Potting on seedlings

I am looking for advice on potting on seedlings to ensure i don't lose too many more. I have been growing the seedlings indoors and transplanting when they look robust enough. I have been transplanting to 9cm pots using half #1 compost and half multipurpose, filling the pots, popping in the seedlings and tapping the pot to redistribute the compost. I have then been watering and transferring outside to a mini plastic greenhouse thing. Unfortunately the seedlings appear to be doing very little. I am assuming there could be 2 reasons for this - 1) it is too cold. 2) I have over-watered the seedlings. 1) is very possible as I am in Glasgow and it has been freezing! 2) is also possible as i left the second batch in my back porch a couple of days ago to keep them safe from the elements, but the leaves in most cases have shrivelled. I am wondering if i should have used a spray when watering them, rather than a watering can, as i think i may have drowned them!

Does anyone have any thoughts?

 

When I pot on seedlings I always add about a third perlite to the compost to keep it nice and 'open', it sounds as though you were a bit generous with the water as the weather is still not very warm.

Val

 

I use a spray bottle for seeds and small seedlings and then use a small bottle with one of the caps that you can buy with small holes in. I think that the blow away greenhouse will be too cold as it offers no protection against the cold, but does agains wind and rain.

Rusty

 

Thanks all. Seedlings are a mixture of foxglove, lupin, hollyhock, marigold, geum, coreopsis and nasturtium.

 

Hi, is perlite the same as vermiculite ? And do you mix this with multi-compost to pot on , I am wondering if you put the perlite in the bottom , top or mix it in

 

Perlite is a different texture to vermiculite, vermiculite is more spongey and soaks up more water. Perlite is lighter & I think it aerates the soil better. You mix the perlite with the compost, I mix mine in a plastic bowl, multi purpose is good for most seeds, you might want to sieve it first to remove any lumps.

Val

 

Nasturtiums don't usually germinate naturally in the garden till May - they like warmth. And the slightest touch of Autumn frost makes their leaves collapse. I'd resow those in a few weeks time.

 

Thanks Val

 

Seedlings tend not to worry too much about the exact potting compost, or even the exact watering. But I think the cold gets to everything.