Yellow leaves on tomato seedlings

[Ader1]

I've got some Alicante tomato seedlings growing in the conservatory and on the window sill indoors. They're grwoing in individual posts with Westland Multi-purpose compost ("Enriched with nutrients for healthier plants"). All the leaves are yellow in colour and a few of them are a little curled. I haven't spotted any black spots or any spiders on them. I water them every day; a little water in each pot. They're not grwoing that much either. What do you think may be the problem?

(I've tried to upload a pic but I'm having a 'driver' problem)

[rustylady]

How long have they been in the pots Ader? And what size are the pots?

You shouldn't water every day, specially "just a little". You need to water by standing the pots in a tray of water and allowing them to take up what they need. The idea is to encourage the roots to grow down into the compost.

[Ader1]

Thanks for replying. They've been in there 4 weeks and the posts are 3 inch ones and 3.5 inch deep. What do you think I should do? Change to what you suggest as from tomorrow? How often do you then put them in a tray of water to take up what they need? They are in those pots which decompose.....forgotten the name momentarily.

PS I think you helped me with my chillies too! Which are now looking a little better. Should they be watered in the same way?

[chris]

Look underneath the pots - if the roots are poking out of the drainage holes then you'll need to repot them into larger pots.

You can pot them in deep too - they'll root from the stem.

[rustylady]

The decomposing pots used to be made of compressed peat - not sure what they're made of now. I stopped using them years ago because it's so hard to keep things evenly watered in them. Too wet and they go mouldy and slimy, and too dry and they suck moisture out of the compost.

I use plastic pots now, but the pot size should be fine.

You need to stand them in a tray of water and leave them until they've had a good soak and taken up as much water as they can. Might take a couple of hours. Then have a feel to gauge how heavy they are. After that it's just a matter of lifting them gently every couple of days or so. When they feel a bit light (but not completely dry) give them another "bath".

And yes, the same treatment for the chillies - in fact any plants you're growing in pots or modules.

[Ader1]

Thank you both for your replies. Just one last question. From the symptoms I've given, we're more or less sure that it's a watering issue?

[chris]

Without seeing pictures, I'm almost certain - and as RL thinks the same - yep.

The curling of the leaves is normal.

[Ader1]

OK thanks. If I manage to sort out my camera phone I'll post some pics later today. :-)

[chris]

You might find this useful: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...deo_57098.html - pretty much what RL says, but with a video

[Dusty Rhodes]

Tomato plant leaves will droop when they need water. Use a moisture gauge or poke around in the soil with your finger to see how wet the soil is. For the most part, you should be able to tell if it's wet just by observing the colour of the surface soil. Don't water if they're still wet!

Some fresh potting soil in a sterile cup might save them...they sound critical and something must be done immediately. After repotting, a mild shot of tomato fertiliser might be in order.

[esbo]

I have some which are a bit yellow, may be over watering or maybe they have out grown the pots.
Some of my pots were very small so maybe a bit of both.
I think over-watering washes the nutrients out of the compost and and gives then a 'washed out'
look.

I am in the process of re-potting them into bigger pots with more compost and hopefully that will help
if I can resist the temptation to water them to much!

I'm probably killing them with kindness, I will try the pot lifting trick before I water again.

I have them in all shades of green and different sizes, one in particular is growing like mad but a few
others look rather stunted.

[Ader1]

Thank you all. I have re-potted most of them and I'm not sure if they look a little better or is it my imagination? The remaining ones have their roots beginning to emerge through the bottom of the de-gradeable pots. Can I still re-pot as this will mean the tips of their roots will be broken off when separating the old de-gradeable pots from the plants?

[rustylady]

It will take a day or two for them to really start looking better Ader.

As for re-potting the ones in the degradable pots, the idea is to sink the whole thing (pot and all) into the new compost not pick the pot off.

[bario1]

Can I still re-pot as this will mean the tips of their roots will be broken off when separating the old de-gradeable pots from the plants?

I've been wodering this too - can you just repot as is into a larger pot?

[rustylady]

I've been wodering this too - can you just repot as is into a larger pot?

Yes, that's what the degradable pots are for.