Seedling Update

Not a great germination rate so far since my initial planting. Two geraniums have come up -
Tango Orange, an annual...




Which should look like this as an adult...




















And Geranium Silver Shadow, a perennial.





Silver shadow should please me as an adult...




















The seeds are planted in self-watering containers of which I own just two. The containers have space for 24 seedlings each. They are under lights which I've set to a timer and underneath them is a warming mat. So, good growing conditions. I'm hoping to see some action soon from the Impatiens and Fuchsias. Their seed packets give germinations times as 14-21 days and 1-4 months respectively. That's quite a while to wait on the Fuchsias. I may be purchasing plants this spring.

I'm watering the seedlings with a chamomile tea mixture per Margaret Lauterbach who writes a gardening column for our local newspaper. It consists of brewing a quart of water with two or three chamomile tea bags and of course allowing it to cool before using. This mixture is supposed to prevent damping off.

(Damping off = "This gentle term describes the death of seedlings by fungal disease, either before or after they emerge from the pod. This sudden plant death can happen for up to four weeks after seeds are started. It actually describes a few different fungal diseases carried in soil or seed. These fungi can survive for years or forever in soil, and are found in all soil outdoors." From You Grow Girl.)