Caring for newly sprouted seeds

[ssummer]

Hello all, I am sort of confused on how to get sprouts to start growing. I have no problem germinating them but then they just stop growing totally. I am using a viperspectra p2000. Below are the conditions I am using to grow them after sprouting.
1. obviously removing humidity dome after sprouting
2. grow light sits about a foot away above the sprouts, but I have a par meter and all sprouts are getting about 300 PAR of light which from my research should be plenty
3. I water only from bottom using RO water only, I let the water wick up the soil then I empty out the rest of water. I do this about once a week
4. I am using an organic seed starting mix.
5. i am trying to grow 10 different types of tobacco and it is always the same Result so I don’t believe I could have a bad strain/seed
They sprout, 6-8 weeks go by and they barely develop 2 leafs and the plants are about half an inch tall. basically after germinating their growth seems to be stunted

 

[wruk53]

4. I am using an organic seed starting mix.

I would guess that your seedling mix is the problem. Try mixing your own: 2 parts peat moss, 2 parts perlite and one part vermiculite. Water with a 1/4 strength Miricle grow for tomatoes with just a few grains of added Epsom salts.
The photo shows what mine look like at about 5 weeks using the above mix.

 

[Sergey Ukraine]

I don't know if you sell ready-made soil for seedlings, but I think you should.
I use a ready-made soil mixture for tomatoes, pH 5.5-6.5, and have never had any problems. Lighting is provided by standard cold spectrum household lamps. I keep them under plastic wrap until they reach a height of 1 cm to create a greenhouse effect. The soil already contains the necessary elements for growth. After about 2-3 weeks, I apply the first feeding with potassium monophosphate. Water as the soil dries out. The temperature is 22-24 degrees Celsius. After 6 weeks, they are ready for planting in the garden.

 

[ssummer]

I don't know if you sell ready-made soil for seedlings, but I think you should.
I use a ready-made soil mixture for tomatoes, pH 5.5-6.5, and have never had any problems. Lighting is provided by standard cold spectrum household lamps. I keep them under plastic wrap until they reach a height of 1 cm to create a greenhouse effect. The soil already contains the necessary elements for growth. After about 2-3 weeks, I apply the first feeding with potassium monophosphate. Water as the soil dries out. The temperature is 22-24 degrees Celsius. After 6 weeks, they are ready for planting in the garden.

View attachment 57735

Awesome thanks so much, can I ask at what point in time you will transfer them from their small cells into larger cups before moving outside/ and how large of cups or containers or what not are you keeping them in

 

[ssummer]

I would guess that your seedling mix is the problem. Try mixing your own: 2 parts peat moss, 2 parts perlite and one part vermiculite. Water with a 1/4 strength Miricle grow for tomatoes with just a few grains of added Epsom salts.
The photo shows what mine look like at about 5 weeks using the above mix.

Oh wow thanks, how do you know when to water? are they on a schedule? Or do you have a specific way to gauge it? I know when it’s dry but I cant necessarily life the plant up to see if the soil beneath is dry haha

 

[wruk53]

how do you know when to water?

I just go by the weight of the tray, when it starts feeling kind of light, I flood the bottom tray and let it sit for 15 minutes or so to soak water up into the seedling mix, then pour the excess water out of the bottom tray. No particular schedule, just as needed.

 

[Sergey Ukraine]

Awesome thanks so much, can I ask at what point in time you will transfer them from their small cells into larger cups before moving outside/ and how large of cups or containers or what not are you keeping them in

I sift the soil through a 4-5 mm sieve to remove lumps and large pieces of peat. I pour it into a container with a depth of at least 5 cm. I water it so that the soil is completely saturated with moisture, pour a fungicide solution on top, and leave it for 1 day. I sow the seeds and label the container by variety (I number them). I place the containers in a container and cover them with a lid for a greenhouse effect.



I monitor the soil moisture, making sure it doesn't dry out, but I don't overwater it either. After 1-2 weeks, depending on the freshness of the seeds, they are already this size and ready to be transplanted into separate 70-100 ml containers.

Seven to ten days after transplanting, I apply the first potassium monophosphate fertilizer, and then a second application 10-14 days later.


These are ready-to-plant seedlings for planting in the ground. The container volume for 1 plant is the same - 70-100 ml.


Planting in the ground. The distance between plants is about 35-40 cm.

 

[StoneCarver]

1. obviously removing humidity dome after sprouting
3. I water only from bottom using RO water only, I let the water wick up the soil then I empty out the rest of water. I do this about once a week

I would recommend keeping the humidity dome on and don't let the soil dry out. Hand misting is fine and don't bother emptying the rest of the water unless its real deep. I use a food take out container to sprout my seeds in. There are no holes in the bottom or the lid. I hand mist to water. I leave the lid on till the plants are just too big for it which is about 1.5inch tall. When I do remove the lid, I have to water just about every day because the soil dries and the plants droop. Have you measured the pH of your water? Do you have any experience with sprouting vegetable seeds like tomatoes and peppers?

 

[GreenDragon]

I don't see any mention of when you are fertilizing them. Seed starting mix has little to no fertilizer added - this is intentional. The seedlings have their own store of nutrients in the seed to get them started, and their baby roots are delicate and can be easily burned by the amount of fertilizer found in potting mixes. However, they will quickly burn through their stores and you will need to start providing fertilizer to them when watering. I usually five them a shot of 25% diluted Miracle Grow once the first true leaves form, and then every two weeks.

Also, unless your water is crazy hard, I would not water exclusively with RO water, especially for seedlings: you could be pulling nutrients OUT of the plants. Tap water should be fine for the first month or so.