Viewing post #1098888 by jg0613

Well it has been an "up and down" 4-5 days since I last posted on the seedlings. The Alegria and Penny's Smile have been very leggy (and the Summer Jewel Lavender too but not as bad. I knew insufficient light could cause that. I also realized that I was keeping my seed starting mix WAY too moist. So some of the two tallest types started leaning. I was pretty stressed - didn't want to take up a lot of space here with details. So I tree mailed @Danita because I had seen a pic of her seedlings which included 2 of the types I have. I want to say here to Danita! She was very gracious and helpful. Had me send some close up pics. The good news is it doesn't appear to be damping off. Then some of the Stolonifera started leaning and a few looked suspicious. I actually did pluck out any that I thought might be iffy. I was able to add some seed starting mix around the tallest types. The mix kind of settled lower than I intended (probably because it was so moist). I was able to make adjustments to get better light to them, and air circulation. And let the mix dry. What is so odd is that the Guaranitica var Purpurea seedlings are not leggy which is why I didn't suspect lighting since they are all in the same tray and get the same light. Today I am cautiously optimistic. I am learning by doing. I can read and research all I want but doing this is the only way I am going to get better at it. So I am persevering!! I am hoping by sharing my progress, it may be helpful to someone else. That would make me happy as I have learned and been helped so much by others. I have pics today. First are the Summer Jewel Lavender (I had way more of those seeds so they occupy 12 of the 36 cells in my little tray). Next is what is left of Penny's Smile (6cells), and luckily I ordered a plant of this one from FBTS because I liked it so much I wanted to be sure to have one in case I failed with the seeds. Next is Alegria in the 2 front cells and my one Stolonifera left in the middle cell on the right side- I didn't have as many seeds of these 2. Last is my pride and joy- my Guaranitica var Purpurea! Three seedlings completely up and if you look closely there is another coming up in the middle cell on the left (the green is barely visible). Still no Guaranitica Santa Maria seedlings yet but it has been 2 weeks today since seeds were sown so I am not giving up yet. The Guaraniticas are my favorites (and among hummingbirds' top choices). I do have some Guaranitica types and hybrid plants ordered from FBTS and Gardens in the Wood of Grassy Creek. And I just "had to" put in another order from FBTS because I found a few more that I really want (I am going to edit my list in the thread on what varieties people are getting for 2016). Biggest lesson learned with these seeds- don't sow them all at once - save some back in case of problems. I did them all since I got a late start but from now on I will save some of each type because I know they will keep quite awhile