• Register  |
  • LoginLogin
Close
Login
 
 
Register
 Advanced search
  • Search
  • Register
  • Login
  • JOIN!
  • View unanswered posts
  • View active topics
  • Gardening
Gardening Forum   HOW TO PLANT SEEDS - SEED STARTING  Seed Starting

Seedlings yellowing and wilting




Post a new topic
Post a reply
4 posts • Page 1 of 1

Seedlings yellowing and wilting

Wed Feb 27, 2013 2:05 pm

Hi,

I noticed some of my seedlings are yellowing. And now one of them is wilting. They aren't very big only like 1-2 inches. I don't know what to do. Is it over watering? I let a bunch of days go by to the point where the soil looks dry and today I noticed the wilted plant so I added a tiny bit of water to each tray.
User avatar
PunkRotten
Greener Thumb
 
Posts: 1990
Joined: Apr 17 '11
Location: Monterey, CA.
Top

Wed Feb 27, 2013 4:02 pm

My favorite way to tell when they need to be watered is hefting. Feel for the weight of watered vs. dry.

If you are using peat-based mix, you need to be careful -- the peat will suck the seedlings dry when they start to dry up. But yellowing and wilting is often due to overwatering and damping off.
User avatar
applestar
Mod
 
Posts: 27218
Joined: May 1 '08
Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M
Top

Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:54 am

Agree with applestar!

When plants are over-watered, they yellow and shrivel a little, unless they get damped off, when the stem pinches in at the base and they just fall over. Then the plant is straight and lies flat on the ground, bent from the base.

When plants wilt from lack of water, they tend to bend over from the top.

But, leaving days go by with out watering tiny seedlings like that sounds like not giving them enough water, unless you really over-filled the tray with water to start with. I water my seedlings usually every morning, just putting a little bit of water in the bottom of the tray. When I check the next day, the water is gone (if not, I don't add more). You want them to stay just damp all the time, not wet and not dry.

Did you moisten the soil well before planting in it? Without doing that, the peat can repel water, like a dry sponge does.
Twitter account I manage for local Sierra Club: https://twitter.com/CherokeeGroupSC Facebook page I manage for them: https://www.facebook.com/groups/65310596576/ Come and find me and lots of great information, inspiration
User avatar
rainbowgardener
Super Green Thumb
 
Posts: 25281
Joined: Feb 15 '09
Location: TN/GA 7b
Top

Fri Mar 01, 2013 6:26 pm

I noticed them yellowing for awhile. So I stopped watering cause I suspected overwatering. So I let it dry up a little and when I checked the plants in the morning one of the tomato plants was wilted. So I watered everything a tiny bit. Today I actually up potted everything. I think it was the right choice. I must have mixed too much peat cause the soil was tough. Whether the Tomato plants survives or not I don't know. I also have too many plants to go under my light. I have 18 spots and have like 24 pots.
User avatar
PunkRotten
Greener Thumb
 
Posts: 1990
Joined: Apr 17 '11
Location: Monterey, CA.
Top

Please Share. Thank you!

 
 
Top


Post a reply
4 posts • Page 1 of 1

 

 

  •   Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post
  • Onion Seedlings, Top Wilting Attachment(s)
    in Vegetable Gardening Forum
    4
    407
    by jal_ut View the latest post
  • Seedlings wilting indoors
    in Vegetable Gardening Forum
    7
    914
    by Peter1142 View the latest post
  • tomato seedlings first leaves yellowing
    in Vegetable Gardening Forum
    1
    329
    by Maxy24 View the latest post
  • Yellowing chives Attachment(s)
    in Herb Gardening Forum
    3
    2837
    by GardeningCook View the latest post
  • Wilting leaves Attachment(s)
    in TOMATO FORUM
    7
    1511
    by erinschrahe View the latest post
  • wilting... too much water? Attachment(s)
    in Vegetable Gardening Forum
    7
    487
    by Lindsaylew82 View the latest post
Return to Seed Starting
  • Delete all board cookies • All times are UTC
Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Copyright HelpfulGardener.com 2003-2018 all rights reserved.
All trademarks and copyrights held by respective owners.