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Keeping seedlings alive in full sun

18 years ago

Is it possible to keep seedlings alive in full sun without being around all day to water them? I've bought a few of those plastic Ferry Morse Quick n' Easy greenhouses that consist of the black tray and clear plastic pop-on top... can those be left in full sun while I am gone most of the day without my seedlings being cooked alive (temps here are ranging from 75 - 98 F in the day recently)? I'd like to keep them in the plastic greenhouses until they are bigger because the wind here keeps blasting the little guys over, but don't want to fry them while I'm not around.

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Comments (3)

Daisyduckworth
18 years ago
In those plastic things, and in full sun, your seedlings are going to be fried in no time flat. Either remove the plastic cover, or erect some shadecloth over the seedlings. Best to use the shadecloth anyway, in those high temps. Or, since you need to protect them from the wind, put up a fence of shadecloth around them as well, or simply put other plants (in pots so you can move them around) to provide shade and shelter from the wind. Whatever you decide to do, those babies need protection, and they'll still need it once you transplant them out of the trays. They'll need to be gradually hardened off.
Heathen1
18 years ago
Also, you can put them on a cookie sheet or a pie pan, something with sides, that you can put a little water in so that the seedlings can suck up water. Mine grow in full sun..... and I do that.
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A lot of nice plants will take sun in a container if they can get enough water. Can you hook up drip for them or can you water daily? (For many types, that would be morning and evening by hand.) Some old faithfuls that come to mind are red bird of paradise, lantanas of all colors, little john, natal plum, ruellia/dwarf & regular, pygmy palms, weeping yucca, red & yellow yucca...not sure what size you're looking for or if you want to bother keeping plants trimmed back (or want to deal with the litter) but oleander & yellow bells do ok, too. Just mostly depends on how often you're willing to water. To me, lantana, yuccas, ruellia and BoP kept trimmed small looks great in a tropical-like setting and are pretty much furnace proof. I'm sure others will mention other plants, too. Your pond area sounds pretty. Good luck. :)
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karen_b
18 years ago
Have you thought of a cold frame? Every year I build one out of concrete blocks with sheets of plexiglass on top. In the mornings I prop up the plexiglass and close it up each night. I also keep a thermometer inside to keep track of the temp. As the seedlings get bigger I slowly increase how much I prop up the plexiglass and eventually will remove the glass entirely during the day and cover up at night as long as the night temps require. As of now the cold frame is totally uncovered, except incase of a frost warning. The seedlings are now hardened off and I've already started planting them out. You may want to also consider wintersowing...see the wintersowing forum for details.

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