Topic: pepper question?

[gunnerbee]

Do the first set of leaves always fall off when the other leaves start getting establised? regards.

[Chris Graham]

Sometime happens with my tomato seedlings but hasnt this year. My pepper plants still have their seed leafs and seems to be getting on well.

So sorry not too sure.

Wait for TeeGee  ;)

[tim]

I'm having that more this year than ever.

[Tee Gee]

Do the first set of leaves always fall off when the other leaves start getting established? regards.

The first pair of leaves known as cotyledons or seed leaves can sometimes fall off but this is not detrimental to the plant/s once the true leaves have formed, it is if it happens before you will have a problem! i.e. the plants can't photosynthesise.

This often happens when plants have been stressed for what ever reason. eg intermittent watering!

So if I were growing them myself from seed and it happens I don't fret about it, but by the same token if I were buying say tomato plants from a garden centre I would prefer to see them still on the plant.

I always think this is an indicator that they have not been stressed at some time.

So in my opinion, don't worry about it!

[Chris Graham]

Thats really interesting, I didnt know it was caused by the plant being stressed.

Glad mine are still on.  ;)

[caroline7758]

I'm having that more this year than ever.

me, too, and I think it's because I moved them after pricking out to a windowsill over a radiator and they've got very dry a few times- so the stress idea sounds right!

[goodlife]

They do drop of eventually as the plant grows on with or without stress..it is part of the ageing progress.. ;)no worries!

[tim]

Mine have been true leaves - more worrying.

[goodlife]

Mine have been true leaves - more worrying.

Hmm..too cold, too wet..combination of both?

[tim]

Incompetence??

[goodlife]

Incompetence??

Never!!..."old" hand like you... ;)
We all have some less happy plants...

[gunnerbee]

i blame the john innes seed compost, dries out too quickly especially when you have them growing in those cardboard pots that absorb all the moisture, the chillies in plastic pots with multipurpose compost are twice the size and thriving, we live and learn.

[Barnowl]

For chillies I mix the John Innes with multi and add perlite and a little vermiculite - pampered little chaps aren't they?

Also I think with root trainers there needs to be more food in the potting mix than you get in a normal John Innes potting mixture because the root system is going to get more developed before potting on.

[tim]

Perlite AND Vermiculite, Barnie?

Elucidate??

[Fork]

Perlite mixed with your potting compost improves aeration and drainage.It also encourages quicker seed germination too.

Vermiculite I believe,is used to improve the water holding capabilities in your pots and seed trays etc.

[Barnowl]

They both improve waterholding (the finer the more moisture retention),aeration and drainage would just add that it's fine vermiculite and coarse perlite, the latter lasts longer.

My plants are often subjected to irregular watering so I try and help by adding water retaining materials that don't go soggy.