limpy edges of leaves

[mysidx]

I just noticed some of my six inch tall seedlings have soft limp edges on some of the leaves, but only on a handful of seedlings. It kind of looks like old lettuce when it gets mushy and brownish on the edges. Any thoughts of what it might be? I did use some liquid miracle grow last time I watered, which is the first time they received any nutrients. I have noticed some insects flying around my grow station which is out in the garage.

[rnewste]

Rob,

Get yourself a pack of these and hang a few of them next to your seedlings in the garage:



They will help control any flying insects you have:



About $6.00 for a pack of 5 at all Hydroponics Shops - - or you can get them on amazon.com.

Raybo

[mysidx]

Thanks Ray, do you think that could be the problem or just a precautionary measure?

[rnewste]

Rob,

No, I don't think the bugs are related to the limp leaves today. I would try to take care of them anyway, with the sticky traps.

You *may* have hit the plants with too much fertilizer at this early stage, and that can cause leaves to go limp, as you describe above. I'd just back off on the fertilizer.

Raybo

[b54red]

If you are dealing with the dampness caused by too much rain and the resulting high humidity you might be getting a little damping off. It doesn't always start at the base of the seedlings. I sometimes notice it start showing symptoms at the top. Watch and see if the stem starts wilting or all of the little leaves. It has given me fits this year and I know your climate is very much like mine. If your garage is not climate controlled that could very well be the culprit.

[mysidx]

I hope that's not the case, I thought damping off did start at the soil line, and on younger seedlings. Here are a couple of pics.

[mysidx]

If this is damping off, do I need to remove these or keep them away from the other seedlings?

[mysidx]

I have another answer, I just found a spotted cucumber beetle munching on one of my seedlings. I've read they carry bacterial mosaic and wilting, so I'm hoping that is not a possibility either. I'm a little worried not knowing what it is,do I need to remove all plants, or discard the ones in question, or could it be a cause that will correct itself?

[Worth1]

The leaves show nitrogen burn flush with waterand hopefor the best.
I just did this myself and lost some plants and I knew better.
If you do flush make sure the water drains away. I darn near killed my shrimp plants too.

Worth

[RayR]

Cucumber beetle munching on Tomato seedlings? Is there such a thing?

I think Worth is right, that does look like fertilizer burn.
You could pull up one of the seedlings and look for root damage too.

[mysidx]

Originally Posted by RayR

Cucumber beetle munching on Tomato seedlings? Is there such a thing?

I think Worth is right, that does look like fertilizer burn.
You could pull up one of the seedlings and look for root damage too.

I read that Cucumber beetles feed on over 250 different plants but love cucumbers, and I have already begun re-potting and flushing. ( with fingers crossed)

[b54red]

It doesn't look like damping off. That usually is a problem when the plants are much smaller.

If it is some type of foliage disease that isn't systemic then you can always try my cure all. A dilute bleach spray. Add 7 or 8 ounces of Clorox regular bleach to a full gallon of water and then spray the plants with a fine mist all over. It will either cure it or kill it.

[lakelady]

it does look similar to what some of my indoor plants looked like when I over fertilized them. tips turned brownish. Now I probably am underfertilizing, but my new seedlings look fabulous!

[dice]

I would have guessed overwatering, looking at those leaves, but different
causes can have similar looking symptoms.

[mysidx]

Since my last post here, I have had no new visible damage to my seedlings. They do seem to get more limp while hardening off than my other seedlings I did not fertilize, so I'm hoping they will strengthen over time.