What causes seedlings to wilt?

10 years ago

Hi all. This is my first year starting seeds, and things were going well until recently. Some of my seedlings are beginning to wilt. Some wilted a couple weeks in after I missed a watering, so I attributed the loss to that. But now I have a couple of tomato seedling that started wilting the day after I watered (see photos below). So, what causes seedlings to wilt, and what are the common ways of preventing or treating it?

A little bit about my set-up: started 3.5 weeks ago, seedlings are indoors under grow lights. Lights are on/off for 18/6 hours a day. The soil (jiffy seed starter mix and ~equal part perlite) stays at about 60 F, but for the first three weeks the soil was about 65-75 F with a heating pad. A small fan is nearby that I run periodically.

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Comments (4)

GardenHo_MI_Z5
10 years ago
Hard to say for sure, but they sure look very dry. Too much fert?

Try watering and what doesn't perk up...trim off.

Good luck!
Cathy S. thanked GardenHo_MI_Z5
digdirt2
10 years ago
I already posted this on your other post of this question but IMO they are root bound and well past transplanting into larger containers - especially the ones with multiples in the plug. I really don't like the looks of that growing mix though - what is it? In picture it appears to be abnormal color and texture. Looks like garden dirt or something.

Can't tell what size plug try you are using but they are normally just for germination, not growing in unless they are one of the 38 cell tray or larger.

Dave
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GardenHo_MI_Z5
10 years ago
Mix looks like it's heavy with peat and dry as a bone.

Dave, do think a good bottom soaking, transpant, thin and trim could possibly save some?
shawn b
10 years ago
I would think water and get them off the heating pad since they are up