Seedlings keep mysteriously dying off.
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CrazyAboutOrchids
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- Posts: 174
- Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2021 7:31 am
- Location: CT
Re: Seedlings keep mysteriously dying off.
I have tried both Jiffy and the Black Gold seedling mixes in the past and I had trouble with both. Maybe your issues were multiple....
With the LED lights some have mentioned burning and problems - there is a thread here warning LEDs!!!. My take on it was you need to be careful of the light output, the components of the lights involved and the proximity to seedlings. I had no issues with my LED lights. It was my first year using them after using T-8s for years. I used Spider Farmer SF600s which include red, IR, warm white and blue LEDs. I had great success although I did learn proximity is way different than my T-8's. For seedlings, down close is okay, but once those true leaves come up, those lights need to be up high. My peppers and eggplant don't seem to mind being closer. I found this year, my plants were far easier to harden off - like the light didn't bother them at all, wind did a bit so next year I will do as recommended above and put a fan on them for the week before.
I would thoroughly clean your seed starting pots before using again. I would try a different seeding mix next year. I am a fan of Happy Frog. I've altered a few times because of things I read and always had issues. There are many options available so you need to see what is available and close from those options. I would try to get some warmth to your seedlings as well. I grow in cool conditions in my basement under lights, but my temps run low to mid 60's.
Glad you are seeing improvements!
With the LED lights some have mentioned burning and problems - there is a thread here warning LEDs!!!. My take on it was you need to be careful of the light output, the components of the lights involved and the proximity to seedlings. I had no issues with my LED lights. It was my first year using them after using T-8s for years. I used Spider Farmer SF600s which include red, IR, warm white and blue LEDs. I had great success although I did learn proximity is way different than my T-8's. For seedlings, down close is okay, but once those true leaves come up, those lights need to be up high. My peppers and eggplant don't seem to mind being closer. I found this year, my plants were far easier to harden off - like the light didn't bother them at all, wind did a bit so next year I will do as recommended above and put a fan on them for the week before.
I would thoroughly clean your seed starting pots before using again. I would try a different seeding mix next year. I am a fan of Happy Frog. I've altered a few times because of things I read and always had issues. There are many options available so you need to see what is available and close from those options. I would try to get some warmth to your seedlings as well. I grow in cool conditions in my basement under lights, but my temps run low to mid 60's.
Glad you are seeing improvements!
- Sandy zone 6A