"Sheila" wrote in message
om...

"Spider" wrote in message
...
Hi Sheila,

I potted on many of my Agapanthus seedlings last week to give them a bit
more space. They are not yet potted up singly, but several to a 4" pot.
They have settled in well and are about 3" high now and trying to put up
a second leaf. Because they're in fresh compost I haven't fed them yet,
but may do so in a month's time when, hopefully, it will be a bit warmer
and lighter for longer.

The only downside to this progress is that the remaining tardy seedlings
are sulking somewhat due to the disturbance :~(. However, they may
pick up. Even if they don't, I've still got plenty of seedlings to grow
on and share. I have a friend who loves and collects Agapanthus and,
naturally, she is watching my progress with great interest. How are your
seedlings coming on?

Do you know, Sheila, the specific (and cultivar?) name(s) of this
Agapanthus? It would help also to know whether or not it's evergreen ...
I need to know if I should panic if it's dying or simply dying back for a
period of dormancy. Also, I believe its evergreen or deciduous status is
an inicator of hardiness. If you don't know, don't worry, I'll just have
to learn as I go along.

Spider




Not doing too well I'm afraid, I have only used 20 pots, and they are in a
tray in conservatory covered by cling film. I have removed one pot, as it
has a lovely little seedling, very spindly, the others are "JUST" about to
break the surface, about 8 of the pots are showing activity, and not
broken into leaf yet. I have no bottom heat on them. I didn't put my seeds
in until a few weeks after you both. I also had a disaster, I did remove
2 pots, and managed to drop a book on one of them....so it all got scooped
back into pot, the seedling had disappeared so its in there somewhere,
fighting its way out...... (I hope!) I asked the guy who cuts my grass
and moves heavy things for me ( My gardener!)if he wanted any seedlings,
and he said no thanks, they are too difficult to germinate, he just will
take a few when he splits the mother plant!


It's not surprising you're a bit behind since you started late, but it
sounds as if you'll soon be catching up. Pity about the disaster:~(. Hope
there's a happy ending.
I was surprised at your gardener's comment re germination. I found
germination was very straight forward. Of course, I observed your advice
about sowing within the first 3 weeks, and I'm sure that helped. Perhaps
your gardener's previous experience was of older, unviable seed.


I haven't got a clue of the variety at all, I was told when I split the
plant, that the original came from Madeira, where the lady holidayed a
lot. I have always had green leaves on the plant, even during the winter,
and they are still there now, new ones, under the dead old ones. I cut the
main flower stem down a month or so ago. had to repot the ones in pots
outside as the frost fractured the pots they were in, mainly because one
of them was an old bread bin....I have actually put them in their pots in
the shed, they seem fine, might bring them out for the weekend, as we are
scheduled to have double figures here in Formby tomorrow....


It certainly sounds as if they could be evergreen, so that's useful. I'll
do some reading, but I seem to remember that the evergreen types are less
hardy, although to what degree I don't know.


You sound as if you are having a successful time with the seeds, I am
glad, I managed to knock the envelope off the work surface last week,
which contained the remaining seeds, they fell into a bag containing dirty
clothes, ready for the wash, and had to be shaken from that, and the rest
picked up carefully from the kitchen floor, so only time will tell if they
do anything, I am going to have a go putting the remaining ones in pots
this weekend, and see what happens.


Good luck.
Spider

Progress report from anyone else???