Question concerning seedlings

[mikeo14]

Hello, I have recently tried my hand at sprouting some seeds both outdoors and indoors, however a few of my seedling will get around 3-4 inches tall and snap at the base. My question is what is the cause of this breaking and what can I do to prevent my seedlings from sprouting tall and weak like they have been?

thanks in advance,
-mike

mikeo14 Reviewed by mikeo14 on 03-12-2007. Question concerning seedlings Hello, I have recently tried my hand at sprouting some seeds both outdoors and indoors, however a few of my seedling will get around 3-4 inches tall and snap at the base. My question is what is the cause of this breaking and what can I do to prevent my seedlings from sprouting tall and weak like they have been? thanks in advance, -mike Rating: 5

[locomark]

Well Mikeo14,

Looks like you left some information out from us. Anyway, you want short stocky stems with fat broad leaves. Get more light on them. What do I know?

Loco

[socialistpete]

Are you using floros keeping them as close as possible? Having the light far away could cause them to stretch. Another unlikely possibility is that you are using rockwool wich is to wet and the stems are rotting. Give more info on everything you are using and how your using it.

[mikeo14]

Alright, cool i'll try tot get my babies more light directly on them.

:trooper::stormtrooper, out::trooper:

[Splifted]

If you already have seedlings that are stretched and look weak you can either:
A) Re-pot them up to about an inch under the bottom leaves, the buried stem will become roots. And get more light

or

B) Splint them up with something, a soda straw split vertically wrapped around the stem works wonderfully for holding up a wimpy seedling. Still, get more light, CFLs like 2" away from the plants.


Also, if you get an oscillating fan and point it so it blows lightly on the plants, it will strengthen the stems a lot. Oscillating fan = must have.

Note: Don't use the fan when they are just baby seedlings, they need moisture then. Wait til they get their first true leaves.