Why are my seedlings so small?!

[ARgardener]

Started my pepper, eggplant, and tomatoes indoors about 1 month ago. The plants took a while to germinate/ get planted (paper towel method); so they range from 2-3 weeks old.

I thought things were going well until I saw a friend post a pic of his 3 week old plants. His look HUGE compared to mine.

Here are my tomatoes now at about 3" tall (they don't look quite as pitiful in real life, but here's the pic):


2-3 weeks old, 16 hr light a day, fan circulating, watering every 3rd day or so, Fox Farm's Light Warrior, no additional fertilizer.

What on earth is the problem here and what should I do?!

[ARgardener]

Pic with sharpie for scale...

[greenthumbomaha]

Not seeing the pic in either post.

- Lisa

[ARgardener]

Originally Posted by greenthumbomaha

Not seeing the pic in either post.

- Lisa

Not sure why. Uploaded them the only way I know how

[greenthumbomaha]

Maybe it's on my end.

I used to use Fox Farms and it is very good, but I've switched and had equal success with cheaper products. I don't use Miracle Grow routinely, and I hope this doesn't make you cringe, but if something is off I give them a little bit of dilute blue stuff to wake things up.

Perhaps your plants are too wet. If they are really small they are getting a lot of water frequently.Is it city water? Maybe the ferts washed out.

I hope someone is up and can see your pics and identify the problem.

- Lisa

[ARgardener]

Originally Posted by greenthumbomaha

Perhaps your plants are too wet. If they are really small they are getting a lot of water frequently.Is it city water? Maybe the ferts washed out.

Really don't think that it's over watering.. I bottom water and let things dry out between waterings. Thinking about using some kelp and/ or fish emulsion (1/2 strength) to try and get things going.

[greenthumbomaha]

I looked at my old bag of FF, and looked at their website. If you are using the seed starter formulation, the instructions are to start a fertilizer routine within 5 days. So go ahead and give 'em whatever you have on hand. I bet they jump up in a day after nutrients.

- Lisa

[dmforcier]

I started with MG Potting Mix and switched to FF Ocean Forest last year. IMO MG was better for starting. FF seemed okay as a grow medium but not appreciably better. I'd kick in some ferts at this point.

[loulac]

I’ll suggest a brush up of basics.
Germination should start quickly, I suggest a temperature in the range of 80 – 85 ° till germination starts, then lower. Soil kept wet constantly, beware of evaporation.


Then correct balance between temperature and watering will come with experience.


Fertilizers can do no harm if doses are correct. When to use them ? it will depend on the quality of the pottering mix you bought or mixed yourself. Some have few nutrients to make the seedlings start more roots, they quickly need fertilizers, the seedlings should be transplanted quickly. Other mixes are more rich and you can wait a bit more.
Why not start another batch of seedlings, Texas is not Alaska !

[ginger2778]

I think it's your seed starting mix too. I use Miracle Grow seed starting potting mix, by 2 weeks the tomatoes have true leaves, and a second set of true leaves forming. They are transplanted to 3.5" pots at that point, and I use PromixBX, and thry get their first fertilizer, a pinch of Tomato Maker. By 3 weeks they are about 4"tall with thickening stems. I do start mine in late August or early September when it's still hot here. I started seeds in other media that was peat based but called a potting soil, not mix, and the results were stunting growth, even though there was fertilizer used.

[My Foot Smells]

maybe the lights you use are a little weak or not close enough to the seedlings. also temperature plays a big part. I just put 16 toms in the ground yesterday, but started seeds back in Jan and they are about 20" tall.

[Sun City Linda]

I cant see photos either.

[brownrexx]

Can't see the photos but how warm is it where the plants are? They like to be warm.

I start watering with a weak liquid fertilizer solution after they get their true leaves since they are started in a soilless seed starting mix which has no nutrients.

[Gerardo]

No pics either.

What loulac and Marsha stated, +1

[ARgardener]

https://gm1.ggpht.com/igIcbvTRIpuWPY...66-h638-l75-ft

trying again with the pic.. can yall click and view this link?