Why are my seedlings so small?!

Raiquee · March 31, 2017

Don't be worried about disrupting them. I plant seedlings in a carpet fashion and once they get one set of true leaves, I'm busting those little groups up and I'm not a delicate butterfly about it. I plant out around 100 tomatoes each year. Just pop them out of the pots and holding them by their leaves (yes leaves, don't hold by stem. They can regrow leaves, not stems) try and get some excess dirt off the roots and place in new mix. Bury their stems a bit so they create more roots. Tomatoes LOVE to be transplanted!

Lower you lights, repot them (and bury the stems to counteract the tallness) and give 'em some food. Those soil-less mixes have no nutrition in them, so if you haven't supplemented I would. And if you have, make sure you keep doing it as those mixes don't usually have a lot to "hold" stuff in.

Hope it helps

March 31, 2017	#11
Raiquee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 307	Don't be worried about disrupting them. I plant seedlings in a carpet fashion and once they get one set of true leaves, I'm busting those little groups up and I'm not a delicate butterfly about it. I plant out around 100 tomatoes each year. Just pop them out of the pots and holding them by their leaves (yes leaves, don't hold by stem. They can regrow leaves, not stems) try and get some excess dirt off the roots and place in new mix. Bury their stems a bit so they create more roots. Tomatoes LOVE to be transplanted! Lower you lights, repot them (and bury the stems to counteract the tallness) and give 'em some food. Those soil-less mixes have no nutrition in them, so if you haven't supplemented I would. And if you have, make sure you keep doing it as those mixes don't usually have a lot to "hold" stuff in. Hope it helps __________________ Desire' Mother of 3, homesteader, canner, gardener, dwarf tomato participant.