Are these pansy seedlings sunburned?

13 years ago

Hi, this year is my first starting things from seed. I've started quite a few things and most are coming along nicely. I'm growing in peat pellets (which I now know is a mistake) under cool white fluorescents (8xT5 54w 12" away from the flats). I have an oscillating fan gently blowing over everything.

The pansies (all the varieties) look different than the rest of the seedlings. The true leaves that develop all look very pale, nearly white and some of them are curving inwards. Could these be getting too much light? Or is this just normal for pansy seedlings?
{{gwi:231821}}From Plant Diagnosis
{{gwi:231822}}From Plant Diagnosis
{{gwi:231823}}From Plant Diagnosis

I've been asking a lot of questions in various forums lately, I hope no one minds. Been learning a lot from people...

Thanks

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Comments (9)

countrycarolyn
13 years ago
My first thought would be that pansies are a cool season annual. So it may be that the light is to hot??

I had an algebra teacher that had a poster on one of his walls. The poster said "The only stupid question is the one NOT asked".

I do not think anyone minds questions!!
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
Are the plants pictured the ones you are talking about, or samples from some where else? Your description of how you are growing yours would not result in pictures like these, in my opinion. Al
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Brad, There's several variables that will determine if they make it, including their size, how many leaves burnt, whether the leaves are universally burnt (as indicated by a general bleaching out of the entire leaf) or if the burn is spotty in little patches all over the still mostly green leaves, etc. If the plants are still upright and the leaves are not totally and completely wilted, they probably will make it. Do you know about how many hours they were out? If it was their first day and they were out for more than 4 hours of direct sunlight, they might not make it. If they had already had several days of ever-increasing sun and wind exposure, they ought to bounce back. When I begin carrying veggie seedlings outside, I only give them one hour of sun the first day, two the second, etc. If I am moving them out on a very windy day I try to protect them from the wind even though they are getting sun. If the temperature is over 80 degrees (on one of those abnormally toasty hot days in Feb. or Mar.), I won't put them in full sun on the first day out, but will put them in dappled shade. As they recover, do not overfeed or overwater because right now their energy is going into recovering from the stress of the sunburn. If you happen to have liquid seaweed handy, when the plants need water, give them liquid seaweed diluted to 1/2 the strength recommended on the label. I consider liquid seaweed somewhat of a "miracle drug" for plants as it often helps sick or damaged ones perk up. Just don't overfeed them because the act of overfeeding stresses a sunburned plant. I hope your seedlings recover. Dawn
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keriann_lakegeneva
13 years ago
I think they look great! Maybe just a bit wet.

The first leaves or cotyledons will die back and fall off as the plant matures, this is normal and I would not be concerned

Keriann~
redshirtcat
Original Author
13 years ago
Yes, these are the ones I'm growing. The soil temp is being monitored and is at 75 degrees, I can't get it much colder because the light is putting out a lot of heat.

How did I throw you Al? I guess I said "peat pellets" when I actually meant expanding Burpee peat things that aren't pellets in the way that Jiffy's are?

Here are 3 different seedlings growing under the same conditions - in the last one you can see some of the other flats. Are you thinking I don't have enough light to burn them or what about the seedlings looks off? I measured 1500 foot candles at the flats under the 8 T5HO lamps. {{gwi:231824}}From Plant Diagnosis
{{gwi:231825}}From Plant Diagnosis
{{gwi:231826}}From Plant Diagnosis
countrycarolyn
13 years ago
Pansies start dieing back when the weather gets warmer. 75 for a cool season plant is to warm. Cool season plants tolerate freeze and frost better than they tolerate heat!!

Why are you starting them this late?? They should of already be out in your flower bed by now!!

If I am looking at the pansy pictures correct the true leaves are what are dieing not the cotyledon!!
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
What through me was you said you were keeping your fluorescent lights 12 inches from the plants which should have given you leggy seedlings, which these were not. Al
redshirtcat
Original Author
13 years ago
Oh... I didn't know. I was following the directions on the packet which said to indoor sow 8-10 weeks before the last frost. I started them on Feb 14 and my avg last frost date is supposedly April 15th.

I agree, it looks to me like it is the true leaves dying but I wasn't watching them closely enough to to be sure. I guess I will know soon enough... I'm not sure how I could cool them down and keep the light levels appropriate.

Will these be hardy enough now to take hard freezes? It's going to be 28 next week. Maybe I should take them out during the day and bring them in if it will freeze?
redshirtcat
Original Author
13 years ago
Ah, yes - I'm fairly sure low light levels aren't the problem. This isn't a regular shop light - this is a bank of 8 T5HO lights - 432 watts, ~40,000 lumens at 6500k. One of these lights allows several citrus trees to set fruit indoors with no problem.

As I said it's 1500 foot candles at the tops of the seedlings which I thought was appropriate but maybe it's too much. Or maybe it's just that I didn't realize I needed to keep them much cooler than I have been..
keriann_lakegeneva
13 years ago
Oh, that makes more sense.

Yeah, my bad they are the true leaves.

YES, you can harden them off and get them oustide now, they can take the light freezes, just make sure you do it slowly and put them out for their first few days in above freezing temps.

They will love it!
Keriann~

Are these pansy seedlings sunburned?

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countrycarolyn

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

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Are these pansy seedlings sunburned?

Comments (9)

countrycarolyn

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

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keriann_lakegeneva

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countrycarolyn

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