Purple Leaf

stoopeechee · March 24, 2011

What causes it?

I've got some of my older starts purple-ing. They seem very healthy.

Just wondering why?

recruiterg · March 24, 2011

Are they under lights, or in the sun?

RayR · March 24, 2011

purpling where? Got a picture?

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · March 24, 2011

I think if I am remembering correctly it has to due with insufficient phosphorus intake for the seedling which can have many causes like too wet of soil, too cool of temperature, or just the seedlings ability to take up enough phosphorus. I usually see it every year to various degrees in my seedlings with no ill affects and it goes away once the plants get planted outside and further develop.

P.S. I maybe wrong on phosphorus it may be another nutrient but did not take the time to look up the specific one. At any rate if they look healthy beyond just the purple undersides I do not think you have anything to worry about.

p.p.s. it looks like it is phosphourus see this thread:
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...rple+seedlings

Craig

**carolyn137** · March 24, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gobig_or_Gohome_toms

I think if I am remembering correctly it has to due with insufficient phosphorus intake for the seedling which can have many causes like too wet of soil, too cool of temperature, or just the seedlings ability to take up enough phosphorus. I usually see it every year to various degrees in my seedlings with no ill affects and it goes away once the plants get planted outside and further develop.

P.S. I maybe wrong on phosphorus it may be another nutrient but did not take the time to look up the specific one. At any rate if they look healthy beyond just the purple undersides I do not think you have anything to worry about.

p.p.s. it looks like it is phosphourus see this thread:
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...rple+seedlings

Craig

Craig is correct and I didn't read the thread linked to b'c I have a hunch that I might had posted in that thread as well.

It's lack of P uptake thru the roots primarily due to cold temps indoors and I ignore it b'c as was said above as soon as the plants are set out and in the warmth of of sun and warming soil it disappears. And if there's a cold spell when the plants are outside they also will turn purple for a while/

It seems to bother some folks a lot to see those seedlings turn purple and if it really bothers someone they can spray with liquid fish or seaweed which does have P in it and by being absorbed thru the foliage not the roots, the leaves will go green again.

But as I said above I just ignore it b'c I know it's a temporary situation.

stoopeechee · March 25, 2011

Cool. that makes sense.

I do have them in a cold room in the house that has no heat ducts in it.

It got down in the twenties out side last few nights so as a guess I'd say it was low 50's in the back room.

Thanks everyone. I'm glad its really nothing.

OneoftheEarls · March 25, 2011

so basically, if you get "P", you NEED "P".

I did a thread on nutrients and fertilizer over at I Dig Stoop....if you need more info or reading

stoopeechee · March 25, 2011

I was just over at i dig and couldn't find it.

I was thinking a nice spritz of seaweed?

Also, when using seaweed as a foilar spray, do you wait until the lights have been off? ie. in the morning?

**carolyn137** · March 25, 2011

http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=21

THe above link is from the Pest and Disease Forum and there are some excellent links within the above link having to do with nutritional deficiencies, with pictures, and so much more, so give it a read.

**carolyn137** · March 25, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by stoopeechee

I was just over at i dig and couldn't find it.

I was thinking a nice spritz of seaweed?

Also, when using seaweed as a foilar spray, do you wait until the lights have been off? ie. in the morning?

It's hard to spray seedlings with anything when they're that close to the lights so just take the seedling tray or trays out from under the lights, spray, let the seedlings dry and then put the trays back under the lights.

stoopeechee · March 25, 2011

Thanks Carolyn, Great stuff.

The picture of Phorphorus deficency is a spot on match. So I'm guessing I let them go a little long in the seed starting mix. I'm hoping that the nutrients from the potting mix will green them up

les matzek · March 25, 2011

stoop,

i do not think it is a lack of the plants intake
of any nuts because every year my seedlins
have purpple stems and leafs i really beleive
it is because the weather here every year
is on the cold side, 39 degrees in the
morning and 50 to 58 degrees in the day-
time, when the weather warms up all the
purpple goes away and if your plants are
healthy they will do the same when the
weather warms up, good luck and regards.

les

BlackestKrim · March 25, 2011

Phosphorous deficiency can also be caused by other stresses as well, other than cold, correct?

Currently my sister's plants are having purple on the leaves, particularly around the veins. The plants have gotten fed with Tomatotone and are in compost-ammended soil, so they do not lack access to P.

There is no cold to speak of here- if anything there is too much heat or wind. I thought perhaps the plants weren't used to warm weather, or got parched for water, and that affected the P transport to leaves? Is that feasible?

tam91 · March 25, 2011

I transplanted a bunch of seedlings, a couple of the smallest ones look purple on the underside - but are also pretty droopy.

They're growing in my basement, probably mid or upper 60s. This morning, I poked my finger into the dirt, and it did seem pretty cool and damp.

With the 3 little droopy ones, I brought them upstairs, and am shining a regular light bulb on them to warm things up a little.

Is this an ok idea?

March 24, 2011	#1
stoopeechee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SE MI Posts: 33	Purple Leaf What causes it? I've got some of my older starts purple-ing. They seem very healthy. Just wondering why?

March 25, 2011	#9
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=21 THe above link is from the Pest and Disease Forum and there are some excellent links within the above link having to do with nutritional deficiencies, with pictures, and so much more, so give it a read. __________________ Carolyn

March 24, 2011	#2
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	Are they under lights, or in the sun?

March 24, 2011	#3
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	purpling where? Got a picture?

March 24, 2011	#4
Gobig_or_Gohome_toms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN Posts: 967	I think if I am remembering correctly it has to due with insufficient phosphorus intake for the seedling which can have many causes like too wet of soil, too cool of temperature, or just the seedlings ability to take up enough phosphorus. I usually see it every year to various degrees in my seedlings with no ill affects and it goes away once the plants get planted outside and further develop. P.S. I maybe wrong on phosphorus it may be another nutrient but did not take the time to look up the specific one. At any rate if they look healthy beyond just the purple undersides I do not think you have anything to worry about. p.p.s. it looks like it is phosphourus see this thread: http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...rple+seedlings Craig

March 25, 2011	#7
OneoftheEarls Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Up North Posts: 660	so basically, if you get "P", you NEED "P". I did a thread on nutrients and fertilizer over at I Dig Stoop....if you need more info or reading

March 25, 2011	#12
les matzek Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Landers, CA Posts: 191	stoop, i do not think it is a lack of the plants intake of any nuts because every year my seedlins have purpple stems and leafs i really beleive it is because the weather here every year is on the cold side, 39 degrees in the morning and 50 to 58 degrees in the day- time, when the weather warms up all the purpple goes away and if your plants are healthy they will do the same when the weather warms up, good luck and regards. les

March 25, 2011	#13
BlackestKrim Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 147	Phosphorous deficiency can also be caused by other stresses as well, other than cold, correct? Currently my sister's plants are having purple on the leaves, particularly around the veins. The plants have gotten fed with Tomatotone and are in compost-ammended soil, so they do not lack access to P. There is no cold to speak of here- if anything there is too much heat or wind. I thought perhaps the plants weren't used to warm weather, or got parched for water, and that affected the P transport to leaves? Is that feasible?

March 25, 2011	#14
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	I transplanted a bunch of seedlings, a couple of the smallest ones look purple on the underside - but are also pretty droopy. They're growing in my basement, probably mid or upper 60s. This morning, I poked my finger into the dirt, and it did seem pretty cool and damp. With the 3 little droopy ones, I brought them upstairs, and am shining a regular light bulb on them to warm things up a little. Is this an ok idea?