weak stringy seedlings-over watering?

[raven6]

Hi guys, long time between posting but I have decided to do an outdoor grow this summer.

long story story I germinated some seeds last week on a wet paper towel on a heat matt, about 15 out of twenty popped and I then put them in a mini greehouse box outside in a soil/compost mix, I have gave them little bit of water plus ocassionally misting them with a spray bottle.

 

about two days ago (7 days after planting) I noticed some of my seedling looking very strected and weak with a couple of them actually falling over and unable to support there leaves. I have since put the greenhouse box inside under a cloning box with fluro's so I can monitor it properly and I put some straws around the seedlings to help support them and stop them from falling over.

 

I have a few theorys as to why they are so weak and stringy.

 

1. not enough sunlight, hence me putting them under the cloning lights

2. lack of nutrients (poor soil), while i use this potting mix from bunning with great success on my vegie garden and tomatoes it may be too acidic of without enough nutrients....I am not sure about fertilising as they are only about a week old and I dont want to burn the newly developed roots

3. too much water, the greenhouse box was misting up quite heavily when I put the seedling out in the sun, I have since taken the lid off when I put the seedlings under fluros and just given each seedling a little drink of water each day.

 

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated

Edited October 16, 2012 by raven6

[raven6]

Hi guys, long time between posting but I have decided to do an outdoor grow this summer. I have also posted this in the propogation section but I figured it belonged here as well

 

long story story I germinated some seeds last week on a wet paper towel on a heat matt, about 15 out of twenty popped and I then put them in a mini greehouse box outside in a soil/compost mix, I have gave them little bit of water plus ocassionally misting them with a spray bottle.

about two days ago (7 days after planting) I noticed some of my seedling looking very strected and weak with a couple of them actually falling over and unable to support there leaves. I have since put the greenhouse box inside under a cloning box with fluro's so I can monitor it properly and I put some straws around the seedlings to help support them and stop them from falling over.

 

I have a few theorys as to why they are so weak and stringy.

1. not enough sunlight, hence me putting them under the cloning lights

2. lack of nutrients (poor soil), while i use this potting mix from bunning with great success on my vegie garden and tomatoes it may be too acidic of without enough nutrients....I am not sure about fertilising as they are only about a week old and I dont want to burn the newly developed roots

3. too much water, the greenhouse box was misting up quite heavily when I put the seedling out in the sun, I have since taken the lid off when I put the seedlings under fluros and just given each seedling a little drink of water each day.

 

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated

[The Hash Nibbler]

Kinda hard to give ya any advice without seein a pic mate........... maybe post a pic so we can see em. Peace. Nibbler.

[raven6]

Will do nibbler, expect some photos when I get home later tonight

[Matanuska Thunder]

without seeing a photo....sounds like you may need to 'build up' some of your chosen soil-

ie -make a 'soil mountain' with the seedling in the middle of it, the soil will help to support the seedling till it gets stronger....

 

Many people over-water seedlings, I'd put an oz bet on that too

 

(my opinion may could will change once photos are posted)

 

Luck

MT

[hed]

sounds like not enough light they will strech horrible if there isnt enough light and this can happen.

[Naycha]

Anyones guess although light should not be a problem outside.

 

Sounds like they could have got too hot.

 

Naycha

[Faith]

Heya raven6 I had what sounds to be the exact same issues with two seedlings I started about 2 1/2 mos ago. Right down to the greenhouse ...Naych called it on both of ours in that I think I cooked mine and from what I have read so far after Naycha's comment on mye arlier pleas regarding such, 'damping off', as the two seem to go hand in hand ?

 

I don't have much of a track record but I think that would be it. On my others I left the coco down about 1/4 of the way in case they went stretchy and they did-so I just buried the stalk up to about a cm under the first set of leaves- like 'Nibbler said. It's worked so far.

 

positive outcomes in any case. peace to ya v.