Hello All,

I need some help with my Jacaranda seedlings. Recently I bought a Bonsai kit with the idea of a long term investment of creating some beautiful Bonsai Jacaranda trees. But this is the first time I have germinated trees from seeds.

Background: I watered the germinating medium and expected to get 5 Â 6 seedlings. To my surprise, 17 seedlings germinated. Now just over 2 weeks ago I planted each of the seedlings out into individual 7-8 cm pots. Before I was able to do this 2 of the seedlings succumbed to a fungus (I think). Their stems went green and then they wilted away. Two more seemed not to have survived the transplanting process since then, but there seems to be a return of this wilting fungus.

I understand these are a warm climate tree and as I am in Melbourne in the middle of winter IÂm trying to keep them as warm as possible. So I have kept these individual pots inside in a clear plastic box with a lid. With the lid placed on this box the inside remains quite moist and humid, but I am concerned that temperature in the room I keep will drop to much while I while IÂm away. These seedlings have Not been watered since transplanting as their soil is still quite moist.

Questions: Am I being over protective and therefore causing this fungal scourge by keeping them too moist? Is it still a Fungal problem? How do I offset the need to keep these plants warm?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thx in anticipation.