Seedling Emergency

Two of my critical mass fem seedlings have fallen on their side and wilted within hours of opening while one in the same conditions has thrived and another seems to have fused leaves. Any suggestions what has caused this and how to avoid it with my last 5 seeds?


Bottom Leaf fell first then the bottom right. The bottom center seems to have fused leaves. Top right going strong.

Closer shot of the fused leaves

What kind of lights and how far away are they? I have had this happen when they try to stretch too much in order to "reach" the light - they get flimsy and fall over.

From germination to day 5 they were under 2 18w tubes around 3 inch away. One day 5 transferred to grow room w 2 125w cfls around 10 inches away

I would try get two light setups going and split the seedlings from the more mature plants so you can get the lights closer to the seedlings. Maybe even try propping up the ones that fell over with a small stick or something to see if they bounce back.

I have a 1000w hps for flower but am waiting on a bulb to arrive. As soon as it does im moving the 4 larger plants to flower. I also have two 250w MH lamps going into this room later this week once they arrive. Propped up the two just after transplant but they seem to be getting worse not better. More shrivelled up than when they started to show signs. Any idea why it would have happened to 2 and not the other 2?

Could be that the seedlings just were not as strong, also I have heard rockwool cubes have a lower success rate that alternatives like rapid rooters. I have also heard soaking the rockwool cubes in pH'd water for 24 hours before putting seeds in them helps.

The last time I germinated seeds in rockwool I had about the same results, two took off really nice and two crapped out right off the bat.

one or two 23W spiral CFLs (about 1000 lumen each, or equivalent LED bulb) hung about 1.5 to 2 inches away, is all they need and a small fan.

looks like some of your seedlings are dampening off (plant disease).

badmojo420 said:

looks like some of your seedlings are dampening off (plant disease).

Click to expand...

Any advice to avoid it next time? Id planned to dip the bases of the rockwool next time instead of watering from the top w a syringe

Check the stems near the soil and if they've gone all soft and mushy then it's damping off like @badmojo420 said.

I water my little ones like that from the bottom to keep the top a little drier to prevent that, Too warm and it happens easier too. 75 max is best and I'm usually more like 70. Cuttings root slower but they ALL root.