problems with seedlings! help!

5 years ago

Ideally (this is what has been recommended to me from the local farmers in the area, many of whom grow starter plants) you're supposed to grow starter plants in a greenhouse. it's possible to grow starter plants under an artificial light system, but it's a very difficult way to do so.

My grow light is very simple; it's made from a pvc pipe frame, a 4' shoplight with two fluorescent lights, and it has a chain attached to adjust the light.

What I read online is that with a grow light of my size, you can (supposedly) grow 96 seedlings under it. Realistically I don't think this is possible; it's too many seedlings in too small of a space, and they're constantly competing for water, nutrients and light if you place that many seedlings in such a small space. The ones on the outer edges are constantly stretching for the light, which weakens them. I know I could rotate them so they'll grow evenly, but that is far too much of a hassle.

How many seedlings can I realistically grow in a grow light of my size?

I cannot put some of them in a greenhouse because I don't have one. They have to be grown inside, because they're warm weather varieties (eggplant, tomatoes, peppers). While the weather is warm enough during the day that it won't kill them, it will set them back, weaken them, and stunt their growth.

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Comments (5)

LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
5 years ago
You can grow 96 lettuce seedlings under a single 2 bulb shop light without a problem but not 96 eggplant, tomato, and pepper seedlings.

I have 6 4' - 4 bulb shop lights and 96 tomatoes and peppers are crowded with my setup when they reach nearly the size that I plant them out.
Amy Wickett thanked LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
Amy Wickett
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thank you for responding to my post. Realistically with my setup (4' shop light with two fluorescent bulbs) how many tomato, eggplant, and pepper starter plants can I grow under it without overcrowding them. I currently have a total of 39 seedlings under my grow light; some of them have been transplanted into 4" nursery pots, but some of the others are still in small cell packs. After the rest of them have been repotted into 4" starter pots is this too many?

Also I watered on 4-23, but the growing medium is still moist. Is this a cause for concern? I just watered heavily (until water was draining out the bottom) so I am watering less frequently (to avoid overwatering) but when I do water, I water deeply.
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I'm stumped. Can't find a solitary thing wrong with your process. I'm with Dan, maybe try and increase the heat or give them a little fertilizer. It's possible they aren't as warm as you think. Maybe it's a variety of Heirloom that takes longer to grow. Also, study them close to see if you can find any sign that something's been eating the top off. Admittedly, that's grasping at straws, though. Maybe if you could post a picture, someone would have an "aha" moment. Strange and frustrating. I'm sorry you're having trouble. You definitely seem to have all your bases covered and know what you're doing. I'm sorry you aren't getting good results for all that work. My only last guess is it's a dud batch of seeds. If I were you, I'd try other seeds from another seed company using the same process and see if you get different results. If it's too late in your season to restart, maybe next year, try a few different varieties. That way you have some sort of "control" to determine whether it's your process or your seeds. I have definitely had varying results with different seed companies. I've bought two packs of Burpee seeds that never even sprouted. I know it was the seeds and not me because everything else I planted did fine. That sort of thing...
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Posting a picture would be a big help. If not possible then you need to provide far more details. Otherwise it is just guess work. leaves curl in slightly at the edges and become a little brittle, Can be excess salt build-up in the soil from over-fertilization. You don't mention what potting mix you are using or what and how often you have fertilized or even if the plant is in the ground or in a container. All important info to have. Whenever a fourth leaf begins sprouting, the lowest/oldest leaf falls off, just like that, so it never gets more than three. Indicates the root development can't support additional top growth. Can be caused by something as simple as over-watering and root rot or by being root bound in the containers, or by over-fertilization, too cool soil or air temps, or several other possibilities. Really need more information to narrow it down. Dave This post was edited by digdirt on Tue, Apr 16, 13 at 19:22
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Melody, I assume you've grown those kinds of seeds before, and know what they normally look like. Is there any chance that they've been exposed to a low dose of herbicide of some kind? I occasionally hear stories of deformed plants due to a bad batch of municipal compost or even a bad batch of commercial potting soil tainted with some kind of persistent herbicide. No way to really confirm those stories, but a low dose of some herbicides (2,4-D overspray for example) can cause curly growth, and it's easy to believe that some species would be more sensitive than others. If the potting mix is tainted, the only thing you could do is wash all the old medium off the seedlings and transplant them into some new mix. Alex
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dowlinggram
5 years ago
Does your light fixture have fins. Fins are pieces of metal on the sides that come down as low or lower than the lights and direct the light directly under them. Without fins the light is disbursed to the room and not downward to your plants. If they don't you can create more light by draping a mylar sheet over your fixture. Mylar sheets are readily available and are sometimes called survival blankets. I buy mine at the dollar store but they are sold anywhere they have hunting supplies too. If you have too many plants you could always buy a second shop light. $30 will buy the fixture and bulbs at Walmart.

I have both a greenhouse and light set-up and plants grow equally well under both. Just watch the water when using lights. Make sure your containers are light and look dry before you water. Under the lights plants don't dry out as easily. They don't have the heat, sun and wind to contend with unless you use a fan which I don't. You do have to condition your plants to these things for a couple of weeks before you plant them out.
Amy Wickett
Original Author
4 years ago
My current homemade grow light looks like this:

https://www.instructables.com/id/Grow-Light-Stand/

Hi, thank you for responding to my post. You recommended using a shoplight with fins. Can you please give me a link with where I can find such a shop light? Also, does a shoplight with fins, require that it be attached from the ceiling? That's not an option for me (attaching the light from the ceiling isn't an option). Can I find a shoplight with fins where I just hook screws in and hang it from the pvc frame?

Also how would I drape the mylar over (please show a picture of how to do this with the mylar). I know it sounds dumb to ask that, but I am very visual.
dowlinggram
4 years ago
The shoplight in your picture has fins. If it didn't you would be able to see the bulbs from the side. Some fins are close to the bulbs and some stick out quite a ways. Their purpose is to direct the light straight down under the fixture and not spread it out to the room. They serve much the same purpose as a lamp shade. If you look on line for shoplights at places like Lowes or Home Depot you will be able to see the difference. My fixtures do have fins but I use Mylar longer than the fins to reflect more light. I have my Mylar draped over my fixture between the chains and clothes pinned on the ends after putting the Mylar ends around chains so it covers the whole fixture. You can cut the Mylar to the size you want.

Unless you get a fixture that has to be mounted to the ceiling most shop lights with or without fins come with chains

problems with seedlings! help!

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LoneJack Zn 6a, KC

Amy Wickett
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problems with seedlings! help!

Comments (5)

LoneJack Zn 6a, KC

Amy WickettOriginal Author

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dowlinggram

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