| I have planted seeds in a planter called Pearl Parsley. They have started to sprout and are tall and scraggly. There aren't enough to thin out. I'm concerned because I've had seeds get tall and scraggly and then die. Should I trim them? |
| When seedlings don't get enough light they grow tall and thin and weak. To produce stout and healthy seedlings you should supplement natural daylight with artificial light such as from fluorescent shop lights or gro-lights. Use 40 watt bulbs in the shop light fixture, one cool-white and one warm-white to provide the entire spectrum of light to your plants. Keep the light source 4"-6" above the tops of the plants, adjusting the light up as the seedlings grow. Keep the lights on 14-16 hours each day and turn them off at night. Trimming your seedlings at this stage of growth will probably kill them. Try providing extra light and see if that doesn't help them grow into healthy plants. If not, start all over with new seeds and keep them under artificial lights until they're ready to plant outdoors. |
