Grow lights scorching new sprouts

[adamziegler]

So a few days after germination I take off the humidity dome. Put light on it measured at around 250par give or take. And this is what I come home to… any thoughts?? Most of the sprouts are wilted

Your soil dried out. I don't know the exact reasons, but it could be the climate you are in, how much air flow (I see a fan in the back?), lack of adding water... etc.

Soak your soil and let all excess moisture drain off for 15-20 min. Add some new seeds and start over. This year I forgot about a seed trays with some basil for a couple days and had to replant because they dried out shortly after germination. It happens.

Consider a fine mist sprayer to keep soil moist without over saturation.

What is your weather like outside?

 

[adamziegler]

Do you have water in the tray? They look awfully dry.

Yeah watering from the bottom is another good idea to keep the soil moist

 

[deluxestogie]

Insert a wooden Popsicle stick into one cell—all the way to the bottom, and leave it inserted. By tomorrow, it will begin to serve as a soil moisture gauge. It's easy to read. Moisture will visibly wick its way up the stick. It should not appear totally dry dry. After a week or two, you will easily recognize when to add water to the bottom of the tray. I suggest not misting the surface.

Bob

 

[ssummer]

Yeah watering from the bottom is another good idea to keep the soil moist

I can’t seem to find a foolproof way of watering? I hear watering from bottom, but how much? How often, and most importantly when? When they are seedlings their roots are not deep at all? Honestly it’s just been a. Frustrating process. This is already my second time replanting this year because I screwed up the first batch as well(scorched due to having lights too close) so this time around I kept them very well misted throughout germinating and seedlings. Not sure what else I can do. If I overwater they day, if I have the proper light on them they die, if I look at them wrong they die. Obviously I’m the issue here. Just have no idea what it could be I’ve done so much research and can’t seem to get to the bottoms of it.

 

[ssummer]

Thank you this is very helpful although I have one issue. I u destined water can work its way up the stick, but the grow lights during the day will obviously dry out the top of the stick that is not in the soil, so how do I check the stick to be accurate? Thank you again for your advice

 

[deluxestogie]

Good to hear that you have restarted. I would make the following suggestions:

• Once the seeds have germinated, stop misting. Stop misting. That just increases the risk of fungal growth (damping-off), and confuses your ability to determine if the soil is being watered adequately.
• Water only into the containing tray (i.e. bottom watering). Allow the water to fully absorb (an hour or two), then dump the remaining water from the tray. At this point, you can lift one corner of the tray to get a sense of its weight when well saturated.
• Add more water to the tray if the soil surface appears dry, or if the weight of the tray feels significantly lighter (this is not precise). Pretty soon, you will be able to judge how much water to add to the tray without needing to dump any remainder. I typically water every three days or so, but, I check it twice a day.
• Position the lights higher than you think they should be. If the seedlings start to appear leggy, then move the lights slightly closer.
• Post some pics, as you continue.

Good luck with your grow. I'm confident that you'll work it out.

Bob

 

[ssummer]

Good to hear that you have restarted. I would make the following suggestions:

• Once the seeds have germinated, stop misting. Stop misting. That just increases the risk of fungal growth (damping-off), and confuses your ability to determine if the soil is being watered adequately.
• Water only into the containing tray (i.e. bottom watering). Allow the water to fully absorb (an hour or two), then dump the remaining water from the tray. At this point, you can lift one corner of the tray to get a sense of its weight when well saturated.
• Add more water to the tray if the soil surface appears dry, or if the weight of the tray feels significantly lighter (this is not precise). Pretty soon, you will be able to judge how much water to add to the tray without needing to dump any remainder. I typically water every three days or so, but, I check it twice a day.
• Position the lights higher than you think they should be. If the seedlings start to appear leggy, then move the lights slightly closer.
• Post some pics, as you continue.

Good luck with your grow. I'm confident that you'll work it out.

Bob

Bob this was very helpful, how has this worked for you? Also when you fill the bottom tray, how much do you fill it before you let it sit for an hour or two?

 

[deluxestogie]

Most years, this works very well. I arrange my 1020 trays as an assembly of 4 parts. On the bottom I use an optional, lattice tray, just for support when lifting or moving the trays. Above that is a tray without holes. Above that is a tray with holes (drains). Finally the cell inserts are in the upper position. For watering, I lift out one of the inserts, then pour ½-quart to 1½ quarts of water into the tray with holes. Some of this water drains into the tray without holes, leaving maybe ¼ to ½ inch of water beneath the cell inserts.

Bob

 

[ssummer]

Most years, this works very well. I arrange my 1020 trays as an assembly of 4 parts. On the bottom I use an optional, lattice tray, just for support when lifting or moving the trays. Above that is a tray without holes. Above that is a tray with holes (drains). Finally the cell inserts are in the upper position. For watering, I lift out one of the inserts, then pour ½-quart to 1½ quarts of water into the tray with holes. Some of this water drains into the tray without holes, leaving maybe ¼ to ½ inch of water beneath the cell inserts.

Bob

Gotcha, so obviously the cells are taller than .5 inches. From my understanding, the water will actually work its way up the cells into the soil even if the roots don’t go that deep.
Below are some photos of my plants. Really not going well but trying to revive them. The 2 trays on the top were the ones that got wilted, most of the seedlings have picked themselves back up so I assume they are ok. The one cell on the bottom has been germinated for about a month at this point. I did wilt this ones as well a while ago. Since then they have been growing at a very slow rate.

 

[Knucklehead]

Gotcha, so obviously the cells are taller than .5 inches. From my understanding, the water will actually work its way up the cells into the soil even if the roots don’t go that deep.
Below are some photos of my plants. Really not going well but trying to revive them. The 2 trays on the top were the ones that got wilted, most of the seedlings have picked themselves back up so I assume they are ok. The one cell on the bottom has been germinated for about a month at this point. I did wilt this ones as well a while ago. Since then they have been growing at a very slow rate.

Don't add fertilizer until the leaves are abut dime sized. Most potting soil comes with enough fertilizer to get going.