so my sprouts are dying again.. pics inside

[noty johnson]

http://www.lifeinwidescreen.com/siihp/sprout2.jpg.jpg


Had two good looking sprouts.. then all of the sudden they are shrivelling up and dont look so good.

This sprouts stalk looks great, but now its leaves dont look right. It's first real set of leaves always looked a bit odd..

The other sprout i had looked perfect until yesterday. I didnt get a pic because its so far gone now it would be useless..

I cant figure out what i'm doing wrong. I test the ph, its slighty below 7.. soil is schultz seed starting soil (no ferts). I was using a flouro shop light (6500k) but now i'm using a 6500k CFL about 2-3 inches above the two sprouts (125watt).

I try to water sparingly. temps are around 75.. its in a closet but i leave the doors open and the overhead fan on so there is some circulation.

These sprouts made it one week... seeds came from website, supposed to be WW. I can get them to sprout about 100% but then they die.. maybe i should try another soil

thanks in advance

noty johnson Reviewed by noty johnson on 11-30-2006. so my sprouts are dying again.. pics inside http://www.lifeinwidescreen.com/siihp/sprout2.jpg.jpg Had two good looking sprouts.. then all of the sudden they are shrivelling up and dont look so good. This sprouts stalk looks great, but now its leaves dont look right. It's first real set of leaves always looked a bit odd.. The other sprout i had looked perfect until yesterday. I didnt get a pic because its so far gone now it would be useless.. I cant figure out what i'm doing wrong. I test the ph, its slighty below 7.. soil Rating: 5

[faithless]

Strange, but theres no clues in the information you gave us. What damage did the one that died have?

[noty johnson]

i was hoping the picture would help.. it just looks like it shrivelled up and died

i did notice reading this soil it says to transplant whenever first real set of leaves appear.. could there be somethign about this "seed starting" soil that makes it necessary to transplant that early? has anyone tried transplanting a sprout that small?

i've got not no clue

[faithless]

It only says that because a plant that small is succeptible to shocks and changes. I read that your soil does have nutes, but I've never used that brand.
Sorry, that pic tells me nothing.
Try PH neutral rockwool or Oasis instead, is my suggestion.
From that pic it looks lke they were moved to large pots?
How large? If they're in 2 gallon pots that you only water occassionally, chances are they're still getting drowned.

.

[Bree1978]

I feel your frustration! You said you had been watering sparingly...have you kept the top of the soil somewhat moist, misting occasionally? I dried my seedlings out too much if I didn't keep the soil misted (not wet or soggy)...I am new, just letting you know my experience. I've heard this can cause mold on the soil, but I didn't have a problem with it. I also read that misting the top of the soil allows the small leaves to absorb some water (the roots are developing and can't pack in as much as when they get bigger). Again just a thought. S

[noty johnson]

that pic is deceptive because i had to get the camera so close to get a clear picture.

they are in clear 12 or 16oz cups with tons of drainage holes along the bottom and sides.

i water by spraying with a squirt bottle. i mainly just saturate the top of the soil.. havent ever given enough to have it go out the drain holes.

looking at the bag it says "fast-rooting formula with phosphorus"" thinks its the soil?

and i'm an idiot, its scotts not schultz... here is the identical bag

http://www.scotts.com/index.cfm/even...5eac395d73e225

[Bree1978]

I'd water them for real...not just misting...just til some comes out of bottom. Check the ph of what is coming out the bottom of the pot. Maybe what you have in that soil mix is making probs. and from what I have read on here that'll let you know. The soil may not be ph balanced. If all is good maybe you were underwatering...I did that! S

[stinkyattic]

Heya, that looks like heat stress.
You say the temps in the ROOM are 75, but what about the temps RIGHT UNDER THE CFL?
Oh yeah, and avoid misting sprouts. They don't like it.... mmm... pythium wilt!
A good way to ensure ample water and humidity is to put them in a plastic, not metal, tray and water into that and watch as the water gets sucked up. When they stop sucking it up from the bottom, that's plenty of water.

Good luck!

OH BTW I'm a huge fan of flourescent t-12 cool white TUBE lights for seedlings in the early stages. They run quite cool and I've never had heat problems, although I HAVE had those problems with both CFLs and my new wave T5... It's just way too hot for seedlings to be closer than about 3 inches or more.

[Bree1978]

Oh I didn't mean misting the actual seedling, just the substrate.

[stinkyattic]

Hard to get one without the other! I actually keep my humidity at 30% and no more than 40% in the sprout/veg room. Never have problems, just water from below whenever possible.