seedlings are not straight

[chilli_grower]

Attached are a couple of pics of some chilli and tomato seedlings.

They were all sowed on new years day, and have been under the grow lamp since germination.

One of the tomato plants towards the back right, is very straight and looks good, but a couple of the others are a bit sort of wobbly!

Any ideas why? And I assume this is ok? And is just natures way?

Thanks!!!

[veggiechicken]

Are they a bit leggy, CG? Should they be nearer the light?

[woody21]

They need to be nearer the light to stop them getting so tall and leggy. That cfl bulb will probably only cover one of those trays well enough to keep the seedlings fairly straight.

They are wanting more light and pointing leaves and new growth towards the strongest light. Any outside light when the lights are out, or strong light from a window and they will point towards it very quickly.

i go for 3-3.5 inches from the light with my linear tubes and thats working very well

[chilli_grower]

hmmmm, yes, the lamp is only really good for a small area.

That must be the problem.

I have been thinking if getting a T5 light fitting instead, as that offers good length.

I will look into it....

Cheers

[woody21]

Theres a few t5 lights reccomended in the home made growlights thread.

would light your whole area evenly and give enough light to grow them to 5 or 6 inches before needing sunlight.. half the price of a similar lightwave one too.

SUNBLAZER T5 4 x 24 w -2 foot HO Hydroponics Plant Propagation Grow LightWave | eBay

ebays search sucks and this is hard to find for some reason

[Potstubsdustbins]

Now where near enough light. You must correct the situation or you will loose the lot.

Potty

[redser]

I'd dump the leggiest ones myself and sow more, there's lots of time. Put some books under your tray to raise them to the light. I keep mine as close as possible without actually touching. It can be a problem keeping fast growers straight if you can't fit them under the middle of the light, so occasionally I rotate them so they all get middle light as often as possible. You should also encase the whole setup in a box painted matt white. This will help reflect the light around making them less reliant on the bulb light.

[chilli_grower]

New light fitting with 4 tubes on order....

Just hope the missus doesn't find out!

Yes, I will dump the rubbish ones, as I will be sowing more this weekend anyway....

Also, some of the chilli seeds have germinated, but without their baby leaves on them, I think they are called Cotyledons???? Will leaves grow? Or should I bin them????

Thank you

[Aberdeenplotter]

even if tomato seedlings are a bit spindly and wobbly, just pop them in a deeper pot and cover as much of the stem as possible. They will throw more roots from the stems and you will have a nice robust plant. Do get your seedlings into full light as soon as possible though otherwise they will all become spindly

[chilli_grower]

Hopefully the lamp will arrive on Monday.

Any ideas about the seedlings with no baby leaves on them???

Thank you

[Aberdeenplotter]

no leaves at all?

[chilli_grower]

nope, just a little green stump! (On 3 or 4 of them), but the others do have baby leaves.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I'm guessing your compost is too wet and you are getting a bit of damping off as the seedlings come through which is rotting the seed leaves off.

[rustylady]

The ones with no leaves at all won't grow any. Get rid.

[woody21]

The seedlings with no seed leaves probably wont survive but if they arent in the way theres no harm leaving them a few days to see what happens.
Do sow more seeds though as even if they survive its going to take them a while to catch up but they may be just runts and never grow properly.

Do Pack your cfl away safely as they are easy to break, and in a month or so once your plants have grown and need to be spread out a bit you could if needed move some plants under that, tomatoes would be best under the cfl as the thin leaves let more light through compared to the dense chilli leaves.

Did you go for the t5 light on ebay?