seedlings are falling over - help!

butterfly72

I've started growing a few things from seeds indoors and to my surprise I have little seedlings! But today a lot of the seedlings have fallen over! I'm sure I'm doing everything right...They have been watered..but not too much (I think!) and are by the window getting light. Whats going on?? Why are they falling over? What can I do to save the rest?

Any suggestions?

thanks

Doom_and_Gloom

Have you got a little twig/bit of wood (or something of the like) you can put that next to it and tie it lightly to help it stand? Tomato seedlings usualy need this the most. Works for most things really I think. As soon as they can stand on their on (or have wraped onto something) you can normaly take away the support.

butterfly72

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

Have you got a little twig/bit of wood (or something of the like) you can put that next to it and tie it lightly to help it stand?

Some of them are only a cm or two high and very thin and fragile! I'd never find anything small enough and it would be too fiddly!

the taller ones, an inch or so, I might be able to do that.

Maybe I should just accept that I can't grow a thing! Everything I try dies. :rotfl:

arkonite_babe

My seedlings did this and the cause was not enough natural light. Mine were beside a window getting sunlight all day and I thought it would be enough.They are all doing so much better now that they are outside, either planted in the bed or in the greenhouse. But I also agree with the op that says tom seedlings can flop easily if not supported.

Have you anywhere you can set the seedlings outside during the day, even if only for a short period of time? That might help too.

HTH

JWF

You should also check the stems and see if they look like they have shrivelled - if so they have suffered from damping off and you'll need to keep them a bit drier in future/next time. But it may just be not enough light as the others say!

absfabs

Could be "damping off" disease. Watering seed compost with Cheshunt compound after sowing prevents this. If any seedlings still viable, try misting with the Cheshunt solution.

I used to get this a lot, and now always use this antifungal solution. 1 tin lasts years! (mines at least 5 yrs old, the bottom's starting to rust through!)

positivelymummy

hmm i was gonna post about this too, i've started lettuce off indoors and the stems are long and fragile, i reckon if i sneezed they'd all fall down? i was gonna put them outside today and see what happens i have plenty more seeds left so if they crumple i can start again and maybe put them outside earlier? like when i see the first signs of sprouting?

zebedy

It could also be that they are growing towards the light.
I am growing cut and come again rocket on windowsill and they really grow towards the sun so I turn them round each day and they are better now

Gardening-girl_5

For those whose seedlings have grown leggy, pot them up to just under their seed leaves, they will grow roots and become stronger for this..this goes for tomato plants too! :-)

positivelymummy

Gardening-girl wrote: »

For those whose seedlings have grown leggy, pot them up to just under their seed leaves, they will grow roots and become stronger for this..this goes for tomato plants too! :-)

fab, thanks, thats what i'm off to do in a min!

butterfly72

Gardening-girl wrote: »

For those whose seedlings have grown leggy, pot them up to just under their seed leaves, they will grow roots and become stronger for this..this goes for tomato plants too! :-)

When you say 'pot them up' do you mean add compost to under their seed leaves or move them into another pot?:o

thanks