I can sprout the seeds just fine, but I can't get the conditions right for the little plant to grow into a big one. Its looking a little yellowish when it should be green. I've been trying to make sure that it gets just enough, but not too much water. Any suggestions?
2007-09-06 11:12:59 · 5 answers · asked by bebopdobop 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Light is probably you biggest problem here. Seedlings need lots of light and from all directions. One thing you can do is to purchase a long fluorescent light fixture that holds two bulbs. Put in one cool bulb and one warm bulb. Set it up so that you can raise or lower the fixture because it needs to stay approximately 3 inches above the seedlings at all time. Another hint is that if you plant them in peat pots or cell trays then put another tray underneath so you can water them from below and let the wick up the water. Watering from above can damage the seedlings. Also, starting you seed at the appropriate time is important because even with good inside lighting they will still get leggy if they don't get sun. I don't know what zone you are, but don't start any sooner than 2 months before last freeze that way you can get the seedlings outside as soon as possible.
Good Luck
2007-09-06 11:23:37 · answer #1 · answered by Sptfyr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it seems to me that when a plant gets yellow that means the soil is lacking in something like some nutrition. Did you start with potting mix directly from the store (from the bag)?
Yellowish could also mean either too much water or not enough. Or it could mean if you're planting it inside that your place could either be too humid or not enough. Keep trying different things.
Up north where I used to live I seemed to have a green thumb for everything, but here in the south all I can grow are bushes and outdoors, seems that everything inside that I grow just molds..
2007-09-10 09:22:31 · answer #2 · answered by sophieb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be certain that you are starting seeds in sterile potting soil. Young seedlings cannot take the heavy duty fertilizer in soils such as Miracle Gro. I started a number of plants in sterile soil and some in Miracle Gro. Even though Miracle Gro purported to be fine for seedlings, it wasn't. My plants turned yellow and died. Sound familiar? Start seeds in a sterile medium, and then repot into soil specifically for transplants. I think the soil you are using might just have too much fertilizer for seedlings.
2007-09-07 07:09:31 · answer #3 · answered by juncogirl3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check that the plant is getting enough light, make sure your soil doesn't have any contaminants and has proper drainage. air quality can cause the same thing as well as overfeeding.
2007-09-06 11:18:27 · answer #4 · answered by yonitan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What species are you trying to grow, and what are you using for a growing medium?
My bet is on light and/or soil toxicity issues.
2007-09-06 11:26:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋