A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Need info on sensitive plant.

I am starting some small "Sensitive plants" and haveing trouble keeeping them growing.
The plants get about 3 inches tall then start dieing, any help appreciated.

I was told that you can not touch the leaves as that hurts them, is that true?

Thank you!
JJ

I've grown mimosas (sensitive plants) before. Keep them on a sunny windowsill, don't give too much water, good air circulation, etc. How do they die? If they just collapse then it's probably a fungal infection, such as damping off (which kills seedlings immediately).

I remember I couldn't help from touching the leaves to have some fun. I guess it's okay to touch them once a while, but not too often as it might be wasting plant's "energy".

I had one for a long time, just gave it away at the end of the summer. Inside it liked a very sunny spot, outside in the summers partial sun. My kids and their friends would pat the leaves sometimes, just to watch what happened. It took them an hour or two to recover and they never seemed damaged. How much are you watering your young ones? They don't like cold wet feet.

THANK YOU BOTH, any suggestions for a fungicide?
My little plants live for 4-5 weeks then loose a lower branch then a next higher one until they are all gone and plant dies???

I use Concern(brand name) copper soap fungicide and it seems to work fine. Fungicides generally come copper based or sulphur based. They work equally well in my experience, but the sulphur ones smell like rotten eggs. Talk some about the soil you use, the kind(plastic, glazed or unglazed ceramic,..) and size pots you use, and how you water them, please.

Margaret, my soil mix is 1/4 peat, 1/4 vermiculite 1/4 sand and 1/4 black dirt.
I use about 99% plastic pots 2, 2 1/2", and 4" for most of the larger plants. 1/2 of the plants are watered from the bottom.

JJ

This is a mixture that will hold a lot of water for a long time. Watering from the bottom is never a good idea unless you use distilled water, as whatever is in the water concentrates in the soil. My guess is your plants want to be drier. I would water from the top, empty their saucers immediately and wait a long time before watering again. Even as young plants they don't need much. If you're starting many, you could try watering one set every 10 days and another every 2 weeks, something like that. They are self fertile, so as soon as they flower you can have all the seeds you want. Oh, and don't re-use soil a plant has rotted in. Good luck!

Margaret, you said the magic word/phrase:
"Oh, and don't re-use soil a plant has rotted in"

I will have to throw out a ton of old soil...

Your help/advice is appreciated. Thank you.
JJ