Shading seedlings

[tony_lb]

I've just got my first batches of seedlings up (Lobivia mainly). Now, the books say plenty of light but no direct sunlight. They're mainly on a windowsill and I've been using some old letters to provide a bit of shadow when the sun shines, but I would guess that makes it a bit dark.

I was wondering what would be the best way to shade the poor little things. What about a piece of muslin - cuts the direct sunlight while letting most light through? I'm sure I can borrow (nick) a bit from my wife.

Tony

[iann]

Newspaper.

[David_L]

Newspaper's good, I have used it a lot in the past. Kitchen towel is also good. In the greenhouse I use horticultural fleece as it can be easily folded to give different levels of shading.

[Julie]

Tony, I have some of those mesh shades with suckers on which are made for car windows (from Poundland). They work well with shading the Forbies, no more corking has occurred. Not sure if they would be strong enough for seedlings though.

They have the advantage that you can remove them easily when the sun sets, when it's cloudy or just when you want to see out of the window.

[Aloenut]

Hi All,

I use that plastic sheeting that is sold as greenhouse shading to shade my Conophytums over the summer. It has holes in it, so lets in a bit of sunshine but keeps a good bit off too. I have also used horticultural fleece in the past.

Aloenut

[Phil Hocking]

I use a white plastic carrier bag cut open but muslin or net curtain would be good. My seedlings are under a light, not subject to sunshine, so you will have to tailor the shading to the amount of light. If the seedlings turn red they need more shade.

By the way Tony, are your seeds from the BCSS distribution and do you have Lobivia ferox? Unfortunately none of mine germinated.

Somerset Phil

[Guest]

I have also used white carrier bags spilit down the seams so there was one thickness.

[tony_lb]

Phil Hocking Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> By the way Tony, are your seeds from the BCSS
> distribution and do you have Lobivia ferox?
> Unfortunately none of mine germinated.
>
> Somerset Phil

Thanks for all the help.

The seeds came from Doug and Viv Rowland, their selection of 10 Lobivia for ?3. Lobivia Ferox was there, and I'm pleased to say that one has finally germinated today 18 days after they were sown. Whether more will come up only time will tell. I must say I'm pleased with the seeds I got. Of 18 sown on 17 Feb, 16 have now germinated, in most cases with a lot of seedlings. Mainly Lobivia with a scattering of others like Neochilenia.

Now to get them to survive!

Tony

[Phil Hocking]

Good luck Tony, I hope they do well for you. I have kept some of my zero germination pots from last year, some of which I have put outside for several weeks. I have now put them in a propagator to see if anything will happen. This morning I found that I had overlooked a few pots in the corner of the spare room, and in one pot there was a solitary Eriosyce crispa bravely making an appearance. I have put those pots back in the propagator too. So I won't give up on my Lobivia ferox yet. All are in sealed sandwich bags by the way.

Somerset Phil

[Julie]

Treat 'em mean etc!

Amazing how they know what's going on outside before they deign to pop a root out.

I guess shells are not solid but have pores? Hmm.. why has this never occured to me before?