Poorly seedlings.

elsien

Whenever I try to grow things from seed, they seem to sprout all right then when they get to an inch or two tall they just keel over and die.:(
Most of the snapdragons I've started seem to have turned up their toes over the last few days. I'm finding it very disheartening as I did the same with last year's attempts as well
I'm growing them indoors (no greenhouse) in a basic unheated propogator tray in my utility room. Going to get some capillary matting in case my erratic watering is the problem. Should I leave the lid on or off when they get to a certain size, and does anyone have any other ideas?
I'm finding it very disheartening as I did the same with last year's attempts as well.

Sally_A

Take the propagator lid off as soon as there are signs of germination. Sounds like the seedlings are "damping off".

annie123

Don't worry you will get the hang of it, just need to keep practicing

A common problem is newbies over watering seedlings, it only needs to be damp, not wet, if that makes sense.
Try putting the seed try in water wait until the top of the soil is wet then remove, let drain and put back where they were.
And they don't need the top on once they are that tall, they need air to circulate around them.
If you keep them wet and covered you will get 'dampening off' as Sally A said.

http://oldfashionedliving.com/snapdragons.html

Good luck

floyd

Yep was going to suggest damping off myself, I lost 5 cauliflower seedlings to it a few days ago but at least I still have plenty of time to grow more. They need circulating air (not draughts), sterile compost, base watering and I also learned that a light dusting of powdered cinnamon is meant to discourage the fungal growth that causes it.

Mine was due to watering with a plant mister first time grower so I suppose I have to learn by my mistakes

amcluesent

Try covering the seeds with a sprinkling of vermiculite rather than seed compost

elsien

floyd wrote: »

Mine was due to watering with a plant mister first time grower so I suppose I have to learn by my mistakes

Glad you mentioned that, that was going to be plan B!

Primrose

You may have just sown too early in the year with the natural light level being too low. Seedlings need to be moved out of a propagator immediatley they show through otherwise they grow too quickly and go lanky. Also you may have been a little over enthusiastic about watering. Try again and keep the compost barely damp. You've plenty of time to resow. Snapdragons can be quite hardy so don't consset them too much. Mine often self-seed in the garden and the seedlings pop up again in Spring, the seeds having hibernated in the cold soil all over winter once the soil warms up and the daylight gets stronger.