leggy starts

[thursdaymoon]

I have a broccoli plant I started 2 weeks ago and it is getting really leggy. I have a fluorescent light directly over the top of the starting tray and cover, yet the seedling keeps reaching for the indirect sun coming from the window. As a result he's about 4 inches long now.

Two baby tomato plants are doing the same thing. Just not as tall yet, but leggy.

None of the three have their first set of true leaves yet. The broc has miniscule ones starting.

Can I/should I repot them yet? Do I have to wait until they have those true leaves? If I do, can I plant the broccoli's long stem into the starting soil? (I realize I can and should with the 'matos)

Thanks for any advice!

[redcairo]

What kind of lights? It seems like the sunlight must be better than what they're getting if they are going that way. Are the lights right on top of 'em (like an inch from the tallest)?

PJ

[randycarter]

I use to light outlets--there are 2 long flor. lights in each outlet for a total of 4 lights. If you are using just one light or an outlet with 2 lights it just isn"t enough.

[thursdaymoon]

yes, the plants would be touching the light if it weren't for the clear plastic dome. hmm, there are two tubes in the lamp- so that wouldn't be enough for them to grow on, that's why they are stretching for the sun?

[redcairo]

Why is there a dome over them? You usually have the dome over plants when they are on the heat mat germinating because it helps keep in moisture. When they germinate, they come off the mat and out of the dome and go to the lights. Maybe the plastic is filtering too much of the light in some frequency. One year, I kept my flats on the heat mat and with the dome, the lights right on top. It wiped out ALL of them eventually. Live and learn.

PJ

[thursdaymoon]

Why is there a dome over them? You usually have the dome over plants when they are on the heat mat germinating because it helps keep in moisture. When they germinate, they come off the mat and out of the dome and go to the lights. Maybe the plastic is filtering too much of the light in some frequency. One year, I kept my flats on the heat mat and with the dome, the lights right on top. It wiped out ALL of them eventually. Live and learn.

PJ

good question- mostly because I'm a newbie and am figuring this out as I go LOL! dome just to sprout, ok, got it:D poor little seedlings, I hope I can help them pull through!

[Blanesgarden]

One more thing to keep in mind, as PJ and Randy mentioned......
Youll need to start thinking about transplanting these soon.
Into bigger pots, and up to the leaves, this will encourage a little more root growth, and also, after a couple of more weeks into their growth, youll need to give em a little food.

A hundred different people will give you, a hundred different choices on this, but for me, I use rain water(if I have it) and a drop or two of fish emulsion, in a spray bottle, like an old windex type. Good luck, and ask more if ya must, Blane.

[MiPete]

Two different factors can cause leggy seedlings. Inadequate lighting and high day time temperatures. Often with shop lights you'll need to illuminate for 24 hours to provide enough lumens. If daytime temps are notably higher than nighttime they can get leggy too. You only need heat to germinate seeds quickly. After germination, heat can wreak havoc with plant hormones and you get leggy plants.

[hort stu]

Get the lights as close to the plants as possible and give them as much sunlight in the window as possible.

Also a fan blowing very lightly on them will strengthen their stems. This however will also dry them out faster so you will have to water more frequently.

[Ozark Matt]

I go along with blane's idea works for me. the one thing I have learned about mine is the minute they even LOOK LIKE they are going to start up I get them to the sun...THEN one day makes a heck of a difference from the types I grow. They are so fast when they start up.