zinnia getting brown

16 years ago

Hi,

I planted some zinnia seeds. Almost all of them sprouted. after some time, when they had 4-6 sets of leaves i transplanted them into sterile soil mix after loosing the soil around its root ball.

After some days, the lowest leaves starting becoming brown and started to hang. slowing the whole plant started to hang and died.

I transplanted another set without loosing the soil around the root ball, but even that died.

Any idea what i did wrong?

My temperature ranges from 68F to 100F.

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Comments (7)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
The usual possibilities would be a soil mix that is without porosity (packed with finely ground peat or compost, for example), a potting mix that doesn't drain properly, and/or excessive watering (by which I mean too frequently, not too much at any one time).

Another possibility might include excessive fertilization.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
transplant shock ...

putting them in the sun after messing with the roots...

not many facts here ...

how did you transplant.. and what did you do with them after

ken
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chom
Original Author
16 years ago
rhizo, the potting mix contains 1 part soil, 1 part sand and 1 part of organic manure (basically cow dung manure). i steriled it in a conventional oven at 180 f for 1/2 hr.

after transplanting, i kept it in a room with light but without direct sunlight for 1-2 days and shifted them in a place where they get morning sunlight for 2 hrs.
i water them on alternate days.
oilpainter
16 years ago

i water them on alternate days--

There-in lies your problem. You should only water them when they are dry at LEAST half way down your pot. Yours had nothing to dry them out--no fan , no wind, no sun--so they must have been pretty wet when you watered--hence damp off
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
Your potting mix could be a very difficult one for plant roots. The combination of the three ingredients may very well end up creating something of a sludge. I strongly suspect that that is the primary problem.

A very porous, fast draining potting medium creates an environment conducive to rapid root growth. Such a medium is also very difficult to over water!
chom
Original Author
16 years ago
Oilpainter and rhizo,
thanks a lot for your suggestions. I think that what is causing the problems. A combination of overwatering and non-porous soil.
Donna
16 years ago
All these ideas are good. I agree with Ken that your zinnias don't like their roots disturbed. I start mine in six packs and transplant them as gently as possible without disturbing their roots. If you were pricking them out into a bigger pot, that could well be your trouble. Fortunately, they are easy to start from seed and take off fast once the weather warms. Even if you have to start over, there's still time.