I recently transplanted some zinnia seedlings outdoors, and I've noticed that a few of them appear to have been cut at the stem after just a few days. I'm wondering if birds could be responsible for this, or if it could be bugs? I thought bugs typically target the leaves rather than the stems. I'm looking for any ideas on how to prevent this from happening to the other seedlings I've planted.
1 Answer
Zinnia seedlings can often be quite delicate when they're young, especially after being transplanted. It's possible they got damaged during the handling process. In most cases, it's actually better to sow the seeds directly in the location where you want them to grow, as this minimizes stress on the plants.
We had a pretty windy and rainy day right after I planted them. Maybe the weather played a role in that? I ended up planting some seeds directly in their spots just in case.
I get that, but they looked just fine right after I transplanted them. I didn't think I could cause damage just by placing the biodegradable starters in the soil.