weird seedlings shape

jamserg · April 16, 2015

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 · April 16, 2015

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 · April 16, 2015

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 · April 16, 2015

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

**carolyn137** · April 16, 2015

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

joseph · April 16, 2015

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.

jamserg · April 16, 2015

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 · April 16, 2015

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 · April 17, 2015

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.

Worth1 · April 17, 2015

They are hungry they need food.

UFXEFU · April 17, 2015

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

RayR · April 18, 2015

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

Starlight · April 19, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

I use the Fafard Super Fine seedling start mix. I agree with the others above. They need feed big time.

The Fafard seedling mix is 55% Canadian Sphagnum Peat, Vermiculite and Perlite. If you read at the bottom of the bag it has a big section that tells you that once the seedlings germinate to start a fertilization program after 7 days.

I always to that. When they been up for 7 days I will start them on a week feeding of MG (blue stuff).

Every time I transplant I wait 7 days before starting feeding again.

Give them babies some food and they will start acting normal. They holding their leaves up right now to tell you please..please feed me.

Other than the nutrient definency, nice looking seedling.

SharonRossy · April 19, 2015

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

April 16, 2015	#1
jamserg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 105	weird seedlings shape 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.

April 16, 2015	#2
Darren Abbey Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 586	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. __________________ http://the-biologist-is-in.blogspot.com

April 16, 2015	#5
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	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 __________________ Carolyn

April 16, 2015	#6
joseph Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Cache Valley, N/E of The Great Salt Lake Posts: 1,244	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. Last edited by joseph; April 16, 2015 at 02:07 PM.

April 16, 2015	#8
bughunter99 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: zone 5 Posts: 821	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?

April 17, 2015	#10
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	They are hungry they need food.

April 17, 2015	#11
UFXEFU Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Gloster, Lousiana 71030 Zone 8a Posts: 253	That plant needs cooler air temps, real sunshine, and plant food.

April 18, 2015	#12
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	I agree, they are yellowing because they need some nutrients..

April 19, 2015	#14
SharonRossy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,140	I concur! Looking for love, lol! I'd also think about transplanting in something bigger to bury the stem more, possibly?