Help with dying seedlings

Tearing my hair out. I'm a complete novice. I planted seeds for various plants (argeratum, lupins, mid-Feb after following instructions on seed packets. Germination was pretty quick (few days to a week) which got me pretty excited about being green thumbed. Alas, then they quickly grew spindly, and although the seedlings were very tender and probably not strong enough to prick out, I did to make them grow better. Now, growth seems arrested in most parts and they've started to droop and appear very weak. My lupins started well but have ended up sorry looking too. I've grown them all indoors in as much light as possible between 15-22 degree C. I noticed that when they started germinating they started bending towards light and grew spindly since then.
What do I do now, as I have already pricked them out but they have stopped growing and looking weaker and weaker. Help please!

 

Hallo Nomi,
I've been there, done that and got some what disheartened too.
But, I have now learnt that initiating growth indoors at this time of year almost always ends in tears. Not enough bright daylight and too hot, then not hot enough ( when a grey cold day ), gets them all confused and stressed.
Sorry, but I do now wait until late March before starting seeds. Can you sow some again alongside to see if you get better results next time?
Jenny namaste

 

Hi Nomi , when you first start growing from seed can be a little frustrating . You are nearly there by following the instructions , not many folk do that
Lupins are not easy to grow from seed . Have a look at the thread below and try a few bankers ! Its not too late. Next year you can try something trickier.

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/easy-plants-from-seed.92427/

 

Hi Jenny, thanks for the tip to start them late. I thought I was doing everything right by keeping them under cling film, then aerating ever so often, and also moving them around after germination so they could all get light. Obviously they've all stressed out. Do you use a propagation or artificial light/heater to sow seeds this time of year? I'm in London. Thanks a lot again!

 

I don't have that equipment Nomi, but a few members DO grow things like this but it's quite specialised I think,
Jenny

 

Hi Harry, thanks a lot for the helpful link. Yes, I'll stick to the easier plants to start with. In fact I did sow some coleus seeds and looks like they're the only ones that are going to survive!

Any tips on use of artificial light or heater will be most appreciated as it appears fluctuating conditions have got the better of my seedlings.
And thanks a lot for the encouragement! I'm so gutted as I thought I was doing ok by growing them indoors but I guess I need to figure out a more consistent micro-climate.

 

Hi again Jenny, so do you grow them near a window? I had my seedlings near a sky light indoors but looks like there still wasn't sufficient light.

 

Yes, I grow on a south facing windowsill and have been known to put up a white cardboard panel to trap the light - it does help a bit to prevent some leaning. A prolonged spell of dull days makes them miserable - it does me too!
Jenny

 

I'm with you on that. I was counting on beautiful blooms to lift me up!

 

With the Lupins very gently tip them out of the pots onto newspaper. Then repot them deeper. Lupin seedlings are tough.

 

Well you learn something new all the time HarryS! I was slightly beating myself up last season after only getting about 15 Lupins to germinate from a packet of some slightly special Alan Titmarsh variety. Didn't know they were a bit ticky from seed and as you see them growing wild I presumed they were a cinch. Agree with Longk tho, once germinated they were easy to grow on and I'm looking forward to some new Lupins blooming this year.
"If at first" Nomi! part of the attraction of gardening is the challenge to grow plants from seed and managing to strike cuttings from obstinate subjects. If you have multiple deaths just try again later in the season as others have suggested. I think I started my Lupins about May from memory. It took me about 50 attempts to get cuttings to strike from a favourite shrub of mine. Eventually I got it right and got 15 to root (feast or famine).

 

My kind of loose rule of thumb is that bulbous plant seeds can be started way too early if you want, annuals next (but make sure that you can give them good light) and then hardy perennials last (from May onwards) as they are unlikely to bloom in year one.

 

For me, it's all about giving enough heat to get them started, and reducing the heat to just above the minimum required to keep them growing. Light is of the utmost importance at this stage. Too much heat and too little light will result in spindly seedlings.

 

That is why I am happy to start the bulbous plant seeds early - top growth is of less importance than what is growing beneath the soil.

 

Nomi , its a good idea to buy 2 or three of these unheated propagators with a lid . They are fairly cheap at B and Q . Get the smallest ones they have. I grew in these for years on windowsills , before I got heaters and lights.
As Freddy said ,light and warmth for germination. After germination you remove the lid and try and find a cool windowsill if possible . We all have difficulty finding "windowsill" space at this time of year !