UK first grow, not sure if seeds dying off: @SnuffmeisterUK

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Advice needed, UK first grow, not sure if seeds dying off

Planted rustica, burley and Virginia 30 days ago now, rustica came up first.

I initially had them in a germination tray under grow lights, I noticed last week they had stalled growth and some started to flop, I stopped using a gentle spray bottle and watered from underneath, I also got a heat mat the day I spotted this, this picture is after a week of being on a heat mat, some have their third leaves.

Do they look OK? I've started backup seeds in finer soil also under the tray/light/heat as I'm worried about this first batch. I know the soil in the pic is a little too rough/course..

Annoyingly my windows are low E, I've got a couple rustica on a windowsill as a test despite this. Thank you!

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum. Do read the New Growers' FAQ, and scan for topics of interest in our Index of Key Forum Threads. Both are linked in the menu bar.

Do they look OK?

They look red. A natural light photo might be helpful. Most likely the low initial temperature and top-watering triggered some damping off.

Bob

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Hi Bob, thank you! I've been using this forum for the last few weeks and constantly see your wisdom chiming in!

I only have pink, blue and red settings on my lights, sadly the only space I have for them is in my living room with low E windows are they a lost cause or just going to be slow?

They had a bad start through my ignorance and setup (over watered, under heated)

 

[Knucklehead]

Hi Bob, thank you! I've been using this forum for the last few weeks and constantly see your wisdom chiming in!

I only have pink, blue and red settings on my lights, sadly the only space I have for them is in my living room with low E windows are they a lost cause or just going to be slow?

They had a bad start through my ignorance and setup (over watered, under heated)

Can you temporarily move the plants to a location with more natural lighting just for the photo?
We cannot tell if the leaves are yellow or green, healthy or failing from your first photo.

Stalled growth is normal at this stage. Once the seed burst open and the plant raises it's solar cells (leaves) they shift their energy into producing a root system. This can take awhile. However, we cannot judge the health of the plant without a better photo.

 

[deluxestogie]

It's not a lost cause, until they are dead. Give them nice conditions, and see how they do. N. rustica is usually hardier than N. tabacum varieties.

If you have a camera flash, turn off the LED lighting, and take a flash photo. Otherwise, we'll just go by your description.

Bob

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Ahh I see sorry @Knucklehead @deluxestogie here is a picture without the lights so you can see the leaf colour, it's night in the UK now so this is with living room lights on, the natural light in the room isn't too bad, although it isn't facing the sun at its fullest in the day here (can't remember how that is worded haha)

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

 

[LeftyRighty]

move them outside for direct sunshine, starting for about 1/2 hour, increasing more each day, you should be be getting daytime temperature of 45 deg F or 8 deg C by this springtime.
your plants will love this.

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Sorry if stupid question but direct sunlight with or without the plastic lid on the tray? Will try this starting tomorrow thank you

 

[deluxestogie]

They look find. Be cautious with the sun exposure. They're still tiny.

Bob

EDIT: I would use the tray lid (partly lifted, to allow excess heat to escape), and maybe a bit of thin shade cloth during direct sun exposure.

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Thanks Bob, in general, indoors should the tray be on all the time? Or with a gap for airflow or off completely? If I leave it on it looks like a bit of a sauna in there so I've had it just a tad ajar the last week

 

[deluxestogie]

So long as you water from the bottom, you can just leave the dome off indoors, once the seeds have sprouted. If you have a spare, wooden Popsicle stick, you can insert it into one of the cells, and use it to easily monitor the moisture content of the soil.

Bob

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Thanks so much @deluxestogie , I'll update this thread when I hopefully see some movement!

 

[Old Gasman]

To my eye they look fine, a little small but they'll soon catch up. I'd be inclined to get rid of the artificial lights now and just stand them on your brightest windowsill. And don't be tempted to over water them.

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

To my eye they look fine, a little small but they'll soon catch up. I'd be inclined to get rid of the artificial lights now and just stand them on your brightest windowsill. And don't be tempted to over water them.

Thanks @Old Gasman , would you suggest a heat mat under the tray still? Also, I have low E windows annoyingly, but I have a warm windowsil that gets tons of light during the day that might work well, it's overcast the next few days here so not sure if I should hold off

 

[Old Gasman]

I can only tell you my limited limited experience, I use neither growlights nor a heat mat. You say you have a warm windowsil that gets plenty of light? I would say that's the perfect place for them. One other tip, tobacco seedlings are rather shy, they know when your looking at them and worrying them, leave them alone and they'll soon grow.

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Haha! Shy seeds! I'll stop staring at them then,

I've moved them to this windowsill, it's behind some acoustic panels (it's a music room) and above a radiator that comes on for 2 hours 3 or so times a day.. it's the brightest windowsill I have, but with low e windows annoyingly.. see pic

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Note this pic was taken on a rather overcast/muggy day in the uk

 

[Old Gasman]

I'm sure they'll thrive there, keep us posted.

 

[deluxestogie]

it's a music room

Maybe that's the difficulty. To what genre are they subjected?

Bob