6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
Plant a few seeds in a small pot using sterile seed starting mix. Anything that grows there should be from the seeds you planted. Take the pot out to the garden plot when you weed and compare your seedlings to those in the pot. This is especially helpful if you are direct sowing a seed mixture or are broadcast seeding instead of planting in rows.
I think naturegirl_2007 is right on. It shouldn't take too long. After the first true lives are a few days old the pattern of many are already obvious. Checking the color of the stems against the plants in the small pots may help.
Also when you get to pulling note the root characteristics. Some weeds may have a different root and will pull up differently from a desired plant that looks similar.
Some of us had the benefit of grandmothers who knew all about such things. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get such help because our society is so mobile.
Yea...newbie...artificial light will do that. Grow lights are awesome for seed starting & early seedling stages. After that, they must start getting used to normal sunlight (and sunlught schedule/hours) even if indoors, or they'll have a hard time outdoors no matter how much hardening off is done.
I typically grow my morning glories outside so I really can't say if this is normal for indoor seedlings. I have noticed my outdoor seedling having leaves stuck together but I've never helped them a long. I'm no expert but considering it has only been a few days I would take a hands off wait and see approach while continuing to give them plenty of sunlight. Let us know how they turn out.
Yesterday the MGs were beginning to green up nicely. Today they have the green color I think plants should have. Guess I just had to be patient. The leaves that looked tightly stuck together also separated fine. I'm sowing some other varieties and will watch to see if they also have the yellow color initially.
Just another thought, we had a 12 x 18 shed built from Lowes last fall. We had it made an extra foot tall so we could have a nice size loft to it for storage. We then put a ceiling in it with an attic ladder, insulated it and finished the walls and ceiling with rough 4 x 8 plywood which we painted. We had four windows put the south side of the building. We put a little $50 electric oil heater in it along with a small humidifier. It remained between 60 - 70 degrees all winter here in Indiana. We have several shelves with grow lights and are so happy with the results. We check our thermometer each day for temp and humidity. So far, we are amazed our electric has not jumped that much but we are more conscience too of shutting of lights in the house than we use to. I just love it and my plants are doing well too. My husband built me a long workbench along one side right under the windows which is such a neat place to work at. I can't wait till I can retire in next few years so I can really put it to good use.
Previously known as Hibiscus huegelii, now Alyogyne huegelii
"As Alyogyne are from the same family as Hibiscus, information on propagation for hibiscus is appropriate for Alyogyne, both for growing from seed or from cuttings. Propagation can be from seed, which keeps its viability for a number of years. It is helpful to rub the seed against a file or an emery board before planting the seed as this treatment will break through the hard protective coating and allow moisture to penetrate. Germination will be much faster after this treatment."
"Hibiscus - nick and soak overnight. Seeds can be planted in a commercial seed starting medium or a mix can be made out of some combination of sand, perlite, vermiculite and Canadian peat. The seeds are planted 1/4 to 1/2" deep in the mixture and should germinate in a week to a month on average. It is best to keep the temperature about 80 to 85° F (about 28° C) and the medium moist, but not soggy. A heat mat to provide bottom heat is helpful."
Are you referring to the "creosote bush", Larrea tridentata, that grows wild in the southwest? One gathers from the literature that they may need to be transplanted as soon as possible. It has been suggested that you may need Ambrosia dumosa as a companion plant.
actually yiorges-z5il, the zinnia are hardened off and if i could i'd be putting the in the ground this weekend. So my concern is that if i leave them out over the next couple of days they will dry out and dies but if i leave them indoors i'm afraid they'll react to the lack of sunlight. What could also happen is that the weatherman predicts rain. That would leave the flats filled with water.
What do you/other folks think?
Thanks!
Dale
I've got some little plants under type of shade cloth over overturned lawn chairs and chaise lounges. They're getting light breezes and filtered sunlight. Using something to shade them prevents them drying out every day. I weight down the sides of cloth at night for now.
I took cardboard boxes and tented them over other seedlings since I don't have place where there's dappled shade all day. At night I put covers from plastic storage containers all around sides to keep out wind and add shade cloth over everything.
Do you have a porch or somewhere relatively protected you can easily rig up wind, light and temp protection if you find enough "stuff" around to set something up?
Just don't use solid, impermeable materials over, under and on sides or they'll overheat. They're already hardened off so cooler temps forecast shouldn't effect them.
If you've got those bases covered you just have to think about moisture.
Don't know if giving them good, long drink before you do all the covering would carry them for 3 days. Roots might not like all that water but you may not have a choice.
Maybe if shaded and otherwise protected with a little air flow they'll be fine with watering before you leave if containers you've got them in are not too small.
Good luck!