starting gentiana sino ornata or related seeds and keeping them alive

[corydalisambigua]

Hello, I'm not a great plant grower. I got a lot of autumn Asian gentian seed last year, but these are the survivors... and they are slowly dying. They are indoors under a light. I probably need a better light. Any other suggestions? Thank you!

[arisaema]

They are indoors under a light.

That would be your issue, they'd do much better outside in a cold frame, they're fully hardy even at that size.

[corydalisambigua]

Oh OK! I'm worried about slugs eating them etc. And I wanted them to get a good start. Maybe I will surround them with diatemaceous earth or slug bait to address the slugs. Thank you!!

[arisaema]

Try copper foil tape around the pots, maybe? I'm assuming you already saw, but the Czech seed lists have a lot of fresh Gentiana collections from China this year.

[corydalisambigua]

Oh thanks! I had checked Holobec's list for g. sino ornata and didn't see any but I missed the Gentiana lawrencei and hexaphylla so TY!

[Tim Walsh]

Just a quick note about slugs, snails and prevention...copper tape and diatomaceous earth doesn't work. I suggest a visit to www.gardenmyths.com for some rea, science-based answers to MANY gardening questions. The author is a retired biochemist who operates his own small botanical garden in Canada. He shows a photo of a snail crawling over a razor blade to make a point!