Echinacea Seedlings Not Growing

cassie.a.stewart

Hi all, 

I sowed some Echinacea Purpurea seeds in septemeber that I plan to overwinter in coldframe, they germinated pretty fast but they just don't seem to be growing... Only one had a true leaf, not even a pair of true leaves just the one! The rest are just the cotyledons.

Is it just too cold for them now? Should I have waited till spring to sow them? Everything else I've sown in September is flourishing but the echinacea just seem to be very slow. 

Thanks in advance. 

fidgetbones

Have you got them in a greenhouse? I think it too cold for much growth outside now.

cassie.a.stewart

fidgetbones said:

Have you got them in a greenhouse? I think it too cold for much growth outside now.

They're in my makeshift coldframe (which is just a plastic container that I put the lid on at night) as I need to build my actual coldframe. 

cassie.a.stewart

@fidgetbones do you think I should bring them in to a south facing window until my coldframe is done? 

Wilderbeast

I've got mine going in a heated propagater, it's only set at 16° but they've all germinated well and are looking good. Been a good autumn for me as everything I've sown has grown brilliantly, it's also my 1st year with the heated propagater and think it's been the game changer for me. 

cassie.a.stewart

Wilderbeast said:

I've got mine going in a heated propagater, it's only set at 16° but they've all germinated well and are looking good. Been a good autumn for me as everything I've sown has grown brilliantly, it's also my 1st year with the heated propagater and think it's been the game changer for me. 

Thats a good idea. Where do you keep the propagater? 

fidgetbones

I get seedlings out of the propagator as soon as they have germinated. With too much heat and not enough light they get very lanky and prone to rotting off.  They need to be cool but frost free and plenty of light.

Dovefromabove

I do the same as @fidgetbones ... ad soon as the seedleaves have appeared the tray is out of the propagator and in a cooler light spot. Then pricked out and that’s when the space problems begin ... 😆 

cassie.a.stewart

Dovefromabove said:

I do the same as @fidgetbones ... ad soon as the seedleaves have appeared the tray is out of the propagator and in a cooler light spot. Then pricked out and that’s when the space problems begin ... 😆 

Definitely struggling with space problems atm🙈

cassie.a.stewart

@fidgetbones so if I can get them in a greenhouse or coldframe they should put a bit more growth on or probably not? 

Fairygirl

They'll probably just settle down for winter @cassie.a.stewart. It's always a bit tricky with sowing in autumn, for the reasons fidget and Dove have said. 
If you get your coldframe done, remember to keep a little bit of ventilation going too, and keep an eye on them in spring once things warm up a bit. The fluctuating temps can cause a wee bit of hit and miss growth, so it's a case of keeping them on an even keel until they're sturdy enough to go out through the day and in at night, and then planted out.