Can't figure out why the sprouts are dying

I can get a sprout but they always die after 2 days. I'm using schultz seed starting soil, tap water with adjusted pH around 6.5, and a 6500k fluorescent light, 4 feet long and about 2-3 inches above the cups. Some of the sprouts haven't come up, I might just need to be patient, but I've had 2 that already sprouted, and they both looked alright at first, then the stalk turned brown, the edges of the leaves turned brown (not the yellow color they turn when theyre overwatered, more like jsut a light brown) and the leaves never open, it just kind of falls over, then dies after 2 days. I cannot figure out what I'm doing wrong. Any suggestions?

try letting them come up in the dark and once they have split the seed then put the light on them.

what are the temps? could be too hot with the lights close and not enough ventillation/circulation

Are you letting the water you water your plants with adjust to the temperature of the room? How much water do you pour in the soil at a time? And are you saying that the leaves that are suppose to form after the seed has cracked and fallen off doesn't form and spread out? Maybe the lights are too close or too intense?

piccys will help you get a better answer m8 see what ya can do
cheers all :)

the seed shell is always already gone when it sprouts, the leaves are there, but still in the shape they were in in the shell, they never spread. The water is sitting in the room with the plants, so its the same temp when we water them. I sray the soil with a squirt bottle on the mist setting to water them.
1: How much of a difference does it make fo them to sprout in the dark, and 2: how much circulation are they supposed to have and how much of an effect does that have?

Well air ventilation is very important. It's one of the most important needs which are light, water and air. Of course there are more but I think these are the most important. It will effect how well they breath and how fast their growth period is. And I don't think it makes that much of a difference rather they sprout in lightness or darkness, the minute they come up they are in search for light so why not have it already waiting for them..

IF the soil is right and the water is right, (and it sounds like they are) then it has to be your lights.....try farther away....

This happened with two from my last batch - they were OLD seeds, I had kept in the fridge for ages. The shell/husk came off okay but the two "starting" (I know there's a name for them - but I forget) leaves were fused together and therefore couldn't open, hence the seedling just withered and died.
So my question - how old are the seeds you are attempting to grow?

Hall

good info guys,thanks.

i got the seeds online, they just arrived about two weeks. Il'l have to look up the exact side as i dont remember. they are WW. I bought 10 and they had a promo for 10 more.

Yeah so both sprouts the two flowers (coytledons or whatever) were fused together. ON the last sprout i finally forced them apart after 3 or 4 days of no growth, it later died.

Unless i have some bad soil, it sounds like its the seeds.... The flouro lights are not putting off enough heat to cause the prob. Maybe one of the other 3 will make it. I'll contact the seed guy and see if he can advise.

I just assumed i overwatered the last one, but now that im having the same result and ive made sure to give very little water, im thinking its the seeds,water or soil. I havent tried distilled water, but im using room temp level tap water that i have adjusted the ph on with phdown. (was 8.5 its down to about 6.5) I just keep a gallon container full of tap water in the same room so its room temp

thanks guys. Ive tried taking pics but its so small it just comes out blurry. If i can get a better picture i'll upload it. THere is one in my other thread...

FLOUROS DO PUT OFF ENOUGH HEAT TO KILL SEEDLINGS. YOU MUST HAVE AIR FLOWING FREELY BETWEEN THE LIGHT AND PLANTS. I HAVE SEEN CLONES/SEEDLINGS KILLED MANY TIMES BY NOT ENOUGH AIR WITH THE LIGHTS ONLY 2-4INCHES AWAY. sorry about the caps, i didn't notice the caps lock was on till i was finished typing. it is hard to overwater seedlings, alls you have to do is not let the soil dry out for the 1st few days. my money is on heat as the killer, you still haven't posted the temps or what kind of ventillation. without any info all the answers are just guesses.

Is it easier to contact the seed guy or pull the lights back a few inches and see if it works..

its in a closet with the door open and a fan in the main room on. its not too hot with flouro. temp in room is 72

weedhound- of course its easier to raise the lights but i had them about 6-8" away previously and had the same issue.

Ahh, sorry I was unaware you had tried that already. Well you got me at this point. Sounds like you have everything as it is supposed to be....hopefully someone more knowledgable can pinpoint it for you. When I had old seeds they just didn't sprout period....

with temps only 72 heat isn't the prob. i have heard that us customs sometimes 'nukes" international packages to kill anthrax or any other bioligal weapon terrorists might use. so if you are in the us and got the seeds from the netherlands this could have happened. i have never had a problem before, it's just a rumor i heard. if everything else is ok then you might just have bad seeds.

its probably just where the water intake is not stable enough, some seeds dry up, some ferment... and especially with a light AND a fan on the pots they will dry fast... maybe try using some rooting hormone... if its not from any of these they are just old, shit seeds... get some more and try again

I would think it's the seeds. Usually if you get them to sprout they should live no problem in the same conditions. Contact the seed vendor and he might have had a few other people call in with the same problem. Just sometimes they make a bad seed batch, not really their fault - it just happens. Usually their cool and will give you new ones at no charge. Don't boycott the seed guy because of a one time problem - not that you would anyway. If he fix's the probem then he is a good person to do future business with. If he ignores you then that should be the last you buy from him. Call and find out. Sorry for the ramble, I am really stoned and I just felt like typing. I love the blueberry! Good luck!

TGT

alright so i have 4 sprouts now.

1 is the original i was talking about, 3 more just popped and still have the seed shell on them.

the original one is looking better, although i dont know why.. it does seem to still have a small piece of the shell on it, and i think that was causing some of the droop. I'm going to give it a couple more days before i try to get it off myself

anyway nice purple stalk (hope thats right for white widow) and its looking ok

thanks for your help, pics soon

my ww all have green stems but the purple is probably just genetics as it is too early for defficiencies/lockouts. purple stems are also a sign of root rot but again it's a little early for that too. the soil isn't preferted is it? if so then that could be the problem.