sad seedlings

[skell43]

Am new to this and was very excited when lots of the seeds I'd planted (Basil/Tomatoes/PakChoi/salad leaves) came up after only a few days.
Keep fussing over them,but now they have reached a couple of inches high,some are looking very sad.
Any ideas what I do next anyone??

[terrier]

Hi skell43 and welcome to the forum. What do you mean by sad?? Either post some pics or a good description of the problem. As seedlings germinate, they need very little water and loads and loads of light, other wise they will go 'leggy' and fall over. Is this the problem?

[skell43]

sad seedlings

Am spraying them all the time , so perhaps I should let them dry out a bit.Thanks for the tip.

[ClayGarden]

Are they wimping a bit? I think they need water. Apparently spraying is bad too, it mostly evaporates. Put them in a tray and water from below. I'm very new to this, but its done wonders to my herbs and small plants. Only found out myself recently about this.

Welcome by the way to the forum

[smallblueplanet]

....Put them in a tray and water from below...

If you water like this be careful not to leave them standing in water or they'll be too wet. If they're starting to fall over and its not due to lack of water (or too much water & getting 'damping off') then are they getting enough light? Try to give them as much light as possible without getting them so hot they crisp! It'll get easier as they get bigger and are more able to deal with 'extreme' conditions.

[nerobot]

I had to sow a second batch of basil because first one just stopped growing at 1" and didn't look very well.

Steven

[momol]

sorry to hear that Skell, if they are really that leggy and weak, it is better to sow new seeds. This time, let them to a sunnier locations. Brassica and salad love cool air, and lots of light (but don't over or under water), Tomato and basil likes warm and sunny location. Good luck !

[skell43]

sad seedlings

Have gone with the advice to stop watering and have to say that they all look better already ! Have also put them out in better light so think that all the good advice may have saved them.
What a brilliant site,and thanks everyone who posted.

[palborn]

You've already seem to have the answer to your problem but I thought I'd add one more thing. Remember to increase the size of the container they're in if you still want them to grow! When my tomato seedlings seemed to stop growing I realised they were still in their small pots and didn't have room for their roots to grow, doh! Changed to larger pots and now they're doing much better.

[Bramble Lover]

Mine have also grown to a decent size and then seemed to have started wilting.

Im torn between thinking im watering too much or not enough.

I have my grow bags ready......is it too early to transfer to these or should I wait till I get some flowers?

Im new to all this as well.

Im growing in the greenhouse by the way.

[smallblueplanet]

If the roots are visible out the bottom of the pot then you can pot them on. If the compost is dry - the pot & plant feel lightweight/the compost when you stick your finger under the surface is dry then they need water. More stuff will die from being overwatered I reckon, so err on the dry side.