Hi there, the roots look as if they've been kind of 'cut short' so yes, maybe they are indeed root mealies as suggested above. I'm not familiar with them (thank goodness!) but I'm sure Laura's treatment will work if that's what you have. I personally still think the pot is too large (maybe I'm an underpotter!) as the pot will hold a great deal of compost without any roots to draw out some of the water held in it. Until the plant recovers and grows a more extensive/healthy root system that's able to almost fill the pot, I would go for a smaller one...hoping someone else will chime in with their thoughts on this bit. Now you have shown the later pic, I think I can see what has also possibly happened....The 2 pics seem to have very different mixes in them....the mix in your first pic looks ideal, very open and free draining with big chunky bits. I read you have added cactus mix, in what proportion? Now look at the later pic where the top bit has been removed and the mix is a lot finer, it looks rather wetter too as each time you water the cactus mix has got washed down and now sits in the lower levels and around what roots the plant has. The top layer drains well so always appears dry so maybe you thought it needed watering, but the lower levels were still wet as they held the more water retentive cactus mix and that could have rotted the roots off. I think it could be a problem of three parts. #1 root mealy bugs...if that's what the white dots are #2 too large a pot with lots of un-occupied compost #3 overwatering a gritty mix that's got a bit too much added cactus formula. I would let it dry out a bit and then re-pot.....in a smaller pot if it were mine :) hoping to see some others opinions though. Gill UK

Poor thing, fancy being buried alive like that, it's no wonder he struggled!! DR seeds need to be soaked no more than a couple of hours and planted horizontally just barely covered with 'compost'....as you have now found out! I do hope he goes on to thrive and prove himself a worthwhile plant for you, keep us updated on hs progress please. Can't quite tell from the pic but the top of the mix looks like large particles/pebbles, is the mix alll like that? If so, bear in mind the seedlings root system is small/fine so they need smaller particles around their roots for optimum growth till the roots get bigger and stronger...just trying to help with a possible suggestion :) If i'ts just a top dressing, then forgive me!!Good luck. Gill UK

Pruning is important to promote better shaped form later on, but pruning should generally be avoided on young seedlings. The little plant is just starting off and needs to build up all the energy it can get to grow.

Nice thread, beautiful plants! Good job! Yes, it's perfectly normal for seedlings to be very hit and miss with regards to looking like the parent plants or not. Only grafted plants or other cuttings are clones of the original. For one thing with seeds you don't always know if they are selfed or cross pollinated with something else entirely. A lot of sellers don't tell you! Also with white flowers you are dealing with the alba gene with is an 'on or off' switch that masks the real color of the flower. /Some/ hybridizers work very hard to line breed very specific colors through many generations and thereby get much higher results looking similar to the parent plants. But most do not. Anyway, I would be /delighted/ to get such diversity from a white seed parent! All of your plants turned out to be quite lovely, whether they are what you wanted or not. I hope you like them too! They look very healthy and lovely.