it was my second attempt at planting from seed, and i planted it on mixed soil, then about 2 inches of peat moss on top. is it because of that? i tried adding some diluted schultz plant starter, but i think it made it worse. more yellowed leaves!

what should i do? should i try to thin them? should i add soil? should i put more fertilizer? help! thank you!

pictures here: http://pokok.gejala.org/2007/mukaketupat/seedling/crisis-of-confidence-seedlings-not-growing/

O.K. here is my 2-cents worth. Don't fertilize them anymore..I'm not sure what you mean my planting them in mixed soil...but don't do any more fertilizing. Depending on what you used for sowing medium, you could very well have some nutrients already in there for them.

I can't view your picture, so not sure how crowded they are, but just be patient with true leaves showing. My celosias were sowed on March 31, germinated on April 3, and I just transplanted them out of the 3" pots I sow into. I had three different varities and all were just showing their first true leaves.

Personally I would transplant them into small individual cells and use your favorite soil mix. This act would both thin them out(give them room), and get them out of soil that may be overfertilized. My favorite for both starting seeds and growing them on is miracle gro potting mix.

Hope they work out for you....
good luck
m

thanks for this. i potted them straight into middlish-sized pots because i read somewhere that celosia doesn't like to be transplanted.

but i think i messed up because instead of mixing the peat with the soil, i put soil at the bottom, and 2" of peat at the top. which means the roots haven't reached the soil bit yet. i think?

photo on how they look as of last night.

i sort of thinned one pot, and now waiting to see what happens. think you're right that i should hold the fertilizer. couldn't afford miracle gro, and i should have!

best of luck on yours!! hope they turn out big and happy :)

Well, they don't look bad at all. Could be the yellowish tint isn't showing up well, but they look ok:)

I sow all of my seeds into 3" and 4" pots(not singly, but broadcasting them...so I'm averaging about 20-40 plants a pot). Then when they get big enough to handle I prick them out into individual cells...most times not waiting for first true leaves. Last year the transplanting went ok, but the celosia didnt enjoy the cool basement. This year they are 'growing up' upstairs in a warmer room. They are looking great.

I have found you can transplant most anything when young enough(and roots are small enough and not tangled)....yes even those they say don't transplant well. Its when they are a bit bigger that difficulties arise...but by this time they are in their individual cells and will get very little disturbance from this time on.

And after you explained the peat scenario, I understand it better. Yep, better to mix it in, or don't even add it if your mix is a commercially bought soilless mix. But, I am sure those roots have reached the soil already...they're way ahead of what you see aboveground:)

That thinning out will help and holding back on fertilizer will too. When I do fertilize I use Neptunes Harvest fish and seaweed fertilizer(its organic and very mellow). I just add it to the water and it is easy on the seedlings.

Don't worry...it looks like they will make it just fine:)
m

i'll leave them alone for now, and hope for the best. they're the cockscomb variety, and i am super-super excited to see them flower. don't think i've come across them before. hope to post back to this link when they have grown up ;)

now i have three long flower boxes full of healthy, happy celosia seedlings. hope they grow out strong! :)