Viewing post #808440 by RickCorey

You are viewing a single post made by RickCorey in the thread called starting seed inside.
Image
Mar 12, 2015 5:03 PM CST
Name: Rick Corey
Everett WA 98204 (Zone 8a)
Sunset Zone 5. Koppen Csb. Eco 2f
Frugal Gardener Garden Procrastinator I helped beta test the first seed swap Plant and/or Seed Trader Seed Starter Region: Pacific Northwest
Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database.
Hi, New! Welcome to ATP.

I agree - by far the most likely problem is not enough light. I see those seedlings stretching and figure that their programming "assumes" that they are shorter than other seedlings around them, and "knows" that they have to grow taller than the competition or die.

I think the weak stems are an "assumption" that the plants around them, shading them, will also support them if they can ever just get their darn leaves above the shade!

Most windows are not bright enough to start seedlinhs in, at least vegetable seedlings. If the window IS bright enough, the seedlings tend to cook when the sun shines in directly, and get too cold at night.

Artificial light is usually needed to start healthy seedlings.

If the light is an old-style "T-12" fluorescent tube, the seedlings almost need to grow right between the tubes to be sure they get enough light. (Cleaning the reflectors and tubes will get you brighter light. Replacing the tubes with newer tubes, high-output T-12s, will help.)

If you're about to buy lights, avoid the old T-12s. They are being phased out rapidly. T-8 tubes and fixtures are pretty inexpensive, though the brightest tubes, T-5s, are a little brighter than T-8s and much more expensive.

« Return to the thread "starting seed inside"
« Return to Ask a Question forum
« Return to the Garden.org homepage

Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by mcash70 and is called "Queen Ann's Lace"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.