Hi everyone! I transplanted these a couple of weeks ago into bigger pots and they seem to have been ok until about 2 days ago they started to droop. They are early tomato seedlings and they have always had purple leaves...I read somewhere that that was a phosphorous deficiency. I put in bone meal but they are still purple. Any advice? ( photo / image / picture from curber37's Garden ) Early Roma Tomato ( photo / image / picture from curber37's Garden )
Hope I am not right, but gently dig around the stem(use a pencil) and make sure the stem looks healthy, they look like damping off to me. sorry. I had it this year and was very frustrated. never had it before, But I am sure it was my fault as I used potting mix that had been sitting in the soil bin all fall and winter, most likely was contaminated.. If the stem looks as if it was pinched below the soil, it most likely is the fungus, I actually made a cutting out of a few of them above the "pinched" looking spot and rerooted them. Or start new seeds in new potting mix.
Cold water can contribute to damping off, also. I tried the cinnamon on my soil, but I think maybe it needs to be on BEFORE there is a problem evident, because my one batch of seed geraniums had the damping off, also :-x that batch doesn't look so great. it had a very small spot in the flat, but when I transplanted them to a cell flat they weren't looking so great after a few days, even though they looked fine when I transplanted them. GRRRR!!! . new seeds should be here today. I'll start over.
I used to have trouble starting seeds indoors. It was always touch and go until I invested in a heat mat. What a difference! Best $25.00 I ever spent. I often start seeds in peat pellets. I read somewhere to water them a couple of times with tepid, weak chamomile tea. Apparently it has some sort of antibacterial or anti-fungal property. Anyway, it works great for me.
Thanks everyone! Thanks for replying to my post everyone. It was all so helpful. This is my 2nd year trying seedlings inside and with little success. I was feeling like a failure earlier but I guess I just got to start over and invest in a warming mat.
If you don't have a source close that is reasonable, just use a heating pad set on low and keep it covered with plastic so it doesn't get wet and short out, use a thermometer and make sure it isn't over 80f. We have a Menards that sells the plant heat mats for around $20.00 in the spring during the gardening season. If you have one close check there first. But a bottom heat source is an excellent investment for starting your own plants. Many seeds need the heat for the germination period. as soon as they are up you can move them off as long as the room is reasonable warm. I keep my peppers on the heat until I am ready to transplant them. And try to water them with warm or room temperature water.
I do not even start my own from seed and I have had a problem this year. Bought several six packs and due to wet cool conditions, just below soil line the stem turned to mush. First batch planted were better plants and are fine. So it may have something to do with how the seedlings were treated in the greenhouse before I bought them too.
I can go one better than buying a heat mat for the seeds....just buy a regular heating pad and put it on the low setting...that's what i did... and when i was in my house in the country...i actually lucked up on a queen sized electric blanket for $10 and used one of the rooms that had a futon twin bed in it...spreaded it out over the bed and placed my seeds on that ....boy were they happy and so was I!!!
If you can find one, an old heat mat for a waterbed is perfect !! Heavy cover so water won`t hurt it and low, slow heat. Perfect for seedlings.
