weird seedlings shape

[jamserg]

Any idea why seedlings leaves and branches are pointing up, not to the sides (they look like a stick)? I didn't change lights (use t5) from last year, when everything was fine.

[Darren Abbey]

Got a picture? What you describe sounds like the plants stretching for more light.

Fluorescent lights dim significantly over a year of use, even though it isn't generally apparent to our eyes. As well, the bulbs might not be close enough to the plants.

[jamserg]

No, that's not the case, the lights are strong and with weaker lights in the past they stretched with the leaves horizontally. Don't have pictures, but if you imaging a person with hands touching above head that's how they look

[jamserg]

I also have cucumber seedlings under the same lights and they look fine

[carolyn137]

How tall are the seedlings under the lights and I ask b'c while I've not seen what you describe with small seedlings, when put inground I've seen just what you describe as to leaves pointing upwards as well as upside down leaves, strange curling leaves as well. And all that disappears as the plants get bigger.

It doesn't sound like an indoor light issue to me at least, more like an imbalance in nutrient availability and then that causes stress to the plant.

It's difficult to compare cuke seedlings with tomato seedlings b'c not all veggies/fruits react the same to many variables, including stress.

Carolyn

[jamserg]

Carolyn, they are in the same seed starting mix (faffard) that I used last year. It's over a year old and I'm not sure it could cause trouble because of that. But they do look stressed and beginning to yellow. Just don't know what happened comparing to last year..

Joseph, the plants stay like that all the time (day and night)

[bughunter99]

Can you post a picture?

-Have you fertilized them? How long ago and with what?
-Have they been outside in the elements recently?
-Have they undergone any recent stress (gotten too dry or too wet for too long?)
-Any evidence of insects in the growth area, particularly little flies?
-Tell us what your watering pattern is.
-What type of soil are they in?
-How big are they? How many sets of true leaves do they have?
-They yellowing...is it the whole leaf or yellow spots on the leaves. Is it the lower ones only or all over the plant?

[jamserg]

Here's a picture of a seedling I kept. The shape problem it has is less pronounced than the ones I don't have anymore, but yellowing is similar. I use faffard germinating mix, I don't fertilize them, no stress from watering, no insects. They are in the process of hardening off.

[joseph]

Are you looking at the plants after they have been in the dark for a while? In my garden, tomato seedlings often fold their leaves up at night...

Here's an example: The same plant photographed during the day and at night a few hours apart.

[Worth1]

They are hungry they need food.

[UFXEFU]

That plant needs cooler air temps, real sunshine, and plant food.

[RayR]

I agree, they are yellowing because they need some nutrients..

[SharonRossy]

I concur! Looking for love, lol! I'd also think about transplanting in something bigger to bury the stem more, possibly?