Potting Up Slips and My Favorite Flower

The sweet potato slips potted up by my daughter yesterday evening have adjusted to their new home. Two remaining slips with short roots have yet to be potted up. I hope to have thirteen in total.

My favorite perennial flower is potentilla cinquefoil.  The plants have delicate apricot/orange blooms with dark rose centers.  I transplanted thirty seedlings into 8 oz. cups and eight seedlings together into a 3" pot. I am hoping to mass plant them at the far left end of my front yard the perennial bed. 

Six verbena were outpacing their cellmates and becoming spindly.  They received a pinching back of one to two inches. 

The lobelia look much bushier since they were pinched back last week.

 The Salvia Blue Bedder are growing well.

I pinched back the growing tips of a few lavender seedlings.

My concern for the ailing delphiniums has dissipated.  They are looking much better these days.  I snipped off their "baby" leaves.

Pinching off the growing tips of the hibicus was very successful.  You can see in the photo below the many lateral branches that have appeared this past week.  I decided to pinch off the tips of another two seedlings.

I am declaring one container of Rossa di Milano onion seedlings a failure.  The seedlings have been struggling the past ten days, suffering from damping off disease. I am throwing out its potting mix, too.

What Should I Do Today

Today I decided it was best to care for the seedlings already started rather than to move forward with a new wave of seed sowing. So I did the following chores:

• Topped off two more hibiscus plants; the top leaves looked pale and flimsy. 
• Pinched off the long, spindly growth of many lobelia seedlings. 

• Threw away three pots of celery that hadn't yet germinated. Decided I had enough celery to transplant into the garden. 
• Officially declared the Alyssum Basket of Gold (sowed March 10) and Yellow Trumpet Vine (sowed February 25) seeds not viable. 
• Threw away a sweet potato tuber started on February 28. The leaves continue to develop white crystal-like particles. The organic ones which I cut in half and placed in glass bread pan are doing well and have started to develop good-sized sprouts. 
• Transplanted three impatiens flavours hybrid from 4"x8" container. There was very poor germination from that seed packet.

Postscript #1 - The seeds that have yet to germinate are Columbine Tequila Sunrise, petunias and Eggplant Shooting Stars. 

Damaged Hibiscus

Damaged hibiscus leaves

The top leaves of some hibiscus seedlings were becoming deformed and discolored.  It could be disease but my guess is that they grew too close to the growlights and became scalded or "sun burned."  The seedlings themselves were tall and leggy and this is a good excuse to pinch them back two or three nodes to encourage lower lateral branching.  It will be interesting to monitor their growth against the seedlings that were not pinched.

Hibiscus seedlings not pinched on the left, pinched ones on the right. 

Postscript #1 - Two Black Beauty eggplant have germinated (sowed March 16, 13 days) as well as one Lemon Balm (sowed March 16, 13 days).

Time to Sow More Flowers

Lobelia seeds snug in their pots ready to go under growlights!

I hope to add a wider variety of flowers to my flower bed this year.  In my opinion, planting perennials have a slight advantage over annuals; once well-established, perennials come back year after year saving time, energy and expense.  But, at the same time, annuals can't be beat for having more flower production and a longer blooming period. Not to mention, too, that annuals quickly add color where you need it.  
Following are the seeds I sowed today:

Hibiscus (Disco Belle): Seed swap, 2009.  Planted 5-7 seeds in two 2" pots 1/4" deep.  Expected germination time, 14-21 days.  Characteristics: perennial, large, light pink flowers with burgundy eyes, 36" tall bush, flowers short-lived, continuous supply of flowers from summer until first frost, blossoms the first year.
See: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/grow-disco-belle-hibiscus-seeds-33221.html

Hibiscus (White): Harvested, 2014; originally received from an online seed swap, 2009. Planted 5-7 seeds in five 2" pots 1/4" deep. Expected germination time, 30 days. Characteristics: perennial, large, white, dinner-plate-sized flowers, flowers short-lived, continuous supply of flowers from summer until frost, blossoms the first year.
See: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/plant-perennial-hibiscus-seeds-39635.html

Lobelia (Crystal Palace, Palacio cristal, Lobelia erinus): Ferry-Morse, 2015. Planted twenty-five 2" pots, covering seeds 1/4" deep as recommended on the packet.  In response to online research stating that lobelia seeds required light to germinate, I sprinkled additional seeds on top of the seeding mix. Expected germination time: 15-20 days. Days to bloom, 60-77. Characteristics: annual, 4"-6" tall, sun to partial shade, dainty, cobalt blue blooms, bronze-colored foliage, suitable for containers, spaced 6" in the garden, enjoys cool weather, blooms all summer if well watered. I intend to prepare a few hanging baskets this season and use the lobelia in window boxes. 
See: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-best-tips-for-planting-lobelia-seeds.htm

Verbena (Florist, Mixed Colors): Ferry-Morse, 2015. Planted fifteen 2" pots 1/8" deep. Expected germination time, 14-20 days.  Days to maturity, 55-80.  Characteristics:  annual, hybrid, sun to partial shade, 8-12" tall, space 12" apart in garden, multicolored, fragrant flowers, blooms up to 11 weeks.
See: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ferry-Morse-Verbena-Florist-Seed-8073/202244845?N=5yc1vZc8qlZ5ryhttp://www.homedepot.com/p/Ferry-Morse-Verbena-Florist-Seed-8073/202244845?N=5yc1vZc8qlZ5ry

Vinca (Colores Mixtos):  Ferry-Morse, 2015. Planted twenty-five 2" pots, burying seed 1/8" as recommended on the packet.  Online sources state vincas need total darkness to germinate. I am concerned the 1/8" may not provide adequate coverage.  I'll cover the containers with cardboard until I see signs of germination. Expected germination time, 14-21 days.  Days to maturity, 84-98.  Characteristics: annual, full sun, 12-15" tall, spacing 10", mix of pink and white single blossoms that bloom until frost, an old-time favorite, excellent for beds and borders, highly tolerate of heat/drought, humidity/moisture. 
See: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ferry-Morse-200-mg-Vinca-Mixed-Colors-Seed-1111/100166726

Postscript #1 - Today, after two weeks in the refrigerator, the delphinium and lavender containers were ready to join the seed trays on the shelving unit in front of the slider. I will watch their germination carefully to determine if pre-chilling the seeds aided in germination.  I'll keep you posted!