I had problems with the water I was using, I now only start plants with distilled water... tap water has chlorine that can build up in the potting mix. Too much water can tie up the root's ability to assimilate nitrogen (the micro amounts of which are already in the potting mix), and you said that your older plants have no issues, yes? I'd say first evaluate the water you are using, and if you are using tap water that you'd call "hard water" then the PH of it could be too high as well as laced with chlorine. It's a minor detail, but you can buy pH lowering drops from any local garden center, and adjust your distilled water to something around 6, and see if that doesn't clear it up. Small plants just can't use much fertilizer at this stage in their life.

About the Petunias in the six inch pot: if you intend to move them on to a larger pot as they settle in - no problem. Several in a six inch pot will be pretty hard to separate once they develop their roots and leaves. They'll have a set-back to their growing when you do it. If you want to plant them out later to make a row of separate plants it is probably better to plant each individual plant into its own two inch wide starter pot. Use a mix that is quite gritty - preferably with NO peat. You can keep them on the windowsill and give them a half turn each day as if you were spit roasting. That way they get to grow up straighter. While they are in the starter pots, unless you need to check the colour - don't let the buds develop. Snip them off with your Best Thumbnail (your own physical thumbnail) - or a pair of florist's snips. That way the growth is going into the leaves and roots for now. Flowers later. Keep an eye on the bottom of the pots (which will have plenty of drainage holes). When you see white thready roots coming out just a little way either - put the plants into the next size of pot, that leaves at least half an inch all round the ball of roots; or plant out into the garden. Before you plant out - dig over the area you have in mind to at least twelve inches down, and add in plenty of ancient compost, (so old you could never tell what went into it) and, if it fits with your thinking, either steer manure pellets, or a general garden fertiliser - about a handful to the square yard. You can do this weeks before you are ready to plant out. Stuff in pots: go for bigger pots rather than zillions of littles. There's far less work involved and the size helps to keep the moisture better. If you have very dry summers - add water crystals to the mix. Despite the wonderful pots shown on YouTube and the garden shops - it's probably better to plant fewer plants into the pots and make up for it by good feeding and watering over the growing season. In hot and windy weather you may need to water twice a day. If your schedule doesn't let you do this, forget about the big pot and basket displays. Gardening is supposed to be enjoyable and relaxing, not anxiety and fret... The plants will do better in the ground if you give them the sort of attention you'd lavish on them in pots. Unless the weather says otherwise, your Petunias will last and flower for more than six months so they'll be there through your early summer, full summer, and autumn displays. Sort of like the living room carpet that you match your drapes and upholstery to. If you are keen on pots - use them for accent plants that you can bring out for summer and tuck away in the basement or garage to stay safe over winter. More tender things such as banana plants, or canna, or dahlia. For the shady areas - really nice ferns and Hostas and New Guinea or 'ordinary' Impatiens. They can make a cool place quite lush and exotic. Lovely for...

Im sure you know that Hoya will grow anywhere, even if you throw it in a landfill!LOL! Ive never seen one flower before though!? and Ive seen them growing wild? wrapped around trees growing as tall as 40 foot! =) with leaves as wide as 18" or more! but just because I havnt seen them flower doesnt mean they dont! =) The lighting thing is really up to you, you can use the "plant lights" that you have to replace every six months or you can use basic shop lights, you ever see plants out growing someones cubical at an office building or at work? well they use plain old shop lights! but you want to get yours to flower so my guess would be a bulb that simulates sun light to the fullest! but beware of heat! floros do give of heat, thats why I kinda smiled when you said you wanted to do this once, I ve been doing this for a few years and found that its never right the first time, its always got to be tweeked, lighting most of all, it affects the set up in many ways, humidity and heat/temp being the most important of the ways it is affected. good luck! and please keep us informed of your progress =)

* Posted by dixiedog_2007 (My Page) on Mon, Feb 18, 08 at 22:47 Well I'm late to the party! I have made some of the dishes already posted and I can vouch for how good they are. Some new ones posted that have been copied & pasted and put in my "TO TRY" file. My TO TRY file is getting quite large! For a MD boy saying that Old Bay is not good enough...well, I don't know how to respond to that. Looks like I have some neighbors on this board. I'm an Old Bay lover - we put it on corn-on-the-cob, coleslaw, etc. YUM! Well dixiedog, I do owe "you" an apology in my opinion! I had been attacked previously several times by some guys on this forum to the extent that it had just plain made me paranoid towards any one that I thought was a man! I am sincerely sorry! When I read your response I thought it was an attack on me as presenting untrue statements. The things I told you about the commercial guys is basically true as heck although they will not admit it because of the "Aura" that OB has established with tourists and residents as well. It's the "if it ain't old Bay it's not original BS" As I said I use it lots (shrimp, crabs+other), crab cakes, etc,. and so do "some" crab guys in Maryland, but is it the best for crabs, NO! I have set in too many crab feasts in my buddy's crab shack and other places and heard people say " You just can't get that taste from anything but OB", we just laugh! I hope you accept my apology, if not, that's OK to. Changeling