my chilli pepper seedlings have sprouted a week ago but are already in trouble?

[doodleman99]

So, i thought i'd try growing some chilli's for the first time and most of my seeds have sprouted after a week which is quite good for peppers (or so i've read).
they were all planted in pete pellets and kept in a heated propagator between 28-30 degrees C.
But the first leaves (not true leaves) are starting to curl in on themselves and a couple are going black and are practically dead.
im giving them a spray of water every night and have opened up the vents on the propagator for air. up on the windowsill during the day and away from the potential cold at night.
Im sure they are still too small to require the lid off the propagator or the need for repotting. when i feel the soil before i water it usually dry so i don't think im drowning them.
Is there something obvious that im doing wrong here?
http://i.imgur.com/MGwUfd1.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/9IAE6ZF.jpg

[roitelet]

I think that they are too wet and too warm and the dreaded damping off fungus has attacked. Better to start again in slightly cooler and less damp conditions. Don't spray with water each night, only water from the bottom when necessary.

[lottie dolly]

they do look rather wet,i stand to be corrected if am wrong,but,you can see water droplets on the seed leaves,and rather a lot of moisture on the prop it's self,it suggests to me that they need more air to,also look a bit leggy/tall,and that is not enough light,
i will be interested to hear what the prop experts say,as i have 1 to use this year,if i got it correctly,once they germinate,remove from the prop ????,

[Alison]

As soon as mine germinate I take out the propogator so that they get more light and less damp.

[sparrow100]

Same as Alison. I have the bonus of growlights too, so I know they are getting enough light. I otherwise give the trays of pots a tinfoil collar to reflect as much as possible and stop them going leggy.

[Scarlet]

^^^^same here. The propagator is used only for germination. Check everyday and as soon as you see a speck of green take them out smartish. Put them on a sunny windowsill during the day to grow on (I haven't got any lights) ensure they aren't in the cold draught during the night.

I'd start again.

[Philthy]

I keep my seedlings in the propagator until they are firmly established i.e. at least an inch high, but the vents are left open 24/7 shortly after germination. I regularly remove the propagator lids and tilt them so the condensation can run down and off. The air temperature even in daytime could be significantly less than in the propagator so the transition from a covered environment to open air might be better as a staggered process. If you shock the seedlings with a drastic temperature drop they may stop growing for a time. I'd reduce your propagator temperature if you can to about 20 degrees celcius. 28-30 celcius isn't necessary once seedlings are through and will become counter productive as the plants become leggy and weak and at renewed risk of damping off disease in the overly warm environment. Water the compost surface from below as previously suggested. Don't bother trying to spray water on individual pots; just pour a bit into the tray and the pots will absorb it. If you have standing water i.e. you've added more than can be absorbed pour out the excess. Compost / growing medium should be moist not wet.

[Tripmeup]

^^^^same here. The propagator is used only for germination. Check everyday and as soon as you see a speck of green take them out smartish. Put them on a sunny windowsill during the day to grow on (I haven't got any lights) ensure they aren't in the cold draught during the night.

I'd start again.

what she said..

Plus if you wanted, you could (overnight) for some weaker ones, leave them on the prop with the lid off.....

[bramble]

What Scarlet said. Follow her advice and you wont go wrong.
If they were mine I would start again. After all you want healthy plants and you have lots of time. Good luck.

[PyreneesPlot]

Mine are in an unheated prop and I too remove them once they are germinated, although they will go back in overnight as the house is unheated at night (log burner or sun during the day).

I would start again, there is plenty of time. I won't be sowing chillies, tomatoes or the rest of the tribe for two more weeks or so.