Am I watering too often?

[mikon_warrior]

Hi there
Sorry to ask a silly question but this is my first season with a GH...
I have been popping up to my gh once a day (some times everyother) to water my little seedlings but have noticed that some of the cells have a layer of green goo on top of the compost. Obviously the sunlight is making it go slimy, The rose on my watering can likes to water everything in sight even when im aiming for the dryer pots... will it hurt anything? my seedlings look healthy enough.

[workhorse]

Hi mikon_warrior

Try not water from the top, especially if the seedlings are small. Stand the tray in water and let it soak until the compost starts to darken. Remember the roots are at the bottom, not the top.
Another tip is to feel the weight of the trays. This will give you and idea whether they need watering.

[shirlthegirl43]

What Workhorse said

[gemlady]

Hi Yep my first GH too and I had the same problem. Asked on the vine and got the same replies as you. Everything is still alive but I'm now watering from the bottom.

[nick the grief]

I only water when they need it so big plants in small cells need watering more than a freshly pricked out seedling.

Plants are like you, they need moisture and oxygen to survive and as the compost dries it draws oxygen in to the soil. If you keep the compost wet all the time the roots will basically drown so give them a good watering in to ensure they are settled in and then leave them till they need it again - may be a couple of days depending.

You'll find that you eventually need to water more and more as they make more root and dry the compost out.

[Matt.]

You'll find that you eventually need to water more and more as they make more root and dry the compost out.

Everything posted above I agree with in terms of how to water. The key thing is this comment. Don't flog yourself now and then get sick of it. You probably need to water once a week at present but during mid summer once a day is almost a must. Also don't forget seedlings are quite delicate. Leaving them alone for a few days rather than bashing them about with water will do them no harm.

[Cutecumber]

Greenery on the top of the compost occurs when there is little air movement - the compost doesn't have to be sopping wet.

Try and ventilate during the day.

[mikon_warrior]

Thanks for the great advice, I will have to pop to the shops to get some trays without holes!!! let some dry out a little then water from the bottom.... why does it have to be so complicated

[mikon_warrior]

Grrrrr, i tried doing this but my brother didnt level the area when he put up my greenhouse and now everything is at a tilt - i tried to even out my table in there but it didnt help much so my water collects in one side of the tray now!!!

I feel abit deflated, and thinking that a greenhouse maybe to hard!!! its a lot easier to buy seedlings when they are ready to plant!!!

[smallblueplanet]

What type of seedlings are you having problems with mikon_w? Don't be deflated, having a greenhouse is great for toms & peppers & chillis & aubs & melons & cukes and lots of stuff!

[mikon_warrior]

Hi,
Currently in my greenhouse i have:
Broccoli - doing well
Brussels - doing well
Peppers - not too bad although very small
Chillies - not through yet
French beans - these are just coming through
Runner beans - these are just coming through
Sweetcorn - these are looking a little poorly - the edges f the leaves are yellowing slightly, might have to start again
leeks - not through yet
dahlias - not too bad

i might get a decorating table to see if thats easier to level than my other one (an old dinning table).

The watering process seems very confusing.... which isnt being helped by my uneven surface!

[smallblueplanet]

Okay, how warm is your g/h?

Seeds like chillis/peppers need relatively warm temps to germinate and grow well, as I believe does sweetcorn. Someone on the 'vegging out' section is asking whether they can put their sweetcorn out into a mini-g/h. We've started all our chillis/peppers in warm (19C) temps in the dining room and have only just been taking them in and out of our unheated g/h. Our toms have just started spending the night in the g/h (covered with fleece).

We started all these from seeds, normally using seed compost with a fine sprinkling of vermiculite on top to keep them moist, but not damp. Some but not all were started in a heated propagator. Those in the heated prop will have had some moisture from standing on capillary matting, but the rest have been gently watered from the top. Perhaps it is the temp your stuff is at rather than how you water, I don't know because we don't start ours in a g/h.

Not sure why your leeks aren't through, except maybe overwatered? They don't need warm temps and maybe more easy to get wrong. We grow our onions, shallots (seeds) and leeks in propagators that take water from capillary matting below them. (These are the only things we do like this cos they tend to be started early when its cold and so is easier to get the watering wrong and rot the seeds.

Edit - just noticed that you said about trays with holes - if you've been watering from above and the water has nowhere to drain, either out of the pot or out of the pot/tray then you will have problems with roots rotting, if they're standing in water.

[mikon_warrior]

Hi,
Thanks for this - the tempreture in my gh has been to -2 and up to 30 this past couple of weeks, i think thats why my sweetcorn has suffered from the cold...im looking forward to when the weather is more reliable.
I have seed trays with holes but i bought a few bigger trays without for when i start 'watering from the bottom.' (if i ever get it level!)

My compost might be a problem i bought miracle grow multi purpose by accident, i posted on a different forum and they said it shouldnt matter - maybe it doesnt drain well enough or is too rich.......

[Flummery]

Multi purpose is fine - I use it for seed sowing too. However, I'd echo what people have said about drainage.

If it's getting towards or even below freezing your corn and beans won't like it - nor will toms and peppers. I'm still bringing mine into the house at night. They need the daylight in the greenhouse or they get spindly and drawn, but I gave them a couple of nights - only down to 5 degrees - covered in fleece this weekend because we had people here and needed the dining table! and I can see that some of them aren't happy. They are coming in at nights again.

[mrs dog]

I have had to put my broad beans in a black recycle box outside because I've run out of room. As to the table in the greenhouse. Use the tried and tested method of putting beermats under the wobbly end if you cant get them (eec) folded envelopes will do the trick. Good luck.