Busy Lizzies problem

Gardening-girl_5

Fern_Merkin wrote: »

[quote

[FONT=&quot]I think i will try and see if i have much success with Busy Lizzy cuttings as well this year, they sound a lot less hassle for a lot less effort!

[/FONT]

They root really easily. It's a breeze

Try the African ones, my fave has dark green leaves with red veins and edges and the most lovely large salmon pink flowers. I just have it in my living room near a south facing window all winter and get flowers til near xmas. It gets a bit leggy in the new year and therefore perfect for cuttings about now. Plant out in a sunny spot for best results.

have fun!
Fx[/quote]

Oo thanks Fern, they sound lovely, I'll try giving them a go, if not this year i'll make a note in my gardening book to buy some plants specially or try the seeds for next year! ..where did you get yours please? It will save me googling for them!:cheesy:

Gardening-girl_5

A._Badger wrote: »

If it is damping off disease (and that seems likely) then Cheshunt Compound will certainly help, but really only as a preventative.

Also important is making sure everything is as clean as possible, to avoid contamination with the spores, so that means using fresh tap water and clean trays or pots. Rainbut water is fine for established plants but hopeless for delicate seedlings.

Regarding germination, I've found that the best way to sow many small seeded varieties is to press the seed gently into the surface of the compost and then cover it with a layer of seed-grade vermiculite.

People often don't realise that many seeds require a degree of light to germinate and vermiculite serves two functions - it lets some light through and while it holds moisture close to the seed, but avoiding the over-damp conditions which the spores of damping-odd fungus absolutely love.

Using that technique, I'd actually say busy lizzies are one of the easier plants to get going,


Hope that hels!

A Badger, It does thanks...although I used brand new pots and carrying trays for them, so I don't think it could be the pots this time, I wash all my pots at the end of use in hot soapy water or disinfectant if i have any at the time indoors and rinse them well... this time though i think the problem could only be i accidentally over watered when i potted them on, it's the only think i can think of that's caused the problem! Previously when i have sown seeds i have pressed them gently into the surface and almost always use vermiculite on top of seeds (and perlite in the compost and vermiculite on the surface when potting on) I have a problem though when growing Busy Lizzies from seed is maintaining constant heat, it's the reason i bought Busy lizzie plugs this year but i suppose if i had a heated propagator or something similar i might have more success! Seems though i don't have have any success either way so i can't win lol!! :cheesy:

A._Badger

Yes, it definitely sounds like temperature is your problem then as you're doing everything else right.

I would strongly advise buying an electrically heated propagator but make sure you get one with a thermostatic control. The cheap ones which are either on or off are, in my view, really a waste of money because, while they keep your seeds warm when it's cold, during the day all they do is toast them nicely!

I bought a variable temperature one years ago and it has paid for itself many times over.

Good luck!

Fern_Merkin

Gardening-girl wrote: »

They root really easily. It's a breeze

Try the African ones, my fave has dark green leaves with red veins and edges and the most lovely large salmon pink flowers. I just have it in my living room near a south facing window all winter and get flowers til near xmas. It gets a bit leggy in the new year and therefore perfect for cuttings about now. Plant out in a sunny spot for best results.

have fun!
Fx

Oo thanks Fern, they sound lovely, I'll try giving them a go, if not this year i'll make a note in my gardening book to buy some plants specially or try the seeds for next year! ..where did you get yours please? It will save me googling for them!:cheesy:[/quote]

In a B&Q about 4-5 years ago:D Sure they'll be about in garden centres. Late in the season they can be quite cheap as they are treated as annuals. I just saved these when it got colder.