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Wilting in Greenhouse
Flo1
Posts: 14
Hello
I am using my greenhouse space to bring some seedlings over the winter after sowing them in autumn. The greenhouse is kept above 5 degrees Celsius with a paraffin heater. I ensure regular ventilation. The plants get watered sparingly with rain water, the soil is moist.
Now, one after the other is wilting on me and dying. Particularly affected seem to be Hesperis matronalis and a few Echninops (ritro). Today the first Antirrhinium plant has flagged.
What am I doing wrong, or what do I have to change?
Any tips would be most appreciated!
0
Posts
I have had the same problem with my pansy , put most out in beds and baskets in early Autumn they are doing great but kept alot for spare to fill any gaps in spring and some of these have wilted away I have put it down to not really being able to create outside conditions , even my hanging basket tree stands that I brought in greenhouse to over winter they not done as good as ones remanded outside .
Looking at the damaged parts of the leaves in the first pic the first thought that sprang to mind was frost bite. Is it possible the with the very cold nights we've had of late the temperature took a dip?
On the dead plants was there any sign of stem rot or fungus on the stem at the compost level?
I can't see much wrong with the plants in the 2nd photo, a bit of yellowing at the leaf tips of last year's growth is nothing to worry about. The early new growth looks great
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I don't see that much wrong with them either. Unless there's a bit of rot somewhere, as Pete suggests, they look pretty good. New growth is there. It's still early days for small seedlings, and they might lose a leaf or two along the way. You might lose a couple here and there too, but on the whole they look ok.
Are they getting sun during the day at all? Even at this time of year, direct sun can be hot and could cause small plants to flag a bit. Keeping the soil just damp rather than too moist will help.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
As fairy says, they are fine.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Thank you, everybody, for your responses. I need to admit that I have picked yellow leaves off quite recently, so these are not as representative, as they could be. Four hesperis seedlings have definitely shrivelled up and died.
My first thought was frost bite, as well, but the thermometer (which is placed right next to the plants on the bench) indicated 6.5 as the lowest temperature at night. My hunch is that there is more to the sun argument - it was rather sunny for the odd day, and I have not shaded the greenhouse on those days. The glass is clad with bubble wrap, but maybe it was too bright, nonetheless.
Hesperis matronalis is, I believe, a plant native to the UK and would probably do better in a cold GH or outside. when the current cold spell is over I'd put it outside. Te echinops is pretty tough as well
In the sticks near Peterborough
This is a better photo:
Try as nut suggestes, they're both tolerant of temps down to -20c when fully grown, so I'd let yours have some good fresh air and blow the cobwebs away. It's supposed to warm up from tuesday, so if possible try and keep them in a frame or sheltered spot outside in the day when the weather isn't too rough
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I only grow hardy plants and I have a cold GH but no coldframe. My hardening off technique isto wait for a rise in temperature, this week as Pete says, then just put them all outside. They only come in again if REALLY cold weather comes, more than a night frost. This would be OK for Hesperis and echinops but maybe not antirrhinum
In the sticks near Peterborough
Pete8 and nutcutlet, this seems to make a lot of sense to me. I will have to think my strategy over - I am keeping the greenhouse frost-free for dahlias, cannas and a beloved ensete, so I thought I could make use of it for other pants, as well... Too much love and too little love are always the same thing...