Seedlings looking sad. I am using cheap LED lighting (maybe not close enough?) and growing in Promix/compost mixture. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance
1 Like
They almost look salt burned.
1 Like
thanks…haven’t fertilized (unless there’s a bit in the ProMix)…average water content from our provider is 54 ppm…so I looked at pH which is high (9.6)…I see at ARS website a nice article by Carolyn Elgar about alkalinity which says seedlings should have 65 ppm max which happens to be our average. Maybe I’ll try to acidify the water I use on them a bit to see if that helps. appreciate your help and any other ideas.
1 Like
You’re welcome. The only other impression those blackened areas made were, “does he have Chilli Thrips”? But, the growth isn’t distorted as if it has been blow torched, so…
1 Like
interesting idea…not a normal issue in Kansas, but we did have two suspicious cases this year in gardens bringing in roses from Texas…both were able to respond quickly with an appropriate insecticide and we think we stopped it in both cases. I did help on diagnosis of both cases…but don’t “think” I brought any home with me…I’m going to work on the pH…when I went to treat, I found I had a couple gallon jugs of vinegar from Iowa where we lived before and fought with the same issue…will keep you posted. thanks
1 Like
I’m with Kim, it looks like fertilizer burn. Some of the Promix products do contain added fertilizer. I avoid those types for my own seedlings, because it’s never clear exactly which nutrients and in what quantity is being added.
2 Likes
Thanks…you have an interesting observation so I got some new potting mix that I am sure if fertilizer free and we’ll see if that makes a difference on the next batch I’m getting ready to pot up. Appreciate your input.
1 Like
I use PPFD meter app to calculate strenght of my LED to see if it suited low/high enough above the seedlings. Also I never use fertilizer at the start.
1 Like
Avoid “Pro Mix” - that stuff is toxic with all the added fertilizer.
1 Like
I use pro mix i avoid miracle grow pottong as it kills all my seedlings.pro mix has been good tp me
1 Like
I have experienced something similar with a poorly mixed bag of potting soil purchased from Walmart.
I simply took out the seedling, rinsed all the dirt from their rooots, and repotted them in fresh and new potting soil, and the problem disappered. Every seedling recovered normally.
2 Likes
Many thanks…didn’t know there are apps which measure light…I’m checking that out next.
1 Like
Just realized there are a variety of ProMix products, but I’ve used them before without a problem…also realized when repotting and smelling the old pots that I had mixed in some compost with the ProMix…which maybe is also causing the burning. Now I have too many variables to be sure, but am confident that repotting will save the seedlings. Appreciate all the input.
1 Like
Thanks for the community support! I’m now fairly certain that between the fertilizer in the Promix and the compost which I had forgotten I had mixed in, I indeed created some burn…we repotted quickly into some fresh potting media without fertilizer (or compost!) and am already seeing new growth which is nice and green again. Appreciate this group!
2 Likes