Impatiens and petunias struggling
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- Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada Zone 5A
Impatiens and petunias struggling
After a slow start with lettuce and peppers, my seedlings have been growing great. Tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, eggplant, basil, kale, swiss chard, lettuce, marigold, cosmos, zinnia...
But the petunia and impatiens have been struggling. I found some mosquito looking insects on them and killed them with insecticidal soap. Maybe I've kept them too wet, or maybe the pots aren't large enough... I don't know. Here are some photos.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/FFFHwTtc3VRTDsbcA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fEAJ6VKgyyy2Lwx18
But the petunia and impatiens have been struggling. I found some mosquito looking insects on them and killed them with insecticidal soap. Maybe I've kept them too wet, or maybe the pots aren't large enough... I don't know. Here are some photos.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/FFFHwTtc3VRTDsbcA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fEAJ6VKgyyy2Lwx18
Zone 5A
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Re: Impatiens and petunias struggling
[mention]Salaam[/mention] I can't see your photos. It won't allow me in without a google account. Please add your photos to this thread. You can do this by using the 'Full Editor & Preview tab', then find the 'attachments tab' at the bottom of the page and open it. From there you can just drag and drop it, copy and paste or upload it from your computer.
~ Patti ~
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Re: Impatiens and petunias struggling
I can see the photo's and your seedlings are very yellow looking. Perhaps it's time to add some fertilizer (at half strength), but before you do that, check to see if the growing medium is wet. I think I could see some algae growing on the surface. I've had problems with the "all purpose" Pro-mix this spring as it's water retentive and I didn't notice until some of my seedlings complained. I wonder if the insects are fungus gnats? The lavae could be eating the roots......
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Re: Impatiens and petunias struggling
I'm using the Promix organic, and yes I'm having a hard time controlling the moisture. It seems once it gets very wet, it dries very slowly and doesn't turn light brown nor fluffy when it dries. I'm using only the weight of the pots to tell if it needs to be watered. The trick, I think, is not getting it too wet to begin with. I've only managed that with one or two trays.
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Zone 5A
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Re: Impatiens and petunias struggling
Ugh on the Pro mix! I think my problem was adding too much water when I mixed up a batch and then using that to pot up. Those seedlings were doomed . I brought them upstairs in case it was too cool for them in the basement. Good to know that they take so long to properly dry out. I'll keep testing before giving them any more water....
Thank goodness we'll be able to plant out soon and I wish you luck with your annuals .
Linda
Thank goodness we'll be able to plant out soon and I wish you luck with your annuals .
Linda
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Re: Impatiens and petunias struggling
Not my favourite mix. A friend uses it and loves it. I add perlite and some fluffy, peaty seeding mix to it.
Your plants look like they are starving for nitrogen.
Your plants look like they are starving for nitrogen.
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Re: Impatiens and petunias struggling
Yep your plants are too wet and need some fertilizer. I bought Pro-Mix for the first time this year and am having the same issues. Some outdoor sunshine and some food will work wonders on them.
~ Patti ~