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Vegetable Gardening

What is wrong with my eggplant seedlings?

12 years ago

I seeded several eggplants on April 1. Two flats were put under regular fluorescent lights (T5 I think) and the rest were placed under Jump Start grow lights. Same variety, same potting soil (with NPK added). Also, the ones under the regular fluorescents are near a west-facing window so they get a couple hours of sunshine as well. Those ones are also a bit warmer at about 72 F during the day while the rest are at around 66 F. I gave all the flats 24 hour light during the first 4 days after they emerged and then changed it to 18 hour photoperiod. The ones under the fluorescents are developing well with the second true leaf forming. The rest, under the Jump Starts, are forming their first true leaf that looks misshapened, small and crinkled. The plants are very stunted. I looked it up and narrowed it down to one of three possibilities:

1. The complete absence of sunlight screwed them up somehow

2. Boron deficiency (but why only in those flats???)

3. Too cool - but I figured that would just slow them down a bit.

What do you think is happening? :(

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Comments (2)

digdirt2
12 years ago
Several more likely possibilities. Is this what you mean by Jump Start lights?

If so they use T5 bulbs which put out more heat and more intense light and with a broader spectrum than regular fluorescents (which are T8 and T12s) so have to be kept further away from the seedlings. Most likely your first true leaf that looks misshapened, small and crinkled has been burned by either heat or UV.

Window sunlight makes little to no difference and that small amount of difference in temp makes no difference either and boron deficiency in seedlings is essentially non-existent.

Then there is the possibility of pest damage - aphids, spider mites or most likely fungus gnats.

One other possibility that while rare since most no longer use compost in their seedling mix but seems to have come up several times this year for folks, is ethylene poisoning. That can happen and produce those symptoms if there is decomposing organic matter in the immediate area. Things like decomposing compost, ripening fruit, or staring mix that may have developed some anaerobic bacteria, etc.

Hope this helps.

Dave
Slimy_Okra
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks Dave yes those are the Jump Start grow lights I was referring to. I raised the fixtures a few inches today - hopefully there will be some improvement. I don't see any bugs of any kind.
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