Need Help for my Struggling Seedlings!!

10 years ago

Hi everybody, I need help! This is my first year growing under lights and I am having a huge issue.

My tomato Seedlings that are about 5 weeks old are curling down and inward and yellowing and drying out at the tips! Im not sure whether its the air in my house, my watering, over/under, the soil I have, or my fertilization (or lack thereof at the point) I will post pics below.

However the pepper plants that were started alongside with the tomatoes seem to be doing just fine, with all the same conditions.

My soil was homemade with about twenty percent vermiculite, twenty percent perlite, fifty percent Coco coir and about ten percent worm castings.

I tend to water only when the pots are super light and usually bottom water, but sometimes top water. The air temperature is around 65 degrees up to about 70 degrees.

They are under lights for an average of 15 hours and then off for 9

I have a feeling that maybe I need to fertilize, that the ten percent worm castings isn't enough, but then why are my peppers fine?

Also if I do need fertilize, what to use? I am growing without the use of synthetics products, so any suggestions in the organic realm would be greatly appreciated.

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Comments (3)

Labradors
10 years ago
They look incredibly dry and they probably do need some fertilizer. I would give them a really good soaking. Bottom water, let them soak it up until the medium is moist on the top, then you can take them out of the container and drain out any excess.

Perhaps some kelp and/or fish emulsion would be good.

Next season, it might be better to find a soil less mix with added nutrients. I really like Pro Max for veggies which has nutrients and is organic, but I am in Canada so we get different varieties here.

Linda
Julia_WI Zone 5b
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
This is my second year of growing tomatoes, so what I said may not be all correct, but at least that is what I feel.

Your soil mix looks OK, but your seedlings need nutrients badly. Your seedlings are way too small for 5 weeks old. My 5 weeks seedlings are like this: (seeded on March 8/9, and photo taken on April 12)

Looks like your indoor lighting is not sufficient and you may consider to move the lights closer to the plants. It's better to create a relatively enclosed space for the seedlings to grow, so the temperature can be a little higher when the lights on. My seedlings grow at 75-85F degree when lights on and 65F when lights off.

I don't know what's wrong with synthetics fertilizer. The plants just need N, P, K. They can't tell if they come from natural products or synthetics ones. For indoor seedlings, I don't use organic fertilizers at all. They smell and slow. I used 1/4-1/2 strength miracle-grow all purpose to give my seedlings a quick, clean and more balanced boost. I use organic fertilizers too, but only outdoor.

Compared to peppers, tomato seedlings usually grow faster and bigger, so they need more nutrients to support growth.
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donna_in_sask
10 years ago
I've been using Promix potting mix for the past couple of years, and I swear by it. Also, when I first started using grow lights, I read that you needed a warm and cool bulb...and my plants looked a lot like yours. Switched to all bright cool lights and the plants thrived. If I wanted them to flower inside, there may be an issue, but to grow to transplant size, I just use what has worked for me.