Markie, that is pretty common. Especially with peppers, it is okay to let the top dry out and crust over a bit. If you can put a fan on the seedlings to keep the air moving will also be very beneficial. The extra seedling looks like some kind on leaf lettuce to me. Also, it looks like time to either cut the extra seeding to one per cell or transplant the extras into their own cells. jmo.

The algae is a sign that you are watering too often. There's no way they should need watered every 2-3 days. Cut down on watering and increase the air circulation.

Rodney

Classic symptom of excess moisture, too wet growing medium. And that is a lot of the algae so cut way back on the moisture.

Ditto what Rodney said - cut down on water and improve air circ.

Also agree that it is time to separate those plants with multiples in the same cell.

Dave

PS: yeah, some type of leaf lettuce.

What everyone has said is exactly right. I will add that, no, the green fuzz won't hurt anything, but it's telling you that you have conditions that might. At that stage the roots are way down deep. Moisture on the surface isn't doing those seedlings any good.

You should consider yourself lucky most don't even get to the damp phase with green growth with out experiencing damping off fungus. Usually damping off hits well before the green shows up. As others said cut down on the watering. Keep us updated on their progress.

Was thinking the same thing, habjolokia. I was kinda surprised to not see any physical issues with the seedlings that come from having the mix too wet such as stunting, yellowing, leaf curling, and of course damping off.

Rodney

In my experience, damping off isn't as likely in a sterile mix and I'm pretty sure most of the commercial product these days is sterile. That's done cheaply, and is likely to give inexperienced gardeners more success.

Thanks for all the tips guys! I actually thinned the seeds right after I took the picture, so that's all taken care of. The lettuce guy is gone since he was already starting to get in the way of the precious peppers.

I was worried that dried out soil would kill off my seedlings, but the comment about the roots already being established is right, they aren't day old sprouts anymore they can handle the dry crusty top a bit. I'll cut down the watering and I've set up a fan to get some air circulation.

Thanks again!

Just wanted to give an update. I've let the ground dry out a bit (hopefully not too much.) But the peppers are doing ok. The fuzz has slowed down, the tops are dry.

I'll cross my fingers that I've struck a good balance between too little and too much water.

They are looking so much better, that's great. I've seen slight leaf curl on mine to indicate the need for water, though I don't recommend it.

I can't tell how deep the trays are, but are you going to repot them or leave them in? A few are looking large enough to repot.

I know they grew too fast! I'm probably going to have to find a bigger pot for them. Maybe I will do that this weekend.

First time is a big learning experience.

Congrats on your first time, you are doing very well. I usually transplant into solo party cups with holes drilled out of the bottom. It's cheap, easy, and reusable.

Habjolokia I went and bought cups like that too for mine lol.

They got too big and I had to go to larger breathable bags at Walmart. They're only fifty cents per bag.

The person who posted this IMPROVED THEIR PEPPERS SO MUCH!!!! thank you for the update photo, they are looking great!

Something they could try when watering them is put a little water in a tray or even bathtub if you don't mind cleaning up a Lil dirt. Then just sit your plants in there for about a half hour and the roots will suck up what they need through the bottom assuming there's good holes in the bottom. Then stick em back to where you store them in light or under a grow lamp.