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Growing from Seed

reddish purple leaves

18 years ago

I am getting leaves on some of my seedlimgs that have a reddish-purple color to them. Especia;;y the geraniums right now. They are in my cellar under lights. Daytime temps are 60, I am watering with Neptune's Harvest 2-3-1. They were started in vermiculite and transplanted into a potting soil/vermiculite mix after thir true leaves developed. Other seedlings treated the same way, but upstairs under lightshave not developed this color. I brought the reddish ones upstairs 4 days ago and they have not changed.

Anyone have any ideas on what is happening here?

http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dcp33115ge.jpg

Thanks,

Martha

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Comments (5)

morz8 - Washington Coast
18 years ago
Do you know what your overnight temps downstairs may have dropped to?

My geraniums outdoors will take on those colors in Spring and Fall when they get a little chilly for their liking ...any newer foliage should be the normal color if that's what is causing your red tones.
marthacr
Original Author
18 years ago
Good point- I remember mine doing that too. I would say that you were right, but two years ago this happened too, and I didn't grow any geraniums. Do you think that other plant seedlings would react the same? And wouldn't the color have changed by now since they have warmed up? I have set a thermometer down there to see how cold it gets tonight.
Thanks for your response.
Martha
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triple_b
18 years ago
Well THAT explains alot. My tomato seedlings do that to me every year! I always figured it was a deficiency of some sort. It does go away once they are off and away and growing in their permanent spot.
morz8 - Washington Coast
18 years ago
Martha, the leaves that have turned reddish don't change back to green for me, they are just obscured by newer foliage not exposed to the cooler temps.

And yes, there are other seedlings that react in the same way to temperature...marigolds, tomatoes, snap dragons etc...
baci
18 years ago
Probably a phosphorous deficiency due to the cold.

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