Ther inside. On warming mat under a 2×2 foot 4 bulb t5 lite, with lite one inch above them. Lower leaves yellowing and falling off. Newspaper pots are size of a can of tomato paste. Had fan on them, but fan drying out newspaper pots, fast, and i figured, blowing off warmth from lites. If its air circulation. Would the ceiling fan in bedroom be enough ? And on what setting ? My 1st time with grow lite and warming mat.
What do i need to do ???

Have you tested the soil temperature with a thermometer, Philip, in case it is too hot for them? Did this happen after you removed the fan - maybe they're staying too wet or the fan was helping if they were too hot? If they're close to the lights they may not need the warming mat now they're germinated.

The common reason for the lower leaves to turn yellow is nitrogen deficiency but it's a process of elimination, they seem rather young for that. Is there any fertilizer in the mix or have you added any?

@sooby. Sue : you turned me into a regular phil nye the science guy. Opps ! His name was Bill Nye the science guy. Sorry Bill. I liked your show !!! 😁😁😁
I did some investigation.
Inside soil was 70 f.
Between pots 75 f.
Inside reflectors above lites 105 f.
B/T warm mat @ tray 92 f.
Top of plant pots 80 f.
1 inch below lites 80 f.
Potting soil is 0.3. , 0.1 , 0.1. Fert. Rating.
I turned fan back on. Im gonna give them some 10.10.5 liquid fertilizer. Lable says every 2 weeks. But being in small containers. I'm thinking twice a week ???
What do you think ???
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Dilute the fertilizer to at least 1/4 strength first. I don't think they need fertilzer yet and in fact, look really good, except for the dead leaves.

I would keep that fan going. It doesn't need to be a hurricane but air moving will help the plants grow stronger stems.

Heat is the biggest problem with growing under lights - even T5's are warm that close. I would move them back a little. Maybe 6 inches instead of 1inch.

Here's my two cents for whatever it is worth:

It's normal for the cotyledons/seed leaves to turn yellow and fall off; they have done their job and are no longer needed.

I think it's too much watering. Can you cut back a bit on the watering? You might mix up a solution of Epsom salt and water and use it to mist the leaves. They might green up for you.

If you started with decent quality soil fertilizing the plants at this stage may do more harm than good. Hold off on fertilizing for a while.

How many hours a day are you running the lights? The plants need light to simulate day but they need a period of darkness/night to rest.

Roger Willcots. Ladies 👯👯
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GOOD MORNING : LADIES 😁
Thank you both 👯👯!!
Oh!!! I started them Dec 18th. Leaving fan on. Raised light up. Holding off on fertillizer. We'll see if that does the trick. 👹Ha ha!!!
Epsom salt ideal sounds good.
? 😕? Why didnt i think of that ?😕?
Greene : i wasnt concerned about the seed leafs falling off, its the true lower leafs. Humm!!! It may just happen when i plant them outside !
I dont notice it, because im not looking at them with my eyeballs at ground level.
Hopefully the epsom salt spriting along with other adjustments will fix them up.
Hopefully Today !!!
Im gonna start another tray. With some shorter, fatter, tomato sauce can size pots. I like the tomato paste pots. 32 fit in one tray. To where the sauce pots, the tray only holds 18. But ! This will be good to find out which pot works better.
I'll have to remember to let you ladies know, on progression.
Ttfn !!! 👯👯
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If they're too wet it can cause the appearance of nutrient deficiencies. Since the potting mix contained fertilizer they shouldn't need any extra until they've been emerged about 4-6 weeks. But I would turn off the heating mat, at least at night if not all together. As greene said, the lights need to be off at night also. Tomatoes don't like 24 hour lights. If you're turning off the lights at night but not the heating mat I would think that might cause a problem (by increasing respiration to the point where it exceeds photosynthesis).

Hi Sue 😁
I forgot to mention lites last post/thread. I dont know the diference ? Post/ thread :shrug:?
Lites are on 16 hrs. Off 8 hrs. Thats what i read somewhere.
Mat increasing respiration.
How true ! How true ! You be ???? Sharp as a nail ###!!! 😁
MATT'S AWAY !!! Oweees ###
Im not very good at writing sailor talk.

I've probably, since they sprouted, been keeping to wet. Thinking about it 😕!!! They would start to wilt if they got to dry . !!!

Fertillizer... In a couple weeks....sounds about right. Yep.
I'm thinking, i'll mist them every two days. Ya think ?
In mean time i'll mist them with empons salt water. Ooo Ooo ! Then in two weeks. One day empons mist. Next day fertilizer mist.
Now !!! Does that sound like a wennier. Or not !!!
THANKS !!! this is GREAT !!! Two ! opps !!! I mean... Three heads are better than one.
Hay !!! How much snow you have? Our snowpack in mountains hear, is in good shape with all the storm that came through in last 4 weeks. Good for farmers. And plenty of rain hear in valley.
By now !!!
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I know you made your own little pots, very nice. But I wonder...at the bottom of each pot is there an excess of material? If so, that could be holding too much water. What does the bottom of the pot look like? Maybe you can take a photo of a newly-made pot.

Also, the tray...does it have holes? If not, that could also hold excess moisture.

The bottom of trays .have ribs.
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@sooby
Howdy there Sue 😁
Well ! Update on my seedlings.
I started a second tray on Jan 28. Also in picture. I raised lites.fan on.
heat pad off.backed off on water.
I think to much water was my biggest problem. I also put an inch and a half of soil under pots so they wouldnt get moldy on bottom and roots could grow threw. Had devil of time to get rid of mold/fungus gnats. Dont know if i'll go with newspaper pots next year ? Paper pots get moldy on outside. I dont know if thats bad for seedlings ?

Except for okra ! Everything is doing ok !
Okra. I forgive 😇!!! cause its a hot weather creature. 😭
Are you making your plans for you garden yet ? If and when, do you start your plants inside ?
Ohhh???? Who ya goin for in todays Superbowl ???
I say : GO FALCONS ###
Bye bye for now !😁!
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I tried those newspaper pots once but I didn't like them very much. If you're having a problem with fungus gnats that would also suggest too much water.

I don't think this year I will start anything early indoors but I might change my mind. For the few tender plants we would need it is easier to buy them started but getting the cultivars one wants can be difficult that way. It wouldn't be quite yet anyway, the last frost here is towards the end of May. Currently it's snowing - again - and could be for another couple of months.

I don't follow the Super Bowl but since you asked I guess I'd have to go for the Patriots since they're from nearer to here!

Im a patriot fan too. But #!!! Ol Brady has to many Superbowl rings !
Thats all !

My sister made me mad !👺!
She got a 2 bulb 2 foot long LED grow lite, on line for $20.00
Pretty good!!! Huh ?

I read. To get them fungus gnats ! To water with neem oil. Twice. One week apart. It worked. Cutting back on water, i think helped also. 😁

Ok ! Halftime. 21 to 3. Falcons ahead.
Good talking to you. As aways 😁
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I will start my seeds (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants) in the beginning of April for planting out (hopefully) the middle of May. Last year, it was the beginning of June but it has been warmer this year.

Okra, beans, cucumbers and squash I start in the garden after the soil has warmed sufficiently. Okra hates to be transplanted. The others just do better for me direct seeded.

I leave a rotting tomato in the garden all winter. When it sprouts, the soil is ready for planting. Its better than lying in the dirt to see if its warm enough to take a nap (My grandmother's theory)

@Dasiyl
grandma laid down on dirt to see if it was warm enough to take a nap ! Good one 😁
Made me remember what my grandpa use to do to see if ground was warm enough. Sit down on ground..... With bare butt !😮!
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