I started two seeds in rock wool under T-5 Fluros and a humidity dome just in net pots with hydroton. The sprouts are now 2 days old and the first set of leaves (the round leaves I don't know the proper name, that ends up being at the bottom of the main stem) are now curling and look very dark. What do you think is causing this. Too much water? Not enough water? Too Hot? I have not started them on nutes yet, lack of nutes? Any help would be much appreciated
Question about sick looking seedlings
- Thread starter fifa
- Start date
L
LolaGal
not enough details to help. Please fill out the form for sick plants! Then I can help more.
KnuckleHedd
Member
Lose the humidity dome. The cotyledons aren't leaves...I don't worry much about them, but they shouldn't be drying up before leaves are present. Sometimes, after the sprout is up and the seed hull is gone, I'll see a bit of membrane holding the cotyledons closed. Like tape over the end of a ducks bill. The leaves can't emerge. Pull that off and things return to normal. and then sometimes I'll see some of that membrane on them after they've opened...it looks sick, but it's nothing to be concerned with. At my house, when the cotyledons are very dark it's because the medium is too hot. I grow in dirt, so we're not exactly on the same page. I don't feed anything until after the 3rd week from seed. Over the years, I've seen a lot of brand new growers that insist on jumping right into hydroponics or something else "higher tech". After all..."hydro is better," right?
High RH is lethal. Seedlings have no use for it. If I do use a dome for seedlings, it's highly vented and only to retain substrate moisture. See the upper left cube in shot 2? That's when you lose the dome. After that, the dome can only hurt you
Note the last shot? That's the same seedling as pic 2 above. I left it covered until it exposed itself by throwing off the rockwool "cap"
Note the last shot? That's the same seedling as pic 2 above. I left it covered until it exposed itself by throwing off the rockwool "cap"
Thank you everyone for your input. Freezerboy thank you, your information is very useful as always. I saw those pictures in your diary very nice. I took the dome off. I have three seedlings total including two different unknown strains, one of which is doing extremely well, it is very healthy. The other two identical seeds of the other strain are not looking so healthy. Their cotyledons are very dark and curled. More importantly the real first set of fan leaves are folded together on one seedling, and on the other the first set of leaves look pretty healthy, but seem to be drooping compared to the healthy one of a different strain. Also, i am going to try and make it to the hydro store this week to buy some hydroton and general hydroponics nutrients including Bloom, Gro, and Micro. I will then put each seedling in a net pot with hydroton, and start dwc with a very diluted nutrient mixture.
L
LolaGal
since they are so young, I think it may be too much water too, but it's just a shot in the dark!
What are the net pots in? If they're in bubbling water, then there's no such thing as too much water. Water is what delivers the O2. The last 3 shots above are in cubes below the waterline. If you're trying DWC, you want the cube 100% saturated until roots are long enough to clear a 1 inch gap.
Personally, I start all clones and seeds in a 1/4 strength GH solution, pH adjusted to 5.8.
Personally, I start all clones and seeds in a 1/4 strength GH solution, pH adjusted to 5.8.
What are the net pots in? If they're in bubbling water, then there's no such thing as too much water. Water is what delivers the O2. The last 3 shots above are in cubes below the waterline. If you're trying DWC, you want the cube 100% saturated until roots are long enough to clear a 1 inch gap.
Personally, I start all clones and seeds in a 1/4 strength GH solution, pH adjusted to 5.8.
I'm under the impression he doesn't have them in his DWC yet. He could do that too...just start them now. I don't know how rooted the plants are so I didn't recommend him transplanting now.
fifa,
Are you ready for the DWC? If so, go ahead and put it in. Follow Freezerboy's chart...maybe a "little" lower water line to start...like water just 1/4" above the bottom of the net pot. As the roots grow out, lower the water a bit.
You'll make it...don't panic.
Actually, it's almost easier to just start them in the DWC net pots...
Thank you for your input. I just have the seedlings in net pots inside a cup for now until they are transferred into dwc . The roots are now just starting to poke out of the bottom of the rockwool, which to me means I need to get them in dwc as soon as possible. I think that you were right ibjamming about too much water, since they were not in dwc. I squeezed some water out of the rock wool yesterday and today they are looking great. I also removed the humidity dome which could have had a positive effect as well. The seedling that had its leaves curled into a taco looking shape has straightened out a lot and the other droopy looking seedling has perked up and looks much more healthy. As of now I have three healthy seedlings thanks to you guys. Freezer boy thanks for the diagram that will come in handy in the future. I now know to just start with dwc instead of waiting. Thanks again everyone I am still very new at this, but learning a lot. I know it is a long ways away but for future reference, when I clone I plan on using cloning gel and rock wool cubes. Should I start the clones in dwc or like I did the seedlings (just in net pots in a cup)? Also, is it recommended to use the humidity dome on clones?
Cloning is Voodoo. No other area will see such disparate results from identical procedures. What saves me may kill you dead. That said, there is only ONE proper way to clone, that way is whatever way that gets you roots. If you get roots don't let anyone tell you you're wrong.
Personally, I use a mini DWC bubbler. A one minute soak in Hormex (any liquid IBA, NAA solution will do) with Rockwool and gel. An aquarium heater maintains a water temp of 75º-80º. Domes were my #1 cause of death. I threw the dome in the trash and death went with it. I clone dome free in RH as low as 15%. Keeping cuts short and well trimmed removes the need for the lethal levels of RH that domes provide.
If this doesn't work, try it with a dome. That doesn't work, try: perlite, wicks, pellets, glass of water .... There are a million ways to clone in the Naked City. Keep trying till one works for you.
N. Accumbens
Member
Freezer boy rules, hehe! great, quick responses!
Good luck on the seedlings Fifa!
May they overgrow you one day, as all canna should...
Pz
Good luck on the seedlings Fifa!
May they overgrow you one day, as all canna should...
Pz
