Still-born can they be saved?

[Red Fang]

It may not be the correct term, assuming a correct term exists, but can still-born plants be saved? I started some seeds that came up strongly after 3 to 4 days. Others came up that quick but look lanky like alfalfa sprouts. Still others took like a week to pop above the soil and have been in a perpetual partially germinated state for at least 2 days now. Part of the plant broke the surface. In some cases, most in fact, the top of the plant is still below the surface and is in a U or horseshoe shape. One or two are totally above the surface but refuse to open up and show their first 2 leaves. Can these be helped?

edit: I will add that most plants look good for 3-5 day old plants. Some of the seeds were newer, some date back to 2004-2005. Among the oldest, one strain had perfect germination and they look like little soldiers, robust and stocky and almost identical in every way. The seeds that are "still-born" are of seeds that were equally old or more recent than the "little soldiers". These were almost all donated seeds so the dates are when I got the seeds, I have no idea how old they already were at that point.

 

[Red Fang]

someone must have encountered this
even if these can't be saved, I want to know what can be done to prevent this in the future

 

[PeteWeedSeed]

I have encountered this a few times with new and old seeds... I try giving them a good flush and then putting them closer to the light.. if nothing in a few days.. I consider the seeds to have inferior genetics and just trash them.. not time for BS plants that won't grow.

Sometimes they recover but they grow really really slow, so I trash them anyway.. Most of the time, no recovery they just die later.

 

[Tic-Tac]

The two that are above the surface but won't show their leaves, are you saying that the cotyledons are sort of fused together at the top? If so, try to get a good look at the very tips of those cotyledons. Do you see a brownish, translucent membrane still clinging to them? This membrane is in the seed, and sometimes doesn't "shed" the way it's supposed to, and it will essentially keep your cotyledons fused together unless you ride in Lone Ranger-style and help.

If that is the case, you need to help the plants get that membrane off. Something thin and small like that one piece on a set of nail clippers one uses to get the crud out from under their nails is a good tool for this purpose. Try to slide it between the cotyledons at their base as they membrane isn't that large and you should be able to find some space here. Then gently slide up until you catch a bit of that membrane and it should come off.

The other problems I can't offer any advice on, sorry.

 

[Red Fang]

thanks for the help
one maybe 2 had the coating you described, the others seem to be hopeless.

 

[joeuser]

Just spray them with some water if they're not opening...you don't have to "cut" or pry them open.

Is your medium moist enough? Usually they stop growing when they're too dry.

Tall and leggy means not enough light. If you're using a CFL or equivalent...get them REALLY close to the light...like an inch away.

 

[Red Fang]

they weren't close enough to the light when the first of them started coming up. I had some spare sheetrock and scrap wood, so I cobbled together a real makeshift 1 ft by just over 2 foot box with 2 flo tubes each 2 feet of course. I knew it was too far from the light so I put in one book that would raise it enough so it would be almost up to the light with one of those tall domes on the tray. But, when I started, I had those short domes on there, realized it and put another book in there so now they are about 1 or 2 inches away. It is all reflective diamond foil inside. There are only 2 holes about 1 inch to allow the cords in and out. But there should be enough ventilation still with all the spaces in between (whereever the sheetrock comes together, there is a seam and enough light leaks out to illuminate my room dimly like a nighlite is on.

This is a stopgap measure until the bigger box is ready and then they will be in a 2 x 3 by 4 ft high box with a 250 MH. Once they are in that for a while, either I'll put them directly into flower under 2 1000's. or I can put them under 1 or 2 400's. I sprayed them with water containing insecticidal soap and put some Serenade on them as well, as well as soaked them in b1 solution. I will be growing organically in soiless mix.

In the past, plants would die in the seedling stage because they got too much water or the soil would not dry out. If anything, they may be too dry this time as I just gave them drops at a time from a water bottle. They are soaking now so we'll see what happens. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[supersmallgiant]

The two that are above the surface but won't show their leaves, are you saying that the cotyledons are sort of fused together at the top? If so, try to get a good look at the very tips of those cotyledons. Do you see a brownish, translucent membrane still clinging to them? This membrane is in the seed, and sometimes doesn't "shed" the way it's supposed to, and it will essentially keep your cotyledons fused together unless you ride in Lone Ranger-style and help.

If that is the case, you need to help the plants get that membrane off. Something thin and small like that one piece on a set of nail clippers one uses to get the crud out from under their nails is a good tool for this purpose. Try to slide it between the cotyledons at their base as they membrane isn't that large and you should be able to find some space here. Then gently slide up until you catch a bit of that membrane and it should come off.

The other problems I can't offer any advice on, sorry.

This happens to me all the time. I like to use a utility knife blade to get the membrane off. I use the blade backwards so the sharp side follows, that way I don't accidentally cut them. Works every time.

 

[Red Fang]

excellent tip man!

 

[mad librettist]

This happens to me all the time. I like to use a utility knife blade to get the membrane off. I use the blade backwards so the sharp side follows, that way I don't accidentally cut them. Works every time.

so does water. just spray them and that membrane will come off.

water is much safer than prying it off.