Hey folks, First grow after a failed attempt that ended right around this stage in the seedling process, in a very similar way. Put a seed in the soil a week ago today, popped up three days ago. Been keeping the child on a 26w 2700k CFL. Grow closet is steady around 76F. Li'l thang was doing well for the last two days. Leaves looked healthy, stem was rigid, growth was quick but steady. I did some reading last night on CFLs to try and maximize the light it was getting from just one bulb (gonna go get more in a bit) and saw that some folks keep their CFLs parallel to the stem as opposed to above it, so I moved the plant to try that. This morning, I went to check on it and the stem was thin and weak. When I slid the pot, thinking to returning it to it's original position in hopes that that would help, the stem collapsed on itself. When I say that it bent over, I don't mean that it drooped to the ground, creating a beautiful St. Louis-esque arch. I mean I thought the stem had snapped, it was a total 180 degree bend in one place. When I looked closer, I saw that the back of the leaves had begun to turn brown and the inside of the leaves looked dryer. I am now aware that I've been dramatically overwatering because I've been taking advice from someone who starts in a lot more soil than I have. An unmeasured (roughly a human "gulp") amount every day. I plan on cutting that way back. Also, like I said, getting more lights. I've determined that the stem hasn't snapped and built the soil up to the leaves, so the only pictures I can show you are of just the leaves. What is going wrong here that the stem was so weak and the leaves are so strangely colored? Sorry about the pictures, my camera doesn't focus well that close.
Seedling stem collapsed, brown color on leaves (which point up)
- Thread starter Lurker420
- Start date
MJG420
Well-Known Member
Aside from overwatering everything looks alright. Instead of watering your seedlings everyday give the soil time to dry out. I use the little red solo cups for my seedlings(which hold very soil) and clones and they get watered MAYBE once a week if that. Sounds to me that you are drowning your poor little seedling and it is unable to produce roots in these conditions. Hope this helps.