I don't what species these are - I collected them from an aloe in a nursery near me, but the guy didn't know.
When the bottom part of the seedling is brownish like this could it indicate too much water? Too little water? Either?
I've heard that you need to keep aloe seedlings fairly moist. So I think I was giving this batch too much water. They started looking like this. I've let them dry a bit and starting misting them instead of just watering the soil.
I had a different batch a few months back. I went out of town for 10 days and thought - they're aloes, they won't need any water! When I returned, they also looked brown like this. I started back watering them regularly and they greened up and most are doing pretty well.
I'm new to agaves and aloes, but I'm enjoying them thoroughly.
Thanks for any feedback.
Watering question for seedlings
Moderator: Geoff
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- Rhizome
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- Niensiensis
- Rhizome
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Re: Watering question for seedlings
I’m curious what others say here. I have some seedlings that are just past the stage of yours, I believe they want less moisture once the true leaves show.
Starting to dry them out to prevent damping off at this point but I am also an amateur
Starting to dry them out to prevent damping off at this point but I am also an amateur
All about that Asphodelaceae
- mickthecactus
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Re: Watering question for seedlings
The browning is just normal colour as they get used to the light.
At this stage they need to be kept moist not wet as the roots are tiny and can easily dry out.
Also I would leave them to grow together, don’t prick them out for some while.
At this stage they need to be kept moist not wet as the roots are tiny and can easily dry out.
Also I would leave them to grow together, don’t prick them out for some while.
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- Rhizome
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- meridannight
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Re: Watering question for seedlings
I keep mine moist at all times.
When they get bigger, it really depends on species. Some of them will love being kept moist even then, and grow faster that way. Others (looking at you Namibian species!) will absolutely abhor water.
When they get bigger, it really depends on species. Some of them will love being kept moist even then, and grow faster that way. Others (looking at you Namibian species!) will absolutely abhor water.
Species I'm growing from seed: Agave nizandensis, Agave difformis, Agave parryi, Agave schidigera, Aloe alooides, Aloe manandonae, Aloe dhufarensis, Aloe barbara-jeppeae, Hyophorbe verschaffeltii, Kerriodoxa elegans, Johannesteijsmannia altifrons, Chrysalidocarpus leptocheilos, Licuala grandis.