Purple underside to my seedlings

gimmieToms · April 12, 2018

Is this because of lack of nutrients?
I just gave them some low strength fertilizer. Do you think that will help? Otherwise they are doing great.

jmsieglaff · April 12, 2018

Mine are always like that, I attribute it to my cool basement (upper 50s). Goes away once they move to the warmer cold frame. Make sure you let them dry out well before watering.

gimmieToms · April 12, 2018

They are in my upstairs bathroom underneath grow lights, its in the 70's usually in there. But it has been unseasonally cold. If the fertilizer doesn't help, then I'll attribute it to the temp.
Yes, I always let them dry right out. Watering every 2-3 days right now.
Thank you

jmsieglaff · April 12, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimmieToms

They are in my upstairs bathroom underneath grow lights, its in the 70's usually in there. But it has been unseasonally cold. If the fertilizer doesn't help, then I'll attribute it to the temp.
Yes, I always let them dry right out. Watering every 2-3 days right now.
Thank you

Cooler root zone leads to lesser ability to uptake P I believe. But I think your plants look like they are doing fine. A small dose of fertilizer won't hurt, but my money is on temps.

gimmieToms · April 12, 2018

Thank you

mobiledynamics · April 13, 2018

Gimmie -

Based on the 1st pic it looks like they are under CFL.

In my *new* this year experience with LED, the color looks similar with the tops being a very dark green-hint of purple in them.

Between giving them some fertz. with a higher P, and or even taking a couple out and putting them by the window to get some natural sun, the color of the leaves normalized

slugworth · April 13, 2018

when I have the problem it's due to cool conditions.

brownrexx · April 13, 2018

Cool conditions lead to purple on the leaves and the stems too. My seedlings are purple under the leaves and they are in a 70° room that is the same temperature at night too so they never get cold.

I would say that it is a deficiency in the light that they are getting from my fluorescent lights and I am not worried about it. They are growing nicely and I am sure that they will green up once they go outside.

asaump · April 13, 2018

I am new to starting seeds. My little seedlings have the same purple under the leaves and the stems. It does get cool in my basement. Just curious. How old are the seedlings? Would just like to compare mine to yours to see if they are on track.

brownrexx · April 13, 2018

My seedlings are 2 weeks old.

mobiledynamics · April 13, 2018

asaump. As a quick test as well, on a sunny day like it is out here in the Northeasy (calling for 80 tomorrow and then dropping back to 45), put it on a window if your location allows.

I've found that even a day in the window, the leaves color get's right back inline

asaump · April 13, 2018

Great idea - I'll give it a try.
We are up in the 50's today - heat wave - but dropping back into high of thirties tomorrow through the weekend. 'They' tell me spring is coming.

brownrexx · April 13, 2018

Be careful putting your seedlings in direct sun as you can burn them. Just give them a little at a time or put them in some indirect sun.

April 13, 2018	#9
asaump Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Maine, 4b Posts: 73	I am new to starting seeds. My little seedlings have the same purple under the leaves and the stems. It does get cool in my basement. Just curious. How old are the seedlings? Would just like to compare mine to yours to see if they are on track. __________________ Ken

April 13, 2018	#12
asaump Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Maine, 4b Posts: 73	Great idea - I'll give it a try. We are up in the 50's today - heat wave - but dropping back into high of thirties tomorrow through the weekend. 'They' tell me spring is coming. __________________ Ken

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April 12, 2018	#2
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	Mine are always like that, I attribute it to my cool basement (upper 50s). Goes away once they move to the warmer cold frame. Make sure you let them dry out well before watering.

April 12, 2018	#3
gimmieToms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: canada Posts: 46	They are in my upstairs bathroom underneath grow lights, its in the 70's usually in there. But it has been unseasonally cold. If the fertilizer doesn't help, then I'll attribute it to the temp. Yes, I always let them dry right out. Watering every 2-3 days right now. Thank you

April 13, 2018	#6
mobiledynamics Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: 7B Posts: 281	Gimmie - Based on the 1st pic it looks like they are under CFL. In my new this year experience with LED, the color looks similar with the tops being a very dark green-hint of purple in them. Between giving them some fertz. with a higher P, and or even taking a couple out and putting them by the window to get some natural sun, the color of the leaves normalized

April 13, 2018	#7
slugworth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: connecticut,usa Posts: 1,152	when I have the problem it's due to cool conditions.

April 13, 2018	#8
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	Cool conditions lead to purple on the leaves and the stems too. My seedlings are purple under the leaves and they are in a 70° room that is the same temperature at night too so they never get cold. I would say that it is a deficiency in the light that they are getting from my fluorescent lights and I am not worried about it. They are growing nicely and I am sure that they will green up once they go outside.