Drop that shop light fixture to within 1-2 inches of the soil at first, and then gradually elevate it so that it is never more than 1-2 inches from the top of the tallest leaves.Īlready have leggy seedlings? Immediately do whatever you can to provide them with stronger light without exposing them to unprotected outdoor conditions. Providing light is usually the easiest solution, but just know that when we say provide light, we mean PROVIDE LIGHT.
The solution is either to provide artificial light for your indoor seedlings or to move your seed-starting setup to a protected location outdoors, either a cold frame or greenhouse. The result is young plants that stretch window-ward in search of more intense rays. It is rare that a windowsill, even south-facing, can provide enough intense, direct sunlight to make for healthy seedlings. Legginess is the top problem of gardeners who start their seedlings on their windowsills. LEGGINESS. Often those seedlings most prone to damping off (above) are seedlings that we'd also call "leggy"-stretched-out, pale, easily toppled seedlings that often open their cotyledons waaaay higher than they should. Also: note that seedlings grown in a well-ventilated cold frame are much less prone to damping off than seedlings grown in a room with basically still air, so it's worth experimenting with a cold frame if you never have before.)Ģ. (Watering from beneath is one way to achieve this, too. If the surface is dry, damping off is very unlikely. Of course, we are imperfect gardeners and we make mistakes, so if you find that you've accidentally soaked a flat, immediately set up a small fan to dry out the top half-inch of potting soil.
While a nice, soaking wet flat can look attractive with its bright green sprouts against the dark soil, it is also a perfect environment for damping off. The key to avoiding the disease is providing adequate airflow: leave indoor seedlings open to the larger room rather than enclosing them in any way, and if using a cold frame, provide adequate ventilation as temperatures permit.Īvoid overwatering at all costs! Once your seeds have germinated, their water needs decrease dramatically. In our experience, it is possible to experience damping off at nearly any temperature between 55 and 85 degrees-so the problem can't be solved simply by heating up or cooling down the environment. Caused by a fungus, its hallmark symptom is a narrowing of the plant at the base-until it looks like floss-followed within about twelve hours by the collapse and death of the seedling. Damping off is by far the most common disease issue in an indoor seed-starting setup. Now that many of your seeds may have sprouted already, here are four common indoor seed-starting diseases (and pests!) to watch out for, and what to do about them.īefore jumping in, it may be worth a quick recap of conditions needed for seeds to emerge and thrive in 7 Easy Step to Starting Seeds Indoors.ġ. This artificial environment can cause stresses and problems rarely seen in the outdoor garden. As with most worthwhile endeavors, planting seeds has the potential for heartbreak and this is especially true for indoor seed-starting.
We’ve all been there – a plant you’re particularly looking forward to seeing spring up just hasn’t, well, sprung.
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