seedlings and light?

dipchip2000 · February 27, 2011

My seedlings are 6 weeks old and showing signs of needing more light than my grow light system. It has been cloudy and overcast here for weeks, Will they benefit from sitting out under a patio cover and receiving filtered light through the clouds? Still too cold to leave them out all night but little to no sun has been available in the daylight hours. I am about 2 to 3 weeks from early plantout with protection when needed.
thanks
ron

OneoftheEarls · February 27, 2011

posting some photos would help me help you

dipchip2000 · February 27, 2011

Photos unavailable at this time. Possibly later.
Plants are getting some pale lime green leaves and are not overwatered.
thanks
ron

b54red · February 27, 2011

Ron, since you aren't getting any real sunlight why not just go ahead and set them out in what sun you do have. I love having a cloudy day or two in which to move plants out into the full sun. It seems they almost never burn if I am able to do this. It sure is easier than moving them in and out several times.
As soon as most of my seedlings pop up I put them outside for a couple of hours then bring them in if the night is going to be below 40. Then I set them out for a longer time the next day and usually by the third day I can leave them out all day especially during partly cloudy days. By doing this they are already hardened off by the time I pot them up and it stops most of that legginess that young seedlings develop in poor light.
This year I had the same problem with my early January planting. It was too cold to even set them outside in the daytime and we had virtually no sun for several weeks after the seed sprouted and I had a bad time with damping off. My early February planting is now to the point where they are spending all day and all night outside and only a few have developed any true leaves yet.

dipchip2000 · February 28, 2011

Thanks Bill

After receiving no answers to my question yesterday I decided to go ahead and set them on the patio. I too have lost 10 or 12 to damping off because Due to wind and cold temps could not put them outside. I had to bring them in last night because of night time temps. 28 degrees here this morning. The plants do look rejuvenated this morning so it definitely was beneficial to put them outside even with no sunshine. I think that by noon on tuesday I can set them outside for the rest of the week with night time temps dipping only into low 50s. I still plan to set them out around March 15th weather permitting. I will probably have to cover them a few times but really want the early plantout. I also started another 72 yesterday as backup when I lose some of these as I know I probably will. I have seedlings of the potato leaf Indian Stripe you sent me and they appear to be doing well. I have about 350 seedlings now to take out and bring back in at night, I only need 75 or so to actually plant out. I really hope for an excellent year and intend to do all I can to help assure it. Many of my plants are from seed that you sent me that did do well in heat and humidity and I thank you again for those.

regards
ron

February 27, 2011	#1
dipchip2000 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 664	seedlings and light? My seedlings are 6 weeks old and showing signs of needing more light than my grow light system. It has been cloudy and overcast here for weeks, Will they benefit from sitting out under a patio cover and receiving filtered light through the clouds? Still too cold to leave them out all night but little to no sun has been available in the daylight hours. I am about 2 to 3 weeks from early plantout with protection when needed. thanks ron

February 27, 2011	#2
OneoftheEarls Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Up North Posts: 660	posting some photos would help me help you

February 27, 2011	#4
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Ron, since you aren't getting any real sunlight why not just go ahead and set them out in what sun you do have. I love having a cloudy day or two in which to move plants out into the full sun. It seems they almost never burn if I am able to do this. It sure is easier than moving them in and out several times. As soon as most of my seedlings pop up I put them outside for a couple of hours then bring them in if the night is going to be below 40. Then I set them out for a longer time the next day and usually by the third day I can leave them out all day especially during partly cloudy days. By doing this they are already hardened off by the time I pot them up and it stops most of that legginess that young seedlings develop in poor light. This year I had the same problem with my early January planting. It was too cold to even set them outside in the daytime and we had virtually no sun for several weeks after the seed sprouted and I had a bad time with damping off. My early February planting is now to the point where they are spending all day and all night outside and only a few have developed any true leaves yet.

February 28, 2011	#5
dipchip2000 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 664	Thanks Bill After receiving no answers to my question yesterday I decided to go ahead and set them on the patio. I too have lost 10 or 12 to damping off because Due to wind and cold temps could not put them outside. I had to bring them in last night because of night time temps. 28 degrees here this morning. The plants do look rejuvenated this morning so it definitely was beneficial to put them outside even with no sunshine. I think that by noon on tuesday I can set them outside for the rest of the week with night time temps dipping only into low 50s. I still plan to set them out around March 15th weather permitting. I will probably have to cover them a few times but really want the early plantout. I also started another 72 yesterday as backup when I lose some of these as I know I probably will. I have seedlings of the potato leaf Indian Stripe you sent me and they appear to be doing well. I have about 350 seedlings now to take out and bring back in at night, I only need 75 or so to actually plant out. I really hope for an excellent year and intend to do all I can to help assure it. Many of my plants are from seed that you sent me that did do well in heat and humidity and I thank you again for those. regards ron