Why aren't my stocks growing?

[LuluBlakey1]

I have grown about 60 traditional stock plants of several varieties- started them off indoors. They got 'leggy' so I looked it up and read that you could 'chop' them to make them more sturdy amd develop side shoots. I did- cut them about 5-6 leaves up and they haven't developed side shoots. So now I have about 60 stock plants that are green and look healthy but not growing at all. Have given them 3 weeks. Why hasn't it happened? Do I need to just compost heap them?

I'd give them a bit longer. Do they get enough light? Legginess is usually due to insufficient light.

They get loads of light. What happened was when I started them off indoors, they grew quickly but the weather was so bad and they couldn't go outdoors. That's when they got leggy. I think it was warm indoors but at that point not sunny enough. Now they are outdoors in the sun and very green and healthy looking but not growing. I feel like I have restricted them in height and they don't seem to side shoot. Do you think they should side shoot? I have about 8 that I missed out chopping and they are all flowering or starting to.

Maybe they're busy growing sturdy roots before their tops?

yeah hopefully lots going on underground - they should burst into life soon

They have well-developed roots and the leaves are getting much bigger but not a single bit of new stem/shoot growth on any of them.

What are you growing them in? I've had issues with seedlings growing and then just stalling. I think some...most? all purpose composts are really lacking in nutrients for young plants. Have you given them any additional plant food?

Are they still in pots or planted out now?
I grew a ridiculous excess of lychnis coronaria seedlings. The ones that are still in pots seem happy to just sit there as rosettes of leaves. The ones I've planted out seem to sit a while and then decide heck, yes, I'm going to do this flowering thing.

If they are in the original compost, then they need either a repot or fertiliser. Seed & cutting compost is fairly low on nutrients.

I put a group of them (n a large outside put with new compost. They are growing lovely big leaves but no new shoots at all. I'm thinking I'll just stuff the rest in amongst other things and see what happens. Feed them too.