The leaves on my 6 week old plants are not hearty - Page 2

delltraveller · May 8, 2012

Your seedlings look good, Julia.

Do yours look similar, pinklady?

FILMNET · May 8, 2012

I start 2-4 seed of 17 different plants , and then put 1 each in a 4" plastic pot, water only from the bottom. When there are 5" high i put the fan on in the room for 8 hrs ever 3 days only. And use a small stick on all. No food, under lights or is a widow on south sun of the house. All grow different, so after 6 weeks i put the big one together , and the small plant together, the small ones go under the light more days them. I only have 2-3 plants of each i grow 1 of each, give the other away.

PA_Julia · May 9, 2012

Thanks Delltravler!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by delltraveller

Your seedlings look good, Julia.

Do yours look similar, pinklady?

pinklady5 · May 12, 2012

pinklady5 · May 12, 2012

I can't load the photo. The url address won't take. ugh... I've been wanting to show you my weak plants.

Fusion_power · May 12, 2012

PL, from your description, there are 4 possible problems.

1. They are not getting enough direct sunlight. You can correct this by putting them in the sun at least 8 hours every single day.

2. The temperature is too low. Tomatoes grow very slowly if the temperature is below 60 degrees. The ideal temperature for seedlings is about 75 degrees, but it is best if the temp fluctuates a bit higher in the day and a bit lower at night. Daytime temps should reach 80 degrees, night time should not get below 60.

3. You haven't fertilized them and most likely used seed start mix that has very low nutrient levels. This is the single most likely cause of your problems. As an example, Promix BX is a very low nutrient mix. You MUST fertilize if using it. Promix MPX is a better mix for starting seedlings because it is pre-fertilized just right for seedlings. The proper fertilizer amount to use is easily calculated. It takes 1/4 of a teaspoon of miracle grow mixed with water to produce a full cell tray of seedlings 6 inches tall. If your plants are in 4 inch cups or something similar, then you should use 1 teaspoon of miracle 15-30-15 to a gallon of water for up to 36 seedlings. To stay organic, 4 tablespoons of seaweed emulsion to a gallon of water is roughly equivalent.

4. Seedlings need to be touched. Check on them each and every day and run your hands over the tops of the seedlings. This causes the seedlings to grow sturdy stems and healthy leaves. You can do the same thing by placing a small fan to blow over the plants. They just need to be encouraged to grow out, not up.

DarJones

pinklady5 · May 12, 2012

Yeah, It's got to be the lack of fertilizer. I thought seedlings weren't supposed to be fertilized and the starter mix from the farm which they make themselves and sell is most likely not fertilized. I planted out today so maybe they'll pick up since I added fertilizer today.

geeboss · May 13, 2012

Right click on your photo Icon go to inspect elements then search jpg and cut n paste into new window

pinklady5 · May 14, 2012

Thank you, how did you get my photo?

May 13, 2012	#23
geeboss Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fairfax, VA Z7 Posts: 524	Right click on your photo Icon go to inspect elements then search jpg and cut n paste into new window Last edited by geeboss; May 15, 2012 at 01:04 AM.

May 8, 2012	#16
delltraveller Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 481	Your seedlings look good, Julia. Do yours look similar, pinklady?

May 8, 2012	#17
FILMNET Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Charleston,South Carolina, USA Posts: 1,803	I start 2-4 seed of 17 different plants , and then put 1 each in a 4" plastic pot, water only from the bottom. When there are 5" high i put the fan on in the room for 8 hrs ever 3 days only. And use a small stick on all. No food, under lights or is a widow on south sun of the house. All grow different, so after 6 weeks i put the big one together , and the small plant together, the small ones go under the light more days them. I only have 2-3 plants of each i grow 1 of each, give the other away.

May 12, 2012	#19
pinklady5 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central NJ Posts: 234

May 12, 2012	#21
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,251	PL, from your description, there are 4 possible problems. 1. They are not getting enough direct sunlight. You can correct this by putting them in the sun at least 8 hours every single day. 2. The temperature is too low. Tomatoes grow very slowly if the temperature is below 60 degrees. The ideal temperature for seedlings is about 75 degrees, but it is best if the temp fluctuates a bit higher in the day and a bit lower at night. Daytime temps should reach 80 degrees, night time should not get below 60. 3. You haven't fertilized them and most likely used seed start mix that has very low nutrient levels. This is the single most likely cause of your problems. As an example, Promix BX is a very low nutrient mix. You MUST fertilize if using it. Promix MPX is a better mix for starting seedlings because it is pre-fertilized just right for seedlings. The proper fertilizer amount to use is easily calculated. It takes 1/4 of a teaspoon of miracle grow mixed with water to produce a full cell tray of seedlings 6 inches tall. If your plants are in 4 inch cups or something similar, then you should use 1 teaspoon of miracle 15-30-15 to a gallon of water for up to 36 seedlings. To stay organic, 4 tablespoons of seaweed emulsion to a gallon of water is roughly equivalent. 4. Seedlings need to be touched. Check on them each and every day and run your hands over the tops of the seedlings. This causes the seedlings to grow sturdy stems and healthy leaves. You can do the same thing by placing a small fan to blow over the plants. They just need to be encouraged to grow out, not up. DarJones

May 14, 2012	#24
pinklady5 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central NJ Posts: 234	Thank you, how did you get my photo?