Please help! My babies are dying!

ns420 · Dec 1, 2009

Hello,

This is my fist grow... things where going well, 12 hours ago all plants looked great. Green and healthy. I have been watering my plants twice a day (by misting them and their soil, 2-3 sprays each plant) under 5x 23 Watt Daylight CFLs which are placed 1-2" from the plants for the past few days.

I came in to check my plants a few minutes ago and to my horror my just healthy 6 seedlings look like this!

I have no idea what do. Where might I have went wrong? Is there any chance in saving them?

Ambient temp is around 75-78, soil temps are few degrees hotter 80-82.

Using Fox Farms happy frog soil, in 1"x1" plastic inserts.

I have over $100 invested in seeds alone, and I have a lot riding on making this grow a successful one. Please help!

Thanks in advice for ANY advice!

:wall:

CdnBud · Dec 1, 2009

How far are your lights from the plants?

ns420 · Dec 1, 2009

CdnBud said:
How far are your lights from the plants?

1-2" from the plants, I moved them several days ago from 4-5" from the plants when I noticed some of my seedlings stretching for light.

skervy · Dec 1, 2009

could be over watering or heat and their stretched pretty bad. just splint them up untill you can transplant and bury as much of the stem as possible

sweetsmoker · Dec 1, 2009

lift ya lights bck up , a bit give em some steaks 2 support em. put a small oscilating fan on them and lookin at ya soil its looks very dry, although u r misting them u are not getting any water to the root zone, wen watering pour slowly into pot till run off starts, they will not ned water for at least 4 days after that, misting the plants is just to keep humidity up m8, g dluck they can be rescued dont worry

if u r watering the soil properly then hold off for a while till pots are light again. symptoms of overwater and under water are similar except overwatering tends to jus be leaves that droop where as underwatering the whole plant droops

ns420 · Dec 1, 2009

Would there be any benefit to transplanting them to one gallon pots? Is the 1"x1" insert enough to contain the root growth of 2"-3" tall seedlings?

CanadianKnights · Dec 1, 2009

They will be good for another week, transplanting wouldn't hurt if you are careful.

ns420 · Dec 1, 2009

What's the easiest way to stake them up without hurting them?

DaveCoulier · Dec 1, 2009

Id probably take a straw, cut it to the length you need, then slice it straight down the center. Now you can spread the straw open and place it around the seedling, and let it close around it. Push the straw down into the soil a little bit and now you've got a support for the plant.

Oldweedy · Dec 1, 2009

ns420 said:
Would there be any benefit to transplanting them to one gallon pots? Is the 1"x1" insert enough to contain the root growth of 2"-3" tall seedlings?

Hi, Be carefull when you move them as some of the roots might be very tender by the look of them, I would go with water problems, A tip that I was given is to leave compost/soil loose at planting dont firm the compost by pushing it down, gently tap the sides of pot to level soil this helps to drain and let air to roots, then water-in well to wash soil around roots. bury them right up to the bottom leaves, You should save most of them if not all, the purple color on the stems is a sign of stress, A healthy rooted seedling will need a good drink each day.

Magnetar · Dec 1, 2009

I use root cubes to start them, never had that problem.
Also I use a seedling heat mat and set it for 80 degrees F.
I use an enclosed rooting tray with a high top and run a light 24 hours.

ns420 · Dec 1, 2009

Thank you all for your advice. I have them propped up. I stopped misting them and fed them a shot glass (50ml) of water (PH7) each. My CFL's are moved up, around 2"" from the plants. I will let the soil dry before watering again. Anything else I can do to help them recover?

DaveCoulier · Dec 1, 2009

Just give them time, and hope they come around. MJ is pretty hardy and doesn't go down without a fight.

ns420 · Dec 1, 2009

Thanks, I guess I feel like I should be doing more, but I also read that's typical for inexperienced growers.... So time to sit and wait I guess, unless someone disagrees?

ns420 · Dec 1, 2009

Here's some updated pictures, taken with the good camera.

If anyone can see anything else please let me know.

Thanks!

DaveCoulier · Dec 1, 2009

Damn, some of them look real bad, but you definitely got a couple that look like they'll be fine. Ill keep my fingers crossed for you.

ns420 · Dec 1, 2009

Would it be advisable to use the heat pad I used for germinating to help speed up the drying of the soil?

DaveCoulier · Dec 1, 2009

ns420 said:
Would it be advisable to use the heat pad I used for germinating to help speed up the drying of the soil?

I dont know. Ive never used a pad for anything. With the shape they're though, in it may not hurt to try.

skervy · Dec 2, 2009

you dont need a heating pad it looks like you need to actually water them. them ones are all dried and shribbled up. actually its probably all them lights so close and to hot. you dont need that many lights and that close for seedlings that small

ns420 · Dec 2, 2009

skervy said:
you dont need a heating pad it looks like you need to actually water them. them ones are all dried and shribbled up. actually its probably all them lights so close and to hot. you dont need that many lights and that close for seedlings that small

You know, I kept wondering if they where getting fried for some reason... but nearly everyone's reaction has been overwatering...

Now that I think of it, this started a couple of days after I upgraded from two 23 Watt CFL to 4 of them (as was recommended to me to stop the plants from stretching, and to provide ample light for the 6 seedlings).

The soil was nearly completely dry the last time I watered (yesterday) and the containers where very light.

But I thought there was no such thing as too much light as long as heat didn't become an issue? I have a thermometer that measures high and low temps, and it has not been out of the 72-85 range since I planted the seedlings.

Please help! My babies are dying!

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