Early seedling problem

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Woodyfox

New Member
I keep having what looks like the same problem with seedlings as soon as they sprout. The leaves curl down and get dark green and shiny, and then turn yellow from the tips in and eventually die. They are germinated by soaking in water for 12 to 24 hours and then placed in a damp paper towel for a day or 2 until the tap root is about a 1/4 inch long. Then planted in Foxfarm Happy Frog soil mixed with 40% perlite and watered with about an ounce of dechlorinated tap water at 6.5pH as needed (usually around every 3 days). Temp is around 22 to 25 Celsius, RH is around 55% and under a 185W LED grow light at 45 inches away from seedlings. I had originally thought it was damping off and or over watering but I’ve cut back on water and had no change other then under watered seedlings. There has been no nutes added but the only other problem it seems like it could be is nitrogen toxicity.
First 2 pics are of same plant about 5 days apart, it’s actually almost 40 days old.
Second 2 are from the next plant also about 5 days apart, this plant is about a week old.
The last pic is of a third plant that just broke soil yesterday.
Please help I’ve lost over 6 seedlings to this issue already.
 

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How big is the grow space, the light may not be enough for the grow space which further compounds the situation.
 
Woodyfox said:
I keep having what looks like the same problem with seedlings as soon as they sprout. The leaves curl down and get dark green and shiny, and then turn yellow from the tips in and eventually die. They are germinated by soaking in water for 12 to 24 hours and then placed in a damp paper towel for a day or 2 until the tap root is about a 1/4 inch long. Then planted in Foxfarm Happy Frog soil mixed with 40% perlite and watered with about an ounce of dechlorinated tap water at 6.5pH as needed (usually around every 3 days). Temp is around 22 to 25 Celsius, RH is around 55% and under a 185W LED grow light at 45 inches away from seedlings. I had originally thought it was damping off and or over watering but I’ve cut back on water and had no change other then under watered seedlings. There has been no nutes added but the only other problem it seems like it could be is nitrogen toxicity.
First 2 pics are of same plant about 5 days apart, it’s actually almost 40 days old.
Second 2 are from the next plant also about 5 days apart, this plant is about a week old.
The last pic is of a third plant that just broke soil yesterday.
Please help I’ve lost over 6 seedlings to this issue already.
Click to expand...
That is the exact soil I use but only 10% perlite because it already has perlite in it.
 
It’s a 3X3 tent but moving to a 4X4 tent for flowering. Also the light is a 1000W HSP equivalent and is supposed to be good for a 3X3 to 4X4 space. I have 1 plant that is a month old that seemed to survive this in the same space and other then showing signs of deficiency this last week it’s been doing fine at the same distance.

The following pics are the life span so far (27 days old) of the one plant the has survived the issue I’ve been having.
 

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Woodyfox said:
It’s a 3X3 tent but moving to a 4X4 tent for flowering. Also the light is a 1000W HSP equivalent and is supposed to be good for a 3X3 to 4X4 space. I have 1 plant that is a month old that seemed to survive this in the same space and other then showing signs of deficiency this last week it’s been doing fine at the same distance.
Click to expand...
Look up the specs on the LED and see what the actual wattage is, not the supposed to be watts. They lie, lol. Even if it is correct it is still way too far away from the plants.
 
As for the 158 on Amazon and me saying 185, I’m going by the manual that came with it, same for the distances and space I’ve been going off what the manual recommends.
 
Woodyfox said:
Actual watts are 185 but equivalent of 1000 watt HSP.

SUNRAISE 1000W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Indoor Plants Veg and Flower LED Grow Lamp with Daisy Chain Design Triple-Chips LED (15W LED 96pcs): Amazon.ca: Patio, Lawn & Garden

Find products from SUNRAISE at low prices. Shop online for barbecues, mowers, garden tools, generators, snow blowers and more at Amazon.ca
www.amazon.ca
Click to expand...
Hey, do as you wish. How is that working for you? Just joking. I also use Chinese LED's, have been for many years. I just grow for my own medical use. The actual watts are what you should use in your calculations. I have 3 of those 1000 watt lights, actual specs are 115, in a 3 x 2 x 5 tent and have not lost a plant yet. At least lower the light to 18" There is no measurable photosynthesis taking place.
 
I have these, paid $79 a pair and consider them throw away and will use the frames to build better lights when they go bad but they just keeping working, lol
 

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I’ll lower them to 18” and keep updating the progress. My hopes was to do a continuous grow, right now my set up is is a 3X3X6 tent with one of the sunrise lights for veg and a 4X4X7 tent with a second sunrise light for flowering (if I can ever make it there).
 
Woodyfox said:
I’ll lower them to 18” and keep updating the progress. My hopes was to do a continuous grow, right now my set up is is a 3X3X6 tent with one of the sunrise lights for veg and a 4X4X7 tent with a second sunrise light for flowering (if I can ever make it there).
Click to expand...
Feel the soil or use a moisture meter, $8 Amazon, to make sure the soil is drying before you water again, and no nutes. That soil has plenty in it for a few weeks at least. You sure don't need root rot, lol
 
I’ve been keeping a very close watch on soil moisture I water just a little when the soil is dry at least 1/2 inch down, I actually had one seedling fall over for half a day because it was under watered.
 
Woodyfox said:
It’s a 3X3 tent but moving to a 4X4 tent for flowering. Also the light is a 1000W HSP equivalent and is supposed to be good for a 3X3 to 4X4 space. I have 1 plant that is a month old that seemed to survive this in the same space and other then showing signs of deficiency this last week it’s been doing fine at the same distance.
Click to expand...
The bigger ones need to be transplanted also or they are going to get root bound
 
Only the one has gotten past the second set of true leaves but I’m planning on transplanting it soon if it keeps growing at a healthy rate.

Edit: the second post with a set of pics is the life span of the only plant to recover from the issue I seem to be having.
 
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Update: after a day the one plant that has gotten past my seedling issue had the top set of leaves start to taco and the other 3 small ones looked about the same. so moved light back to 22” and after a second day the leaves that started to taco have not gotten any worse but the most exciting part is that the other 3 small ones have started new growth and the leaves that were curling under are starting to uncurl. I have high hopes my problem has been the light was too far away due to bad manufacturers recommendations.

Thanks to everyone for the help and I’ll continue to update you on the grow.
 
Woodyfox said:
It’s a 3X3 tent but moving to a 4X4 tent for flowering. Also the light is a 1000W HSP equivalent and is supposed to be good for a 3X3 to 4X4 space. I have 1 plant that is a month old that seemed to survive this in the same space and other then showing signs of deficiency this last week it’s been doing fine at the same distance.

The following pics are the life span so far (27 days old) of the one plant the has survived the issue I’ve been having.
Click to expand...
Looks like some serious nute burn. You shouldn't feed her yet tiil she is bigger. If you are not feeding her then its probably your soil
 
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