they've put out 4 new leaves each since i got them on January 13. I found spider mites on a small echinopsis i have, took care of it and they were gone in a day. haven't seen any on these guys or my other plants, but i'll check again.

edit: forgot to add, they are not on a heat mat, but they are under cool lights for usually 14-16 hours a day.

I keep my grow area in the 80's, and always have a fan running to circulate the air.

Rob

Unfortunately my grow area is in my bedroom until it's warm enough to go outside. I keep my ceiling fan on high 24/7 though, and the shelf i use is a type of ladder shelf, so there is plenty of air circulation. they even get about an hour of direct morning sun from 7-8am. do you think the yellow leaves are from the temperature?

I suspect they may not be getting enough water if no mites. I had the same issue with my seedlings. I was not watering enough, out of fear that I would rot them! The leaves started to yellow and die back and the caudex started to shrivel. It has caused my seedlings to be rather tiny after over wintering (at 6 months of age) but also maybe to produce a lot of lateral shoots. Mine too were brought in and put onto lighted shelves until warmer weather.

I also learned that if a seedling dies back and looses all it's leaves, don't toss it. Just water it lightly and wait, and you are likely to see new shoots later. Just like an older plant having gone dormant, so do not fret.

Alyssa,

The temperature you have them at is sufficient and the lighting will hopefully assist them from going dormant.

When I see any of my plants showing signs such as yours. I think, dormancy depending on the time of year (fall/winter), below the soil line (drainage, lack of & lack of air to roots), pests.

If it is the lower leaves effected and not the new leaves, I just observe for a period of time checking caudex firmness. This time of year, even with artificial lighting is does not give the optimum conditions to be getting the same type of growth than in the summer outside. Receiving high light levels and warm temps.

Your set up sounds perfectly fine to me and unless you want to invest in a large lighting and heating set up. Your plants will just grow slow or sit until natural light and heat levels increase.

Rick

Thank you guys! I think it may be a combination of insufficient watering and lack of air to the roots. I was checking them this morning before watering and it seems my mix has compacted slightly. I will repot into a lighter, grittier mix when it is warmer outside--it's 19 degrees F this morning, LOL!

The caudex should be firm, and seedlings of this age can take a good amount of water. You should also be fertilizing them lightly by now. It wouldn't hurt to put a small lamp of any kind up there to keep them company.

Rob

Rob,

My first reply says that they are under lights, if that's what you mean. Also, the original post says I fertilized for the first time Tuesday, and I stated that I water them when the caudex gets slightly soft but will water more often now. Thank you!

Alyssa, it's March ... Spring is on its way. Yaaaay! Hang on!!