).
3) Are you using a "bloom-booster" type of fertilizer - one with the middle number (P) higher than the other two numbers N&K?
Please see above . . .
Thanks for your help.
Mary E, I was wondering about the pH too. I'm going to test it tonight to see if I need to make the soil more acidic in order for magnesium and iron to be absorbed. I was especially wondering this since they seem to be doing fine in my plastic containers.
Trackinsand, I already have extended release osmocote that I added to the promix when I planted the plants, but maybe they need a boost. I just fed them with a 5-3-3 fertilizer about 2 weeks ago, and they aren't getting any better. (which makes me wonder whether Mary is right with her pH suggestion). I really need to test the pH. Just waiting for hubby to get home so I can run to the store to get a kit.
Joanna, I think that lining my liners with plastic is a great idea! If the liners are causing my soil to become too alkaline, that would help that problem in the future, while also keeping the nutrients from leeching out so quickly.
You've all been very helpful. How long does it typically take a plant to recover from a nutrient deficiency like this?
Thanks again!
This message was edited Jun 9, 2009 6:02 PM
This message was edited Jun 9, 2009 6:04 PM
A couple of days, but I guess it would depend on the plant. I have found a fish fertilizer works best to bring the plant back to looking good. Has more minerals and less chance to burn the plants at a young stage.
This message was edited Jun 9, 2009 4:09 PM
Thanks joanna,
I was feeding my petunias fish emulsion when I was growing them indoors. It worked really well. Maybe I should have stuck with it (I hated the smell though). As a side note, I have never seen chlorosis before, so I DID need to do some research to figure that out. I appreciate you taking the time to help a novice like me along.
I'm a novice too. It's amazing what you learn when you start killing off plants that started healthy and vigorous. I have been gardening for about 5 years and really got into it about 3 years ago. I have to laugh when I think of all the dumb things that I did. Good luck with the petunia. I started a Ramblin' mix called Razzleberry and it included the Nu Blue. Love the rich colors in that mix.
what i meant was plants need more than N-P-K to perform to their optiumum. check to see if your feed has micronutrients (all of them). if it does, then i don't know what the problem is because i see a feed problem of some kind....
trackinsand, the plant tone that I amended the soil with 2 weeks ago has all sorts of micronutrients in it. I wonder whether it's too early to see the effects, or if the plants can't absorb the nutrients they need (b/c of the wrong pH or something like that). Hubby still isn't home from work, so it doesn't look like I'll get to do the pH test tonight. Anyway, I really do appreciate all your help. You guys are great.
i would think that in two weeks, you should have seen a difference. something might be wrong with the roots of this plant, making it impossible to take up the nutrients. if it were in ground, i would suspect something like root knot nematodes, very common here in sandy soil, but since it's potted, well, i just don't know. i think the medium you're using is coir, a fibrous natural material and yes, they do dry out fairly fast, especially in hanging pots but yours doesn't look wilted so i think the watering may not be a factor.
i'd say give the feed a chance to work and just take it easy, not too much feed. giving a shot of iron will sometimes burn, so, like tapla said, be careful when using just one nutrient. it can cause all sorts of imbalances.
I found a great article by tapla about fertilizer
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/783660/
You've probably all read it, but I only found it this morning. Anyway, I think that I've been grossly under-fertilizing my containers. It's been a very rainy spring here, and I think that my nutrients have just all been washed away. I've been afraid to fertilize more b/c I do it in my water, but my containers have been so wet with rain, that I've been afraid of over watering. Since these containers were planted out at the end of April, I think that they are just starving for more nutrients than I've supplied. Next year, I'll do better.
growing hybrid petunias from seed, never works. they revert to the original old fashinoned petunia, have you considered this situation....
helene,
Other than the ones in these containers which have chlorosis, the rest of my petunias look exactly as pictured in the seed catalogs from which I bought them.
pgt,
Did you try the fish fertilizer? Sometimes the plant is unable to take up the micronutrients is there are a low levels of other specific minerals, usually potassium. I think the fish fertilizer is the easiest way to recharge the soil. The fish fertilizer has everything in it, naturally, so the plant can break it down better as well.
I was reading about the difficulty everyone was having with their hanging baskets. I planted 3 dragon wing begonias in my Planter in April . I could not find a liner to fit the basket so I bought two and laid them on top of each other. I think that might have helped with the moisture problem. I also just added extra compost Saturday and the leaves have really started turning a beautiful green.
hybrid petunias won't come true from seed. always revert to it's original purpelish original state. So don't try to grow any petunias that are hybridized. Problem #1 and #2 etc. you won't get the petunia you bought. No matter what your container is. Sorry. Helene
Just wanted to give an update. I treated the containers with iron and with "acid plant food". They have almost completely recovered from their chlorosis! woo hoo! We are unpacking from vacation. And, I'll post some pictures later.
Helene, my ramblin reds are red, my ramblin nu blue are the purple/blue that they are supposed to be, and my pink waves are pink. So, I guess I got lucky with the seeds I bought.
Joanna, I love the fish fertilizer. My husband asked me not to use it b/c he can't stand the smell. I might sneak some in though. I feel like its a nice gentle, complete fertilizer.
Okay,
Here's an update picture of my Ramblin Nu Blues that were suffering a few weeks ago. They are MUCH better! No more stripes on the flowers, and the leaves are back to green. Thanks for all the help, everyone.
Helene, Here are my Ramblin Reds that I grew from seed (I got them from Swallowtail Gardens), and they seem to be exactly what I ordered . . .
Helene, Here are my pink waves (seeds from Parks). They didn't revert to purple, they grew into pink waves like they were supposed to . . .
hey pgt , i know this is a little off topic but do you know if the waves produce viable seed ? I love them but they are a little pricey and I was thinking of trying to grow them from seed ,
laura
This is my first year growing petunias from seed. I bought the Ramblin seeds from Swallowtail Gardens and the pink wave seeds from Parks (I can't remember whether they are the original waves or the easy waves). Maybe someone will be able to tell from the picture. I haven't tried collecting seeds from the plants. They are pretty reasonable from seed bought online, and they were very easy to germinate and grow. I kept them under shop lights with 40 watt fluorescent bulbs. The shop lights cost about $20. And the bulbs cost about $2 a piece. I figure that since I'll use the shop lights over and over again, that they are worth the investment. It's so fun to see these tiny little seeds grow into these huge plants with flowers all over them. I'm definitely going to do it again next year. I also grew verbena, bacopa, lobelia, vinca and impatiens in addition to the petunias. It was so much fun. I bet that Joannabanana can answer your question about getting viable seed from the plants - she's a petunia expert.
I've never saved seeds because I thought that hybrids will not produce the same as the parent.
This is an EXCELLENT website and this direct page has your question near the bottom of the list. As you scroll down the list the answers pop up.
http://www.wave-rave.com/How_To_Grow.aspx
thanks so much , I thought I would try growing them because here they are about $5 a piece, they are worth every penny though because they really are beautiful, thanks for the web site too
laura
If you order seeds from a mail order, they are available in different package sizes. It's a lot of fun to start them from seed.
I don't know nearly what Tapla knows, but when I plant annuals outside, I always use a mix that has some soil, unlike Pro Mix which is a soil less mix and would need a lot more fertilizer and care. Good old Miracle Grow with big giant perlite works well for me for outside baskets and pots.
I always use Pro mix or something without real soil for indoor plants.
I believe she is referring to the type of container she has the petunias in, not spanish moss..it grows on trees in the South and is grey.
Re: Saving seeds from hybrid petunias -- I've actually had very good luck planting seeds that I saved from my hybrids, at least for the "F1" or first generation; apparently the varieties have been so hybridized that they come back pretty true to form that first year at least, although you will probably see a little more variation. After that I don't know, since I haven't saved seeds from any succeeding generations, but likely they would sooner or later revert back. I do this with impatiens as well, and have saved a lot of money because I grow lots of flower plants!
Sandy
