seed starting
Hoping I'm putting this in the right place. I'm a beginner and I think my seedlings are getting very leggy. I'm not sure if there just isn't enough light or what is going on. I moved them to a window today and still kept the grow light on them. Hopefully this helps. Will I still be able to save these or should I start over? Here is a pic of the seedlings. Thanks! http://s1331.photobucket.com/user/Mjh609/media/Mobile Uploads/20150315_093825_zps580f5691.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2 I also started using a desk fan today to blow over them for a few hours hoping this will encourage them to grow thicker stems.
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Sorry that post showed up like that. I spaced it out differently when I wrote it. Not sure why it didn't work. Hope you can still use the link.
Here is another picture of the current setup
http://s1331.photobucket.com/user/Mjh609/media/Mobile Uploads/20150315_093832_zps1110b85e.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
what are you growing?
I cant see what they are, but if just leggy annuals you can pot them on when they are big enough just bury them almost up to the first set of leaves, even if it means curling them round in the pots.
This is why most of us dont even start our seeds until we have longer days, no struggling up for light then.
Remember, you wont be able to plant them out for about 2 months.
They look ok a bit leggy and possibly a little dry? but as Lyn says just pot them on when they have the first set of true leaves and away you go.
Looks like lack of light - both short days and location perhaps? I've spent half the day potting on and burying seedlings just like these - I cant wait to get going either!
Hope Spring comes soon......
Sometimes if it's possible to sow seeds a little later, and avoid disappointment, hope they do well from now on
Gosh, they are etiolated! They are also, I suspect taking up more nutrients than there is sunlight to support use of those nutrients to produce cells..
It's good that mistakes can be made then you can record the outcomes and bring that learning experience forward. Regardless of our self-reported abilities to learn from our mistakes every year many experienced gardeners get filled with the enthusiasm of the new year and sow too early ...again.
Sorry but your luminaire isn't doing much and is suitable for only a small area (say a 10cm diameter pot) not multiple flats. The luminous intensity of natural daylight which is strong enough to support young plant growth is measured in thousands of Lux (Lm / sq m) minimum.The lamp will radiate far less than on the that (very low hundreds). If the lamp didn't come with a data sheet search on the web for a "polar diagram" for the lamp model number. You can then calculate the required proximity of the lamp filament/ light emitting element to the leaves to give a few thousand lux(it follows an inverse square law).It will be a matter of mm, up close and personal not several cm.
I see you have something reflective in the photo, which is good. If you could get each tray close up to its own window and reflect the light with foil/mirrors that would help.You could stick them outside preferably in a warm breeze to de-etiolate them, but gradually expose them to the outside.
With some species you could earth up the stems,
Sow later in the year; the penultimate month in the time range stated on the seed packets allows a margin for successive sowing. Slow growers require a low nutrient growing medium. Bigger, hungrier seeds eg sunflowers are ok in a high nutrient medium.
There are usually enough seeds in each packet to sow again.
I'd re-sow some of them in the same plugs and try my luck leaving the long season ones like chillies in..