Quick start, then stall

enchant · March 27, 2018

I'm about a week in since planting. One thing that I've noticed is that several of my seedlings grew at breakneck speed at the start, then stalled. Planted on March 20. Several broke ground on the 23rd. By evening on the 25th, some were 2-1/2" tall. Since then, they haven't grown a millimeter. Is this due to the depth of the cell? Is it just coincidence that they're almost exactly as tall as the soil is deep? I normally don't repot until I see a lot of real leaves, but I'm trying an experiment and repotting one into a solo cup.

ginger2778 · March 27, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by enchant

I'm about a week in since planting. One thing that I've noticed is that several of my seedlings grew at breakneck speed at the start, then stalled. Planted on March 20. Several broke ground on the 23rd. By evening on the 25th, some were 2-1/2" tall. Since then, they haven't grown a millimeter. Is this due to the depth of the cell? Is it just coincidence that they're almost exactly as tall as the soil is deep? I normally don't repot until I see a lot of real leaves, but I'm trying an experiment and repotting one into a solo cup.

For right now the height is stalled for the plant to get a little more substance on the stems. Kinda nornal. Is it cold where they are? That will slow growth too. If they came up, then the cell depth is not usually an issue. Photos would help us.

enchant · March 27, 2018

It's definitely coldER. I had them in a heated hydration dome. I read (on this forum somewhere) that once the seedlings sprout, take them out from under the dome. So it's definitely cooler. Maybe 68 during the day and down near 60 overnight.

Here's a photo if it helps. I lifted the lid on the hydration dome in the back for the photo.

ginger2778 · March 27, 2018

They look leggy. I think you need them closer to the light, or just more light. I wouldn't want them to continue length wise growing until they fill out more. No hydration dome right now is a good thing. Get them up a little closer to the grow light maybe 2 to 4 in depending on whether you're grow light puts out heat or not. Then let nature take its course and they'll be fine. If anything that cool temperature will slow them down a bit but right now I like the idea of that for what I'm seeing with their amount of leggyness.
Please don't add any fertilizer until after their first set of true leaves. They have enough food in the seed leaves right now.

enchant · March 27, 2018

Thanks for the good info! The tops of the cells are about 8" from the grow lights which are not hot (pleasantly warm when you grasp the tubes). I can get them a little closer. There are a few others that I really need to pull out from under the dome as well at this point.

ricman · March 27, 2018

I agree with Marsha they look leggy to me.. If you are using fluorescents for lighting position the light about 1 inch from the tops of your plants. You can repot them and bury the stem deeper and also an oscillating fan blowing on them can help promote a stronger stem. just my 2 cents worth.

Rick

enchant · March 27, 2018

I've given them a boost.

enchant · March 27, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricman

also an oscillating fan blowing on them can help promote a stronger stem. just my 2 cents worth.

Really?! That's the first I've heard of that one. I think we have a fan around somewhere.

Nan_PA_6b · March 27, 2018

You still have a hydration dome on that back tray, but with so many sprouted, take off the top & get them under lights. jmo

Nan

ginger2778 · March 27, 2018

2" from the light would be my recommendation, and a fan will make the stems stronger, and also keep fungus like damping off away.

ginger2778 · March 27, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricman

I agree with Marsha they look leggy to me.. If you are using fluorescents for lighting position the light about 1 inch from the tops of your plants. You can repot them and bury the stem deeper and also an oscillating fan blowing on them can help promote a stronger stem. just my 2 cents worth.

Rick

+1

ginger2778 · March 27, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nan_PA_6b

You still have a hydration dome on that back tray, but with so many sprouted, take off the top & get them under lights. jmo

Nan

Agree

enchant · March 27, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nan_PA_6b

You still have a hydration dome on that back tray, but with so many sprouted, take off the top & get them under lights. jmo

Nan

Well, it's complicated.

I was doing a test. I did my main planting on the 20th. But then on the 23rd, I remembered something that I'd wanted to try on planting day but had forgotten. So I did an entire second planting, and those are primarily what are under the dome. Plus, my peppers haven't broken ground yet.

enchant · March 27, 2018

The only fan I have is kinda noisy, doesn't oscillate and pumps air pretty fast. So I've ordered one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Blizza.../dp/B000J07RMU

SueCT · March 27, 2018

Much too far away from the light. As long as they aren't touching they are not too close, lol. You should separate seedlings that don't germinate in similar time frames and under similar temps. Tomatoes can germinate in 3-4 days and peppers I have heard can take 8 days or more. They need more heat for longer. I am trying peppers for the first time this year. They just don't need the same conditions for the same amount of time.

March 27, 2018	#1
enchant Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 142	Quick start, then stall I'm about a week in since planting. One thing that I've noticed is that several of my seedlings grew at breakneck speed at the start, then stalled. Planted on March 20. Several broke ground on the 23rd. By evening on the 25th, some were 2-1/2" tall. Since then, they haven't grown a millimeter. Is this due to the depth of the cell? Is it just coincidence that they're almost exactly as tall as the soil is deep? I normally don't repot until I see a lot of real leaves, but I'm trying an experiment and repotting one into a solo cup.

March 27, 2018	#4
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	They look leggy. I think you need them closer to the light, or just more light. I wouldn't want them to continue length wise growing until they fill out more. No hydration dome right now is a good thing. Get them up a little closer to the grow light maybe 2 to 4 in depending on whether you're grow light puts out heat or not. Then let nature take its course and they'll be fine. If anything that cool temperature will slow them down a bit but right now I like the idea of that for what I'm seeing with their amount of leggyness. Please don't add any fertilizer until after their first set of true leaves. They have enough food in the seed leaves right now.

March 27, 2018	#6
ricman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ardmore,Oklahoma Posts: 172	I agree with Marsha they look leggy to me.. If you are using fluorescents for lighting position the light about 1 inch from the tops of your plants. You can repot them and bury the stem deeper and also an oscillating fan blowing on them can help promote a stronger stem. just my 2 cents worth. Rick

March 27, 2018	#9
Nan_PA_6b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3,194	You still have a hydration dome on that back tray, but with so many sprouted, take off the top & get them under lights. jmo Nan

March 27, 2018	#15
SueCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,460	Much too far away from the light. As long as they aren't touching they are not too close, lol. You should separate seedlings that don't germinate in similar time frames and under similar temps. Tomatoes can germinate in 3-4 days and peppers I have heard can take 8 days or more. They need more heat for longer. I am trying peppers for the first time this year. They just don't need the same conditions for the same amount of time.