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Small plants out overnight in unexpected wind

ki_buxtki_buxt Posts: 63
in Problem solving
My own seedlings have been hardening off outside for 6 days now. Unfortunately the wind was a bit strong last night and some seem to be in shock. Temperature overnight was 9 celsius. I took them inside at 6 am. Will they recover? And tips? Only the ricinus communis seem damaged - or sad maybe?
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  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    The compost looks a bit dry which would account for the flop. Keep them watered and indoors for another week or two. Do not leave them in full sun when hardening off, they could get sun scorch. Baby plants are very fragile so the few cold nights we have had recently can damage them as well. Fingers crossed your plants recover, only time will tell.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    When they're quite small and getting hardened off, although that temp is fine,  you really need a sheltered spot for young vulnerable plants of any kind. Wind is just as damaging as too much heat or too much cold.
    Up against house walls is often plenty of shelter, if you don't have a cold frame or similar, or something like under chairs/tables. I often put small plants in among other plants too - shrubs are great for that.  :)
    If you can get a spot like that, out of the prevailing wind, they should recover.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ki_buxtki_buxt Posts: 63
    Thanks for the ideas! Luckily they look much happier now after being moved inside. I like the idea of putting them between existing shrubs. Will try that.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's an easy way of acclimatising plants @ki_buxt without too much faff.
    I also leave small, hardy plants out all winter that way. Even if they're only in 3 inch pots. Far better for toughening them up.  :)

    Too much cossetting can often be detrimental, and a plant which is really well acclimatised to your conditions will always do better long term, than one that's over protected. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Far too cold for Ricinus to be outside yet,  I wouldn’t be hardening them off until they were much bigger and robust.  I planted mine out mid June.
    They are very leggy I wonder if you could find some deeper pots and drop them in deeper. They would stand up better, not so floppy. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - they did look very floppy, but it's not a plant I've ever grown. I always thought Ricinus were hardy though @Lyn ? Are they only half hardy?

    A deeper pot would probably be a good idea - helps with all sorts of weaker/leggier specimens.  :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Mine won’t go out until they fill a 2 litre pot, mid/late June.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • ki_buxtki_buxt Posts: 63
    We plant them every year! And yes, I think they need larger pots so that's a job for today. We had an abnormally cold April, but May has been warm for southern Norway. We have had several days over 22 celsius.  Things that normally don't appear until mid June are already growing. Very unpredictable! 
  • ki_buxtki_buxt Posts: 63
    An update on my ricinus: they picked up and are now 1,4 m high! That's just undet 5 foot high in old money...
  • ki_buxtki_buxt Posts: 63

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