Aquilegia seedlings dying ?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Evil Len, Mar 14, 2012.

  1. Evil Len

    Evil Len Nag a ram

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    I pricked out and potted up my aquilegia seeds at the weekend ... all the lower leaves seem to be dying off (see photos)

    I potted them up into John Innes #2, one per pot, was very gentle, soaked them from the bottom up. They are sat in a sunny south facing window.

    Any idea why the leaves are dying off ? Is this likely to spread up the plant ? Anything I can do ?!?

    aquilegia_ 002.JPG aquilegia_ 002.JPG
     
  2. Evil Len

    Evil Len Nag a ram

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  3. longk

    longk Total Gardener

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    I've never had any luck pricking them out. I find it better to thin them out and be done with it. Better still, sow now where you want them. Hopefully someone will let us in on the secret.
     
  4. joolz68

    joolz68 Total Gardener

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    i have some in 9cm pots(i must of sown them in winter) but they are bushier than yours len,maybe with yours because they are leggy maybe loosing bottom leaves to thicken up ?? trust me i dont know its just a guess x
    mine are both doing the same in the garden and the greenhouse so im guessing they are quite determined to grow :) so i wouldnt worry yet :blue thumb: ive also just put some seeds in trays to see the outcome so maybe they will be leggy to begin with x
     
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    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      I would try them outside in a cold frame, it's probaby too hot for them indoors.
       
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      • joolz68

        joolz68 Total Gardener

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        jwk..do you lens plants or my tray of seeds? like i said both my outdoor n greenhouse plants are about the same,the only diff i can see is lens got stones in his soil ?:scratch: il put pics on of both tomo but i dont know len sown his and if the time make a diff x
         
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        I meant Len's plants joolz.

        I'm guessing your greenhouse isn't as hot as a windowsill these last couple of days, so maybe that's why yours are doing OK.
         
      • gcc3663

        gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

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        I have a lot of aquiligia around the garden. Generally I find they self seed and those growing can be transplanted and potted on for sharing with no problem.
        I have grown seeds and have some success, but collecting the naturally spread and germinated seeds has proved easier to achieve.
         
      • Bilbo675

        Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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        I have had similar problems with them when I've grown them from seed; they continue to produce new leaves but lose the lower (older) leaves. Once I planted them out in the ground though they quickly established and became much healthier bushy plants. As long as they keep producing new leaves I wouldn't worry too much, I think its because they have a larger root system than we think and aren't entirely happy until they're in the ground or a large pot..:dbgrtmb:
         
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        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          I agree with both gcc and Bilbo. In future it would be easier to let the plants seed in the garden and then move or pot them on from there. If they are new seeds from a packet then you just need to be careful when pricking out. Your seedlings look OK to me and should recover from the shock of transplanting.

          For much more comprehensive information on aquilegias you want to look at this thread that I posted.

          http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/growing-aquilegias.34656/


          Apart from having quite a few named aquilegias I also have lots of self-crossbred ones around the garden. Here are some of them.

          141_4184.JPG 333_3370.JPG
           
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          • joolz68

            joolz68 Total Gardener

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            Things in the greenhouse seem to be doing better than the windowcill:scratch: , eg pepper/tom seedlings but im green so its all trial and error for me this yr.
            i got my aguilegia seeds from carrie last yr shiney :biggrin: cant wait to see them flower :dancy: i didnt realise they would be easy to grow so i will be planting out as many as i can plus ordering more varieties :dbgrtmb: xx
             
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            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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              Don't forget that they are very promiscuous so when they seed in the garden they may not come true. You may even get something completely new. :dbgrtmb:
               
            • joolz68

              joolz68 Total Gardener

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              shiney i would be happy if i manage to get one flower,any colour:loll:they seem to plodding along ok at the moment i just hope they stay that way :blue thumb: i took these today of the ones in the potting shed and in the garden,the ones ive put in seeds trays in the greenhouse havnt shown up yet but i think i only planted them about a week back x
              [​IMG]
              [​IMG]
               
            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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              The ones in the garden are about where they should be for the time of year. Those in the pots could probably do with potting on into something larger if you're going to delay planting out for a month.
               
            • joolz68

              joolz68 Total Gardener

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