Nemesia looking sad

JenE_2

Hi all
I posted nearly a year ago about growing my own plants for table decorations for our wedding.
Well, I bought 35 nemesias at the Harrogate flower show in April and potted them on into 1.5 litre pots. I've had them in the conservatory since then due to the continuing frosts.
But quite a lot of them are looking quite sad. There's a bit of what looks like mould on top of the compost on about half of them and some of them have really wilted.
So I've put them outside during the day yesterday and this morning, and watered them all well this morning, in their trays so they can soak it up.
Has anyone got any other ideas of what I could do?
The wedding's in just over 5 weeks and I need them to 'bush' out a bit more, as well as look happy!
Thanks

Mortal

It might be that they are underwatered, stress can cause a form of mould, however, you could be overwatering them JenE, I don't suppose you could get a photo on here?

Nemesia do like well drained compost, so if it's over rather underwatering, you could try repotting in fresh compost with grit/perlite added.
Always use the finger test. push it deep into your pot. the top may appear on the dry side, but a little deeper down and you may find it's plenty moist enough.

If you can save them, I'd nip off all the leaves that are discolouring, or have gone mouldy. remove any fallen ones.

Then If you pinch out each 'branch' it will make the plants produce a bushier plant. This will also delay flowering. I'd do it about three or four leaves up from the base. Personally I'd keep them inside the conservatory, but unless it's heated, I think you might find it a good idea to pop some fleece or newspaper over them at night for now, while it's so cold

If you can, use these pinched out bits to create more plants. Pop them into gritty compost. As long as they take root quickly, you should have flowers around the same time as the parent plant as I believe they are both the same age if you know what I mean, give or take the rooting time.


whatever you do, don't leave them outside, it's far too cold at night presently.

Kay_Peel

I've never grown nemesia successfully but this year I (hope that) I've learnt from my past mistakes.

And how I wish that I had someone like Mortal (above) to guide me!

So this year I only watered them when they were dry-ish. I made sure that all the water drained out and that they were not left with cold feet in water. I pinched them back before they got too straggly.

I hope that your nemesias look wonderful in 5 weeks time - but just in case, have you thought about getting some 'back ups' and spares from a garden centre?

JenE_2

thank you!
I've carefully pruned them back, tested them properly and I have overwatered the really sad ones - I've repotted some as suggested. Most of the others now look much happier for a bit of water.
We went back to the venue yesterday and they reckon we only need about 24, so at least I have a bit of slack in the number I've got...
Good Luck Kay!
Jen