How did I kill my phlox plugs?

Jane_in_Norfolk · May 2021

Hello, can anyone shed any light on what I did wrong to kill off all my phlox plugs?

Have I over-watered? Under-watered? Scorched them? Not given them enough heat? Given them too much heat? Even the ones that are still green have turned crispy (like crispy seaweed in a Chinese restaurant). Some are completely kaput; the others aren’t far behind.

I’ve raised them in an unheated conservatory that is still cold at night but that gets quite a lot of sun during the day. During the day I’ve conscientiously moved them into the direct sun so that they can soak up the warmth (is that a mistake?)

I’ve kept the compost moist at all times (another mistake?). I notice they have a sort of green moss growing on the surface of the compost;is that a sign of over-watering? I just used standard peat-free potting compost and I didn’t add any grit (another mistake?).

I’m a novice (shocker, right? 😉) so I want to learn what I did wrong so that I can avoid the same mistakes next time.

Thanks in advance for your help and insight.

B3 · May 2021

Sounds like they might have been scorched. Sun through glass can get very hot even at this time of year. They're not all dead by the look of it. Keep them in good light but out of direct sunlight. Those peat pots look dry too . Keep them well watered but you won't need so much when they're not being baked.

chicky · May 2021

I think I have the same collection as you on the go. Mine have been in a coldframe. They are hardy plants, so although they need protecting from the cold whilst they are still young, a conservatory is probably too hot for them during the day. I’d move them outside in the day and bring them in at night for a week or so - if they recover they are then probably ok to leave out all the time. I wouldn’t throw any out yet, as B3 says, they may well reshoot.

How did I kill my phlox plugs?

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