zenman, for one quarter strength I just made a gallon of full strength, then I poured 1 quart of full strength solution into a 2nd empty gallon jug. Added 3 quarts of plain water to the 1 quart of full strength solution to dillute it to a 25% strength. ken_adrian, they're not indoors. They have been outside since day 1, I'm just starting them in this growing system because of our heavy rains and we get alot of snails which attack fresh seedlings alot. The growing media is absorbing water from the capillary mat underneath, and I only put water in the watering tray so no need to water from above. The foilage has remained dry that way. I think it boils down to the high strength fertilizer that I thought was dilluted enough. Looks like it was just too much for them. Live and learn hehe Thanks for the feedback. :)

That is a chronic problem with capillary matting - it gets and stays too wet. The only solution I have found, only way to adjust it, is to reduce the size of the pot holes so they don't absorb so much water from it. That is how those automatic watering set ups work - small holes. Or transplanting the plants into much bigger pots so they don't get so soaked. In the past I tried wringing it out well, running it through the washer and dryer, cutting it into smaller strips so there was just a small strip right under the pots rather than a whole sheet of it (that helped some), and cutting the part that sits in the water down to a narrow strip so it can take up water more slowly (that helps a bit too). Either way it isn't ideal and I have lost whole trays of seedlings to it in the past so finally pitched it. Sorry I can't be of more help. Dave

A common mis-perception. ;) Not only can the use of bottom heat post-germination cause leggyness but it also retards root development. In fact it can even "cook" (kill) young roots. So you would be sacrificing root development - which is the most important form of growth at this stage - for top growth. With seedlings, slow top growth is what you are after. That's why professional growers in greenhouses work very hard to maintain air temps of 65 degrees max. Dave

Help! I will be leaving on vacation for 12 days and I need to water around 300 plants. I have capillary matting under all my seedlings. I am using soil blocks (made with a soil block maker) these are placed directly on the matting. My problem is that I think it may not be working right or I am doing something wrong. I fill my bucket and put the tails to the matting in the water. Then I come back and some of the blocks look bone dry and others are so wet they are melting. My mix is peat moss, vermiculite, pearlite, a small amount of miracle grow potting mix, and some knox geletin to hold them together (a tip I got from here). Please help. Thank You