Re: HYB: CULT: On Delayed Germination

In a message dated 12/21/2006 9:34:35 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
pharcher@mindspring.com writes:

<<The seed does not need fertilizer for about the first month as  they get 
the little nutrition they need from the soil and the cotyledon still  attached.>>
 
I use tap water (county water) when needed to keep the pots damp in the  
spring.  Dry pots reduce germination.  In my garden, there is  approximately a 
month span between the first sprout and any possible chance of  late sprouts.  
Then they shut down again. 
 
It is my practice to begin with the Miracle Grow as the seedlings reach  
approximately one inch in height and the stored nutrient appears to be used  up.  
I'll admit that I've pushed it a little more in the past three years  in my 
attempt to plant earlier.  Even so, I've yet to experience ANY  dampening off or 
any other type of problems with my seedling in 20+ years.   Only the stunted 
group in the Rusko.  
 
There were 78 crosses that year with many having 2+ pots.  Well over  120 
pots.  Approximately half the pots were in Bacto and half in the  Rusko.  All 
numbered and tagged so there could be no mistake.  All  were at the same general 
range of growth when I started the Miracle Grow.   The seedlings planted in 
the Bacto suffered no damage and grew well,   while the ones in the Rusko were 
ALL stunted.  There appeared to be no  problem with germination, just growth 
after they hit the end of their stored  nutrients. 
 
Initially, I thought there might be a growth retardant in the Rusko, but  
I've since learded it could have been an abundance of salt or any number of  
other contaminants.  At any rate, over the course of the next several  months 
whatever it was leached out of the pots and the seedlings began to grow  again.  
Many grew to produce beautiful blooms.  
 
This year, I lost more than usual after they were planted out, but I do  
believe that was cross specific.  
 
Anner, I had some great results with the Miracle Grow product you  mention, 
but I'd not use it for potting up seed or seedlings.  The year  before I moved 
out here I mixed some of it in some raised beds on my tiny  lot.  Since the 
beds were raised, I had no drainage problems and the irises  were very happy. 
They grew like wild fire.  Big rhizomes with  strong fans.  No rot.     
 

 
________________________________________________________
Betty W.  in South-central KY Zone 6 ---If you don't cross them, you can't 
plant them!  
Bridge In Time Iris Garden@website:
Where the seeds are in the pots once  again! 
_www.thegardensite.com/irises/bridgeintime/_ 
(http://www.thegardensite.com/irises/bridgeintime/) 
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