When NOT to throw a seedling

[ContainerTed]

I've been taking some time and organizing and making backups of some of my older data and pictures. I ran into this sequence from 2008 and felt that with so many new members, this might help some of our members who are still new to growing their own plants.

I had this issue come up in the germination tray and my natural curiosity just had to see how the story would end. I think it was the irony of the variety name - Stump of the World.

In the first pix, the one in the foreground is what came up. The other is one that I decapitated while trying to remove the seed casing that was stuck and my patience was thin.

Note on the one that I abused, there is a tiny layer of green on top. The pictures show that the one I abused may have forgiven me and decided it would grow up in spite on my clumsy mistake. Maybe it knew that my intentions were good and that I am really a good guy. Anyhow, I took especially good care of the plant from then on and you can see that it excelled. BTW, the stump in the foreground in pix #1 died shortly after the surviver put on its cotyledons.

Would you have thrown both?? Hopefully you might find more patience one day when you absolutely need to get a plant from your last few seeds received in a trade or ????.

[NarnianGarden]

Yes and amen! I never would throw a living seedling away .. Some of my best and strongest plants were really tiny and sickly looking seedlings - and some even had damaged cotyledons.

I say, if a seedling struggles to stay alive, don't kill it!! Encourage it! Yes, I am pro-life

[Worth1]

I wouldn't have tossed it until it was a dried up nothing of its former self.
If there is even a hint of the cells needed to grow it will grow if taken care of.
I have seen it too many times.

Worth

[ginger2778]

Sort of along those lines, what do you do if it grows large flat Cotyledons, but doesn't develop a meristem?( growth tip for those that are learning)

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by ginger2778

Sort of along those lines, what do you do if it grows large flat Cotyledons, but doesn't develop a meristem?( growth tip for those that are learning)

I give them a while and toss them.
Sometimes I let them die on their own as they always do.

Worth

[ContainerTed]

That's what I've always called a mule - You know, only two big ears and nothing between. But I've been informed that my definition is a bit off center. Sometimes the DNA is incomplete. If it doesn't show a growth stem between the cotyledons, then it will be a waste of time to continue.

[Worth1]

Ted that is a horrible thing to say about mules.

I love mules.

Worth