You water when the plants need it. Not very helpful, I know, but there is no schedule we can tell you. The top of the soil can be dry and there can be plenty of moisture under the surface. Just be aware that the most common reason for failure is over watering, not under. Plants can perk up if they're thirsty but they can't recover from drowning.

If you can show us a photo maybe we can help further.

Thank you for commenting!

I x-posted this in 'growing tomatoes' and received some helpful feedback. :)

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3795340/watering-of-seedlings-x-posted?n=9

Seems like you are correct, floral, there is no set timing for watering as everyone's potting/mix/light/temp conditions are so variable.

This is my first time growing under lights and indoors so I am making my fair share of mistakes/lessons so far.

Everyone on the forum has been super helpful and I intend on passing it along when I become a more seasoned grower.

Thanks again and happy growing!

Depends on many things.... what kind of soil, what material the containers, air temp. etc. What I find helpful is picking up the container when freshly watered to feel the weight, then water when the container feels light. Check the weight every day so you become accustom to the differences. Right now, I find I need to water my seedlings about 2 times a week... Mine started out under lights but now they go outside during the day and under the lights in the morning until I go to work and then outside until the evening and then under the lights again. It is not quite warm enough at night to leave them out but I will be doing that soon. Your seedlings need to be hardened-off before you plant them in the garden and that is what I am doing with gradually getting them accustomed to outside temps and light.

"one of the varieties of tomato plant is losing it's lower leaves (dropping right off) for some reason. IDK if that is normal or not"

Not in plants less than 2 months old. The cause is difficult for me to diagnose because I just don't see that happen. Maybe, a deficiency of magnesium or nitrogen but I wouldn't bet on it.

"Your seedlings need to be hardened-off before you plant them in the garden and that is what I am doing with gradually getting them accustomed to outside temps and light."

I am sorry but I really hate to see anyone do unnecessary work. There is no need to accustom a tomato seedling to temperature, and, provided the seedlings were grown under a light source with sufficiently intense blue light, there is no need to accustom the plant to sunlight. For over a decade, I grew my seedlings under 50 watts/square foot of fluorescent light and, without any kind of acclimatization, transplanted them into the ground, often in direct sunlight, without problems. But, I once I grew a tomato seedling 1 foot under a 1000 watt HPS bulb (no blue) and when I brought it outdoors, it scorched and died within a few hours under the sun. Hence, I believe that blue light helps a plant develop pigments that protect it from ultraviolet.

Thank you both for your insightful comments!

I went ahead and watered them a little. Not too much but just so they received a little.

Hopefully i'm not making another mistake (again) and overwatering, but I figured a little bit of water isn't as bad as soaking them....right?!

As far as hardening them off, I have no idea when the weather will be agreeable enough to plant out. As far as I know, where I live is zone 6-7, so it may be at the end of April before it is 'safe' enough to plant out.

Kind of eager to get them out, however, because they are kind of getting big and leggy...but I wanted to know how to safely plant out/cover them in case of another frost.

I've seen plant covers in magazines that look like half gallon miilk jugs upside down to cover the plant. Would that work? What is a safe way to plant out (even if there is still a frost?)

Fingers crossed these seedlings will 'make it' to transplant.

Thanks again! :)