70 degrees is the warmest I ever had seedlings and that was too warm. I water from the bottom also at 65 degrees and mine look great and water only every 3 to 4 days. I can tell if they need water just by how heavy the trays are. You are keeping the seedlings too soggy and that can lead to even more trouble. This is the forum you want and has helped me many times, especially when I first started growing from seed. Also keep those lights 1 or 2 inches above the seeds.

I agree with vinnybob on the water, it sounds like you are keeping them over wet. Roots take in a lot of oxygen, and if they are too wet, they can't breathe.

You might be seeing the beginning of damping off. Treatments were mentioned in the thread I have linked.

Bets

Here is a link that might be useful: D@M D@mp Off!

Yeah - My Room temperature without the lights on is around 70 degrees, I don't know if I can get it lower than that.

When you say 70 was 2 hot - what were some of the symptoms that made you feel that? Did your little seedlings die?

I forgot to add - they just turned 1 week old yesterday. They were planted last Sunday afternoon - Germinated in 3.5 to 4 days. so have has 2 - 3 days of growing.

The lights are close to the tops of them.

I've got a fan blowing on them.

I'll let the soil dry out some and see if that makes them happy.

I'll read that thread about damping off - Any other information / opinion?>

Anyone else grow tomatoes from seed in a warmer setting?

Thanks!

Jon

I also agree...bring down the temperature somehow & water a bit less.

FWIW, I've been germinating tomato seeds around 80° to 85° for years and have had no trouble. I'd say the problem here is overwatering. GaryStPaul

Gary!

Germinating at 80 - 85 . . . same here - Now - growing. You grow the seedlings at that temperature?

Thanks!!!

Jon

I also germinate them at 80-85 over a heat mat but then immediately transfer the ones that germinate into styrofoam cups. I either put them outside on balmy days or keep them as close to the lights as possible when it's too cold. Being in the cup cools down the temperature for the roots and the plants.

One advantage of growing them cooler is that they grow more slowly than when the environment's warmer, and I think that's often a plus. I just want them to get to be about one to one and a half feet tall when it's time to go in the garden. Great tall leggy plants are not what I aim for, though of course it can happen.

can you just close off the heating vent in that room? If you are in zone 2, it doesn't seem like it would be that hard to keep a room cooler.

Maybe I'll have to pot up sooner than expected and try to get to lower temp with white cups as opposed to the black plastic.

As for the room iteslef - it's my furnace room. The vent is blocked off, but all ducting and what not in there throws off heat when the furnace is running unfortunatly.

I may have to move them to another room maybe - though that would require building a shelf for them and doing a lot of other things.

In regards to high temp speeding the growth - what if I cut back the light per day - what if instead of 16 hrs I did 12 or 10 or something. would that have an effect on the plants to slow em down?

Thanks All!

Jon

Definitely sounds like way too much water to me. If it were me I would not water again until they were starting to wilt from drying out. They should not be constantly sitting in water as you described.

I wouldn't worry about them growing in 70F, it's fine. Cooler conditions may result in slower growth, but it's not like 70F is going to exponentially speed them up.

It's normal room temp for many.

Anyway, I am curious about your growing season in zone 2. I haven't started mine yet in zone 5, I would think it too early in zone 2 unless it's a 'weird' zone 2 (warms up earlier)

Jon, while I germinate at the higher temps, 80-85°, once they're in their flats or small square plastic pots they go under fluorescent lights (an inch or two above) at basement temps, around 60°, I'd say. I also have a small computer fan gently breezing over them at this stage. Good luck! GaryStPaul

I too could live with that air temp if necessary but definitely is a problem with way too much water. Never leave water standing in the pan, just water as needed. And every now and then, skip a time when you think it is needed. ;)

On the lights, more is better than less or you just get long leggy seedlings.

Dave

Thanks Guys -

Justaguy - I think average last frost date here is about 2 weeks into May. Usually plant the garden then (during May Long - 16,17,18.)

too early? I guess I'll find out. haha - Since this is my first year starting.

I was home at lunch here - temps under the lights were 71 72ish with the fan blowing - hopefully the fanisn't too much for the baby seedlings to handle.

I'll try and post pics later on this evening.

Hello -

Here are some pictures of my seedlings. A link to an online web album - click on the last picture and go backwards to see most recent.

Again - doesn't look like they're yellowing - but still wilty / wavy looking.

Thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful: Pics of my seedlings

They are a tiny bit leggy, but nowhere near as leggy as my Cherry toms were & they are doing awesome now. Your seedlings still look very healthy, so you have time to correct whatever you think you must correct. =)

bump - pictures if you look 2 posts above in link. Thanks everyone!