That's good to know Kevin , at least I'm doing something right for once in my life . Germination of my jovibarba heufelii seeds has been miserable and I'm beginning to wonder if it's the seeds or me is at fault . Tomorrow I'm going to sow my second crop of seed .
When should I start feeding my youngsters or are they best left alone ?

Letting a newly transplanted seedling dry out NOT good - so that is why I haven't had much success with my baby semps hehe! A few times I've found a seedling that looks like its a semp or possibly a sedum, and I've moved it into a pot, but haven't been so great at keeping it moist - no wonder they've died off!
Thanks Kevin for the reminder!

Paddy said:That's good to know Kevin , at least I'm doing something right for once in my life . Germination of my jovibarba heufelii seeds has been miserable and I'm beginning to wonder if it's the seeds or me is at fault . Tomorrow I'm going to sow my second crop of seed .
When should I start feeding my youngsters or are they best left alone ?

Paddy, did you give them some supplemental bottom heat? You can put them on top of the refrigerator if you don't have heating mats. I find that makes all the difference with almost any seeds. Without it, some of them just sit there and then finally rot quietly into the ground. With it, many of them will be up in 48 hours! I've stopped putting my little flats back on the heat at night now (10 days after planting; 8 days after first germination) as I don't want the seedlings growing too fast. I know some semp seeds take quite a bit longer to sprout -- I may lose some of those, but it will be better for the majority that have sprouted already.

Paddy,

I have already given mine a couple of shots of the Quick Start as I don't ever want them to slow down in growing until fall so they harden off for winter. my last fertilizer on them is September here in Oregon. Using this treatment I get plants at are mature with numerous increase in one season. That way I can evaluate them and select the keepers and pitch the rest. No sense growing things I won't use further or tying up space with seedlings that are too small to evaluate.

Greg, the loss of seedlings is why I often transplant in the drizzle or right before a rain. The roots on these things are TINY so it doesn't take much to destroy them. This is also why I try to bring a little of the crusted potting mix along with the seedlings. I'l demonstrate this at the clinic.

Kevin

Demo would be great for us who have lost many seedlings...

I see your point, Kevin, but I'm not going to have any place to plant mine out for quite awhile yet. You are definitely where you need to be to do the kind of breed development you're doing. Also I don't want them to get leggy -- so far, I only had one that popped up in the middle of the Fair Lady seeds with a stalk like a zinnia... I just pulled it, since there are enough growing with their feet on the ground...