Bulking up seedlings

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Florablunder

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Bulking up seedlings
« on: June 02, 2015, 21:56 »
Hi,

I've been trying to grow various flowers from seed as I wanted to have a cutting patch at the allotment, but I'm struggling to get them to progress to a decent size. After nearly 2 months, some are still only an inch or so high and pretty feeble looking. Can anyone give me some tips on how to get seedlings to fill out - I can't plant them out as they are now, they'll get eaten in seconds! I've tried potting on, and pinching out (where there are enough leaves). They are all in my mini greenhouse in the back garden - I've got chrysanthemums, nigella, cornflowers, poppies, amni majus, zinnia, echinacea and larkspur.
Thanks!

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Aunt Sally

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Re: Bulking up seedlings
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2015, 22:02 »
What type of containers and compost are they in?

Do they get plenty of light and ventilation?


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mumofstig

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Re: Bulking up seedlings
« Reply #2 on: June 03, 2015, 08:52 »
It's the coldest Spring for years, which hasn't helped. If it's any consolation mine are the same  :(

As long as they aren't still in teeny modules (in which case they need potting on) give them a dilute feed and pray for some warmer weather  ::)

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Florablunder

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Re: Bulking up seedlings
« Reply #3 on: June 03, 2015, 21:38 »
Hi,

Most of them are in 3 inch pots with general compost, a few are still in toilet roll pots in seed compost. They are in a mini plastic greenhouse - so I think it is warm enough (I've got bubble wrap in there, and it's been pretty warm here in Surrey). Not sure about light - some were on the bottom shelf, so maybe a bit shaded by the pots above? Could it be lack of light then?

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mumofstig

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Re: Bulking up seedlings
« Reply #4 on: June 03, 2015, 21:44 »
There is no feed in seed compost, so those need to be potted on.

Lack of feed, light, cold nights, and overwatering, can all make things grow slowly.

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Goosegirl

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Re: Bulking up seedlings
« Reply #5 on: June 04, 2015, 10:25 »
Could also be a bit too warm in there as well?
I work very hard so don't expect me to think as well.

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sunshineband

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Re: Bulking up seedlings
« Reply #6 on: June 04, 2015, 16:37 »
I would take them out of the mini greenhouse, and give them dilute feed every time you water from now on, as other posters have said.

 Even some MPCs have few nutrients, and it sounds like your plants are in need of a good meal  :D
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Gardener and Rabbit

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Re: Bulking up seedlings
« Reply #7 on: June 04, 2015, 18:38 »
I've found that using a dilute tomato food helps bedding plant seedlings to develop well and flower. (Don't use a high nitrogen feed on them because that will give you lots of leafy growth but few flowers.)  G&R


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