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Re: Seedling media posting with permission

At 09:35 AM 3/13/97 PST, you wrote:
>
>Date:    Mon, 10 Mar 1997 22:21:03 EDT
>From:    John Lonsdale-1 <John_Lonsdale-1@SBPHRD.COM>
>Subject: Seedling media
>
><<<<<Jim Mc Coy, zone 5, Northwest New Jersey
>How soon after germination should seedlings be moved out of a
>pure Turface growing medium?  Also, what soil mix do you rec-
>comend for growing on?  This is my first time growing plants
>from seed and I've been having trouble with the moisture levels
>in a peat based mix (either too wet or so dry that the mix would
>not take up the water.  I'm looking for an easier way and would
>appreciate any help I can get.>>>>>>
>
>I have never used Turface but it seems to work OK for Jim McClements.  I
>appreciate that it has excellent water and air holding capacities and
seems OK
>for germinating many things, especially finer seeds.
>
>Coming from a high alpine background, where poor drainage is the root
cause of
>all evil (no pun intended) I have a natural suspicion for any technique which
>requires leaving pots in standing water, particularly after germination.  The
>oxygenation and general quality of standing water is much poorer than fresh
>rain water moving down through the pots and away.
>
>If you want to use Turface then I would suggest you move seedlings on as soon
>as the cotyledons are well developed - I do this anyway with most alpines
>except bulbs which are left for one or usually 2 seasons.  You will do far
less
>root damage and ensure faster establishment if you move the seedlings very
>young, though they obviously need TLC for a while afterwards.  Leaving
growing
>seedlings in seed pots for too long is a recipe for disaster - no amount of
>extra feeding will help much.
>
>I sow (here in the US) onto the surface of a 50:50 mixture of Pro-mix compost
>and mid-sized Grani-grit (unsurprisingly, granite grit - very sharp and about
>3mm average size).  Seeds are sown directly on a lightly firmed surface and
>then covered with 0.5-1cm of pure grit, watered thoroughly then put outside
>with full exposure to the elements.  The grit layer is less for
primulaceae and
>other light sensitive species.  Move the seedlings under protection as
soon as
>they are up and prick-out asap.  Before pricking out dry the pots out so they
>are just moist - you will find the seedlings come out much more easily and
with
>less damage.  Another often used mixture is peat and sharp sand 2:1 or 1:1.
>Take your pick.
>
>I have used this technique for dionysias, androsaces, raoulias, saxes, a huge
>range of 'bulbs', woodlanders, primulas, cyclamen etc.  They all get the same
>seed mix but obviously they get moved into something slightly different as
they
>get going - although all of the above ended up in not more than 3 basic mixes
>for growing on.  The compost for growing on obviously has to be suited to the
>needs of the plants but it is also vital that it suits you as well.  For
>example you will grow wonderful dionysias in a compost with 80% grit in it
(as
>I used) but you will have to be prepared to water it every day, even in
plunged
>pots and repot once or twice a year, with maybe a supplemental feed or two
>before and after flowering.  If you are not around for days or weeks on
end you
>can reduce the grit but the plants will suffer and you will lose a lot more
>over time and the ones you keep will have more botrytis etc.  Even with
plants
>that will end up in the garden I would use 50% grit whilst they were potted.
>
>Remember to look after the roots first - good roots mean a healthier plant -
>poor roots predispose all plants to anything and everything bad.  There
should
>be classess at all AGS shows for healthy roots.
>
>Hope this helps. John.
>
>Exton, Pennsylvania, Delaware Valley NARGS, Zone 6b, USA.
>
>
>
>
>
>Hi Jim
I'm in Zone 5 as well.  I've had great success starting sseed in
vermiculite which is available at most gardening centers.

Once the first set of true leaves (not the first two that appear, but the
next ones after that) I've had good luck in transplanting into potting soil
or soil mix to larger pots or more spacious surroundings.  

Don't try moving things outdoors yet unless you have a greenhouse or cold
frame.

Good luck.

Lynda
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