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Does this mean they're rotting?

andrea.cata.ukandrea.cata.uk Posts: 4
in Plants

Hi everyone
I bought my very first roots- some lupins- and of course the first thing I do is overwatering them.
Today looking very closely, I've noticed that a microscopic sprout (picture with the circle) seemed enveloped in a spiderweb-like grey substance. Now I say seem cause is so tiny that it's hard to tell. Being paranoid I took out the root and there are a couple of small white dots on it.
Does this mean the plant is rooting? 

Thanks in advance

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Where did you buy these, lupins are up as plants by now,  I’ve never heard of buying lupins like that, 
    in this picture the piece on the right should be planted deeper to where I’ve drawn the red line, 
    the picture on the left looks like it rotted but you could put the whole thing under the soil and see if it grows, I’m not so sure it will.  I can’t understand anyone selling those to you. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Funny you say that, Lyn... 
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/959041/bareroot-lupins 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • AstroAstro Posts: 433
    edited March 2020
    It does look like you are overwatering and they are rotting a bit, that is just my guess from your picture. The grey webbing is mould like.

     I have bought bare root lupins, wilko sells them. I bought four and three took off and one is doing nothing, I don't know why.

    Likely some just don't take, and we water them to encourage them and they rot because there's no roots to take up the water. Perhaps repot into a less wet compost and get them into bright light if they aren't. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Perhaps they aren't even lupins.... ;)

    They are easy from seed, but I suppose it's always that idea of a plant establishing quicker  :/

    Wasn't it Monty Python who did 'your life, or your lupins'?  :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I bought my original lupins as bare roots and always propagate them now from root cuttings in the winter. I guess it's a guaranteed way to clone the original plant without the uncertainty of seed and it seems to give the plants a bit of a headstart over growing from seed. Wilko, Homebargains etc sell these packs of roots every year very cheaply and I've had loads of plants from the one pack I bought 4 or 5 years ago.

    Ideally though they should have been planted months ago and should be established plants by now. I'd guess these roots might have dried out too much and might not have enough in them to grow now. :/
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • andrea.cata.ukandrea.cata.uk Posts: 4
    edited March 2020
    Thanks everybody for your answers☺️

    I bought the roots cause I was just walking around in Poundland, they were being sold for a pound and I thought why not 😁 

    Sooo....I take it looks gloomy. I guess I can only dry the soil ,stick them back in there and hope.
    Can plants ever recover from rot? Also, if the roots keep on rotting and I have to get rid or them, should I dispose of all the soil as well?
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Don’t dispose of the soil. Plants rot away out in the garden and the soil goes on, no problem. When you think about it, that’s all a compost heap is, rotting greenery and paper. I forgot about answering on that previously thread, well it was 4 years ago😀
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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