I lost these when I was away.
Not enough light in a north window!

Bummer. I'm sorry Caroline.

Karen

Going away at the time that plants require hardening off is not good!
I have had several family events, and my seedlings have suffered!

duane456 said:
Plant type: Glasshouse biennial

The question of what this means arose higher up in this thread. The info came from a UK site. It's saying that some species of Calceolaria (I assume, since the majority are perennials - unless the info is just bad, as so much is on the internet, frankly) is a biennial, and the reference to "glasshouse" really relates to the conditions the plant needs to grow in versus the UK climate. A glasshouse (i.e. greenhouse) in the UK seems to usually have the major purpose of keeping off excess wet, and the secondary purpose of any greenhouse, that is, providing more warmth and shelter for tender plants. (Bear in mind that a lot of plants that are grown in "glasshouses" or alpine houses in the UK are actually very hardy, even to the extent of growing here - it's the wet they can't take.)

Sorry for the plant losses, Caroline - very disappointing to put all the effort in and to get so far along. If it's any help at all for next time, I find hardening-off can be done easily and effectively by setting the flats in the shade for a week after the usual last frost date (no need at all to haul things in and out of sun and shade). The wild card, of course, would be predicting the weather, needless to say! We always get the last big snow of the winter just before that time!! I actually set my seedlings (perennials/biennials) out before the last frost on a plant stand covered with shade cloth (my current advancement over setting the trays in the shade) - which provides both shade for hardening off and protection against mild freezes. My seedlings stayed out through the snow - I lost my nerve one night only, and rolled the stand into the garage the night it was forecast to go to -5C, the night it cleared off just before it starting warming up again. (It didn't get that cold, and it turns out they were outside during the coldest nights, plus during the day through the snowfall.) Sympathies for the disappointment.

A good bet for here is Calceolaria biflora - I had a couple plants winter over years ago, and currently have some second year plants in bloom and bud. Do you know Rob Staniland from CRAGS? He said he's had some persist for about 5 years. Anyway, I'll try to collect some seed for you, if any is formed.

CarolineScott said:I lost these when I was away.
Not enough light in a north window!

So sorry to hear this, Caroline.


Mine didn't get potted up before we left, and I'm afraid to look now. I usually have some volunteers, but I haven't had a chance to check there yet either.

Will you sow some replacements? You could, I think. My plants have always grown and bloomed in a surprisingly short time frame.

Thanks for your kindness-I will try again next year.
I never give up on a plant or a child!

Thanks to Lori @growitall I have good germination of Calceolaria biflora.
Seeds were on moist vermiculite, and in a south winter window at about 65ºF or 17 ºC .
Sown January 19 and germination appears today on January 30, so about 11 days.
Thank you Lori for the fresh seeds. Germination is almost always better with fresh seeds.

Now, I want to start some Lobelia valida and/or dwarf Delphinium to plant out with these.
I have seeds for both.
I am trying the new "Summer" series of dwarf delphiniums.

Near these I am planning to do a direct sow of dwarf Bachelor buttons with dwarf yellow Cosmos.
That should give "colour echoes" of blues and yellows.
I plan colour combos,but often the bed turns out differently!