Garden riddles

The riddle of the worms (as it's now known in our house) isn't the only enigma that occurred in October. 'Charitysid' left a message on my blog to say that for a reason unknown, his pelargonium cuttings rotted. He'd had 95% success in other years and despite doing everything right - putting them in an open propagator (the best place as they don't like humidity) they still failed.

The most common cause of pelargoniums dying off is 'unclean' cuts when trimming them to length. Any tears or extra pieces of pith below the compost are a foot-hold for rots that multiply killing the cutting and spreading to others. But as Charitysid has had success in the past I'd say it's more likely that his troubles sprang from the cutting material. The wet summer caused very soft quick-to-rot growth when ordinarily late-summer tip cuttings are sun-ripened and firm. It could also come down to the compost - never use up old bags that have been sitting damp beneath the greenhouse bench for propagation as sterility is key. Also, down there on the floor malicious, grudge-bearing worms could get in the bags and then run amok inside your pots. Maybe that's what the lady was trying to tell me! Charitysid, tell me... have you been handling worms without wearing gloves.