Plant problem - seedlings stretching and drooping
- Thread starter Rubin
- Start date
Sunshine
Organic Fanatic
- Aug 7, 2017
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Welcome to FC Rubin 
I can see a few issues here my friend. The droopiness is caused by overwatering/lack of oxygen to the roots, the only remedy is to repot immediately into a good soil with plenty of perlite and water in gently with half a plastic cup of liquid. If this is not possible then you must absolutely stop watering them until they perk back up.
If there are no drainage holes in the bottom of the cups get them out of there ASAP as they will die if left.
The other thing that stands out is that the seedlings are stretching a lot, this means they are searching for light, which in turn means there isn't enough light.
Are you using only natural light? if so it's not strong enough. You need to get either a cfl or an off the shelf led light bulb on them, you can buys these for a desk lamp you may have lying around and jimmy something together.
Good luck with your grow, any other questions don't hesitate to ask!
I can see a few issues here my friend. The droopiness is caused by overwatering/lack of oxygen to the roots, the only remedy is to repot immediately into a good soil with plenty of perlite and water in gently with half a plastic cup of liquid. If this is not possible then you must absolutely stop watering them until they perk back up.
If there are no drainage holes in the bottom of the cups get them out of there ASAP as they will die if left.
The other thing that stands out is that the seedlings are stretching a lot, this means they are searching for light, which in turn means there isn't enough light.
Are you using only natural light? if so it's not strong enough. You need to get either a cfl or an off the shelf led light bulb on them, you can buys these for a desk lamp you may have lying around and jimmy something together.
Good luck with your grow, any other questions don't hesitate to ask!
- Thread starter
- #3
Thank you for your reply i have a couple drainage holes in the bottom of the cups i have them in a dish that i add water to and the water goes in the holes to water my plants. I was using natural light in the beginning but i have an led light now about 4 inches away from the top of my plants. I do have another question tho would it be ok if i used miracle grow soil for my plants
Sunshine
Organic Fanatic
- Aug 7, 2017
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Get the miracle grow organic range, they aren't bad at all but do add plenty of perlite ie around 30% for good drainage
I'd be looking to repot them as soon as possible in the new medium, when you do this bury up to just under the first set of leaves.
I'd be looking to repot them as soon as possible in the new medium, when you do this bury up to just under the first set of leaves.
Sunshine
Organic Fanatic
- Aug 7, 2017
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It's not essential at the seedling stage but optimum temperature is important so if the fan helps with temps keep using it, if not turn it off for a few weeks
- Thread starter
- #7
I transplanted 6 of my plants into miracle gro potting soil they were not root bound yet idk if they will keep growing or not but i transplanted them anyways i am waiting for the other 4 to get root bound before i transplant them but i transplanted 6 of them and lightly watered them
Sunshine
Organic Fanatic
- Aug 7, 2017
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You mentioned you had an led, what's the wattage?
For young plants a distance of 60cm/2ft will be fine but if the light is quite low wattage you'll want it about 14inches/35cm from the plants.
Can you take a pic of the light you have?
*edit to add centimeter conversion
For young plants a distance of 60cm/2ft will be fine but if the light is quite low wattage you'll want it about 14inches/35cm from the plants.
Can you take a pic of the light you have?
*edit to add centimeter conversion
Last edited:
Sunshine
Organic Fanatic
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The light you've got is around 14watts looking at similar ones on ebay, these lights are not good for growing as a single light source, only really as supplemental lighting, they have a ton of very low intensity diodes that have very little power.
You need to get that light 10 inches max from the plants or there will not be anything like enough light. I'd start shopping around for a better light or consider using off the shelf 13-14w led lightbulbs which will give you much better results than your existing unit. Good luck!
You need to get that light 10 inches max from the plants or there will not be anything like enough light. I'd start shopping around for a better light or consider using off the shelf 13-14w led lightbulbs which will give you much better results than your existing unit. Good luck!
Sunshine
Organic Fanatic
- Aug 7, 2017
- 3,814
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Congratulations on finding a girl @Rubin To make her bushier you can lower the light closer to the plant, it needs more light to grow thick stems and limbs, you can also top the plant ie pinch out the terminal growing tip which will encourage secondary branching ?
Also cut back on the waterings, the droopiness means she's a little bit on the wet side so let her dry out a bit to perk the leaves up ?
To make her bushier you can lower the light closer to the plant, it needs more light to grow thick stems and limbs, you can also top the plant ie pinch out the terminal growing tip which will encourage secondary branching ?Also cut back on the waterings, the droopiness means she's a little bit on the wet side so let her dry out a bit to perk the leaves up ?
