Sometimes they are just the weaker of the bunch and slow to catch up.

heh. slow is not even the word. The 4" pots are now a good 12"+16" round - blooms galore.

The stunted ones - both are still the same size they were originally planted with maybe a smidge more foliage growth. Past years, I generally plant them on the denser side for faster fill, so it less noticeable on the stunters as well focally.

This year, I planted my annuals almost 2Xwider in spacing, as I wanted to have a lower look vs, when you plant them dense, they grow more VERT as they fill in.

I've noticed that occasionally, too. This year I spent $20 (!) on four browallia plants, and I'm down to one -- ONE! The other three petered out, no clue why, conditions were similar. Did get cold in May, maybe that set them back, but why is the remaining one doing so well, then? Who knows.

I actually plant them a smidge earlier that others as I like to establish the roots before summer kicks in. I did a closer survey today. Mixed bag of current growing diameters 20-14 inch. But the stunters, I dunno if there is a way to unstunt them. It's hot out today. Not going to stress them. I am going to give it some liquid direct fert tomorrow just to Juice them up, just to see.....

Replacing is not a option. I doubt nurserys have much of anything around.

It happens to all different flowers too. I put in a few mixed coleus in one planter and there is one that just won't grow. I have fed them all and the others in the pot are tall and lush and that one is about 6 inches if that. My friend has 5 geraniums in a pot and four are tiny and one is growing like crazy. Who knows why it happens but it can be maddening when you have your planters just how you want them, all planted small and set to grow lush and tall all summer. MA nature shows me that sometimes not everything can be just how I want. lol

Patti -

You had me put on my thinking cap on to put things into perspective. Sure, even with veg. seedlings, some seedlings take off and others are not as productive as others. What can I can . I care more about the blooms than other things in the garden ;-)

Hi a1an,

On some of my less good zinnias, I plant 4 seeds in a 3-inch square pot That frequently results in 2, 3, or even four zinnias growing in the same pot. As the seedlings grow, very frequently just one of them becomes totally dominant, and the remaing plants are very stunted. In those cases, it seems that the dominant plant seems to be causing the other plants to be stunted. How it does that I don't know. It may release some kind of growth retardant from its roots. In any case, the competition quickly becomes "unfair" and one plant becomes extremely dominant. So in my experience, the answer to your question "What Stunts Annuals?", the answer is "Other Annuals".

ZM

Of they are from seeds (as opposed to cuttings) they may just be different genetically. The whole nature & nurture thing. Some characteristics are inherent, some environmental. Not all seeds are the same, some are better than others and grow into bigger and stronger plants. Like humans or animals, there are variations within a species, and it takes all kinds to make this world. I remember a time when we had lower expectations from plants, didn't expect them to all get super large and bloom a lot all the time or produce consistent crops with large fruits and yields, at least as hobby growers. Then it all became assembly line production, fertilizer and hormone fed, artificially timed blooms and fruits. Just my 2 cents

I usually wait till almost the 1st frost - when the blooms begin to dwindle but pulled some out earlier and observed something that I never paid much attention to in yesteryears.

For the ones that were not - stunters, the stem grew anywhere to up 1-2" THICK on average. At the very base, where the rootball was, it was a good 4" of stem mass. In contrast, the stunters were much smaller . I guess luck of the draw.