Could they be albinos? Do you have pictures?

No, they aren't albinos. They were green like the rest of them, but they have turned pale. I have never experienced anything like this. We have gotten quite a bit of rain in the last few days. I should soon see whether adding the additional fertilizer and Activate with Iron has done any good.

Nancy

Najoba, I live in zone 8a and grow exclusively in pots. When mine turned pale about 6 weeks ago, Ted Preuss came and looked at them and told me I needed Nitrogen. In the past few weeks I have used calcium nitrate, a Peters blend, milorganite, and sprayed with fish emulsion, trying each one a week or so apart. They now look great.

Jim

I had the same thing happen a couple years ago to a number of seedlings I was growing out under lights. In order to figure out what was going on it was necessary to observe where and how the plants were changing color. Was the older growth turning pale first, or was the new growth primarily affected. In my case the new growth was turning pale before the older growth. I placed a drop of water soluble iron on one of the paled out leaves and noticed the veining in the plant begin to green up, which indicated an iron deficiency. I later found out that my seedlings were also deficient in both calcium and magnesium. In addition to spraying with water soluble iron, I added calcium nitrate and a pinch of Epsom salts to water and treated the seedlings several time over the course of a week or so, and they turned around completely. Below I've added a couple pics so you can see what was happening. It's interesting to note that not all fertilizers are created equal when it comes to micro nutrients, and that the deficiency of one micronutrient/mineral may affect the plants ability to use or transport other micronutrients that may be present in the soil and readily available to the plant.

Hope this might be of some help. Posted an interesting link that might be of some help too.

Linda

Here is a link that might be useful: Symptoms of Deficiency In Essential Minerals

Thank you all so much for this information. I'm not sure what calcium nitrate is. Where do you get that?

I really don't want to lose these plants. They are the result of a cross that I can't repeat. My yard worker was thinning my seedlings, and removed the pollen plant by accident. He was supposed to have transplanted it elsewhere, but I have never been able to locate it again.

Nancy

Nancy,
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. Have been busy lately and not had much time to keep up with posts here on the forum. I get my calcium nitrate from our local feed/garden supply store. They don't have it out on the shelf. You can get it if you ask for it by name as it's also used for treating blossom end rot in Tomatoes. So if you call a local Ag store or farm supply store, just ask them if they carry Calcium Nitrate. If you really get hard pressed and can't find it any where, just drop me an email with your mailing address,and I can send you some.

Linda

Thanks, Linda. I'm sure they can order it if they don't have any. I'll let you know if it is unavailable there.

Nancy