From

Location

Message

Date Posted

South Carolina

Can someone help my seeds germinate fine but when they come up they stretch about four inches and fall over I have a heat mat and two 60 watt grow bulbs over head what's wrong?

2/24/2016 9:53:50 AM

NE Arkansas

How close do you have the lights to the seedlings?

2/24/2016 9:56:39 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

Once mine germinate,I take the bottom heat away and just use the lights.
What type of light do you have?
Metal halide get really hot.
How much water are you giving them?
Damping off kills a lot of seedlings.

2/24/2016 10:21:41 AM

Bethlehem CT

My guess would be that they are damping off. With damping off, the stem will just fall over. Young seedlings that are less than a few weeks old are most vulnerable.
A few tips to help combat the problem are;
Use a soilless media, and make sure your pots are sanitized or new, keep growing media on the drier side, keep soil temperature and air temperatures up. Moist and cool conditions favor the disease An old time trick was to spread corn meal or sand on the soil surface like a mulch. I have never tried that. Also if the plants are stretching to four inches they may not be getting enough light. Artificial lights need to be kept very close to get nice compact growth.

2/24/2016 11:08:20 AM

South Carolina

I use 2 sixty watt grow lights about eight to six inches above plants

2/24/2016 12:44:33 PM

Frankfort Ohio

Try a t5 grow lamp and keep it 3 or 4 in above plants and the best way to water young plants is with a spray bottle and mist them

2/24/2016 4:02:16 PM

Peru

I use 4ft floresent bulbs with grow lights from wal-mart, and bottom water with soiless medium is dry. I use a tinfoil tray you bake turkeys in, ad 3 in. Of water and set pot in it until its wet ( 4or 5 min)

2/24/2016 7:00:18 PM

NE Arkansas

You have to put the compact fluorescent light like 1 inch above them

2/24/2016 8:38:29 PM

Muddy Waters

yes Grow lights should be 1 inch from seedling.in less its a hot bulb.Put your hand in front to test it.Have a fan running in the room.You want to strengthen the stem like it was in the wind outside.

2/24/2016 9:01:01 PM

formerly RGG

Fluorescent lighting is heading toward antiquation. LED bulbs are much brighter and provide enough light to keep young plants from growing lanky. HID lighting is another good option.

2/25/2016 9:14:54 AM

South Carolina

Thank Tennessee dreamer I didn't know that I thought it had to be grow lights but that's a good idea

2/25/2016 9:17:34 AM

formerly RGG

Sorry I did not make myself clear.I am talking about LED grow lights. I don't know if regular LED's are helpful.As far as I know HID lights of any sort are good for plant growth.And if you get a warm day or have a window available it's difficult to beat good old sunlight.

2/25/2016 12:04:29 PM

South Carolina

I sure appreciate the info it will really help

2/25/2016 12:57:52 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I'm going LED I will document my setup. With red, blue yellow and white you can focus your energy use on usable light with no waste in the rest of the spectrum. I should be up and running soon.

2/25/2016 1:47:28 PM

South Carolina

That sounds nice if anybody wants to shoot me some ideas my email is mckenziebobby96@yahoo.com

2/25/2016 5:35:11 PM