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I started some petunias and statices indoors in a container. It's been about 6 weeks and they look good. I'm sure they are used to the outdoor weather since I've left the window open for several days so that they get used to the outside temperatures.

So I decided to transplant them to the window box following instructions found on several websites, but after 45 minutes of being in the window box the leaves are not looking good. They are losing their support and look as if they were going to die.

Is this normal or did I do something wrong.

Also, I kind of insulted them for looking like that. I don't think they noticed, though.

sitting by an open window isn't the same as being outside. if it were, the veggie gardners wouldn't need to harden off our seedlings.

sounds like the added heat and wind is stripping the plants of moisture. they'll perk up if you bring them back inside and gradually introduce them to the great outdoors.

They might be suffering some transplant shock. Until their roots get settled, they can't take up much moisture from the soil. Don't try to give them extra water, though. That would only make things worse for them.

If you've been having very warm weather, then the seedlings are losing more water through their leaves than they can take up through their roots. That's what makes them wilt.

It's sometimes helpful to cover each plant with something clear, like the bottom half of a soda or water bottle. I'm not sure how that would work on an outside window box, though. You'd have to remove the covers while the seedlings were in direct sunlight, to avoid 'cooking' them.

Ok, the plants recovered somehow. They actually look beautiful.

[img]https://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv337/ArcadioTheGreat/windowbox.jpg[/img]

I don't know if the window box is a little crowded, but the plants look ok so far.

Oh, and I don't think I need to say this, but I'm a complete beginner to this whole gardening thing.

It looks good to me.

There are strong winds right now in NYC. I don't think all of my plants will survive....

Yeah, wind is really tough on tender little plants. Can't you just bring the window box back in?

rainbowgardener wrote:Yeah, wind is really tough on tender little plants. Can't you just bring the window box back in?

Nah... the window box is securely tied to the ledge... but I think the plants are ok...