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Bizarre disappearance of seedling leaves

Gardener EveGardener Eve Posts: 118
in Problem solving
I’m having a very bizarre experience at the moment where I have four pots to start off seedlings of herbs including parsley, basil and dill in my kitchen. It’s a warm windowsill and usually a great spot for germinaton with no problems.

All pots have either fresh good-quality seed compost or good-quality general purpose (the organic new horizons)

They are sprouting but after a few hours or over night the  leaves just disappear. They’re not dying off of falling over  but simply disappear leaving the stalk which eventually disappears as well… It’s the most bizarre thing.

The only thing is we do you have a mouse that we are trying to get rid of at the moment is it possible that the mouse is eating the leaves? There aren’t any droppings where the plant pots are though...

thx Eve! : )
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,726
    In the absence of any other suspect blame the mouse ... Would you like my neighbour's cat?  
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • Gardener EveGardener Eve Posts: 118
    Lol! I actually quite respect the little thing- he’s cleverly avoided our humane traps, poison, 
    Sealing of all holes, removal of all food even the toaster is moved to avoid crumbs and the ultrasonic plugs right next to the pots!!
    Seems insanely clever! Out foxing  us anyway!

    so I’ll try again in the same pots as seems unlikely to be issue with them and move the pots location for now.

    thanks!
  • Gardener EveGardener Eve Posts: 118
    Don’t suppose a mouse would eat cosmos seeds as well?!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,726
    Well if you're not leaving any toast crumbs about he wouldn't have much choice would he? 
     ;) 
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • B3B3 Posts: 24,413
    If you sealed up a the holes, maybe he can't get out ;)
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    Yes the mouse will eat the seeds also
  • LynLyn Posts: 21,323
    I have the same thing happening, it’s slugs here, I don’t know how they get in the house, but they do! 
    My daughter had a Vine weevil in the upstairs bathroom the other day! 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • adamadamantadamadamant Posts: 225
    Oddly enough I had exactly this problem when I sowed some seeds from last year - they were Cosmos, or maybe cornflower, I believe.  Just stalks, a couple of centimetres high.  I think the consensus when I asked around for advice from local plantspeople was that it was most likely that there was a tiny slug harboured somewhere unnoticeable.   Sure enough I found a small one under the cells which I hadnt noticed before. 
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    Yes, maybe a little slug hiding on the base of a pot. On nipper is enough to eat a lot of seedlings.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    If you know you have mice then look no further.  I had one nip off the tips of my tomato seedlings a few years ago.  The thread is on here somewhere.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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