I have a module tray of seedlings and they are looking very bonny. Inch tall, cotyledons about 3/4 inch across. But they are all leaning at an angle of 60 degrees to to the horizontal. I am worried that when the true leaves arrive they will be top heavy and topple over.
I can leave them, turn the tray round, or use a bit of potting compost to earth up the stems. What do people suggest please.
Leaning seedlings (grown on a window for example) need to be rotated to correct the lean.
It's quite possible that they will be top heavy as they develop. This can be remedied buy "earthing up" as you suggest. Or you can prick them out into new modules planting them deeper thus making them sturdier. :happy7:
Someone on here puts a 'wall of tin foil behind them to reflect the light, I think. I turn my seedlings around morning and evening :happy7:
I like the foil idea Manics. I have some plants which were supposed to crop in October and November but are still small plants so I might give them a piece of foil each too.
I have never turned my seedlings, perhaps that is why they tend to flop. :BangHead: I thought they liked staying in the same orientation afterall outside they cannot move.
The foil is working really well, and I have given them a quick zap with my SAD lamp and they are already back to 80 degrees, so hopefully in a few days they will be upright. Did not think they could right themselves so quickly.
I turn seedlings several times a day - I think of it as their little workout. I also blow on them and gently brush them [not with a hairbrush!] to try and beef them up a little.
However my brassicas that have germinated indoors are now out in the unheated greenhouse; they don't need the heat that toms and peppers need so they are put out there along with the onions and any lettuces.
Tin foil always works for me - simple and easy to do. :toothy10:
I would like to put mine outside but no greenhouse it is still in the box.
I think they benefit from the wind on them to strengthen the stem and hardening them up. Not sure they will like the snow. Forecast for next few days rather cold so they will have to wait indoors. Worse they are right above a radiator though during the week that is off most of the day.
I never turn my seedlings - I think it weakens them. This may not be true but for the plant to "move" towards the light involves elongating the cells on the dark side of the stem.
I know this is from wiki but it describes it better than I can..
Phototropism is enabled by auxins. Auxins are plant hormones that have many functions. In this respect, auxins are responsible for expelling protons (by activating proton pumps) which decreases pH in the cells on the dark side of the plant. This acidification of the cell wall region activates enzymes known as expansins which break bonds in the cell wall structure, making the cell walls less rigid. In addition, the acidic environment causes disruption of hydrogen bonds in the cellulose that makes up the cell wall. The decrease in cell wall strength causes cells to swell, exerting the mechanical pressure that drives phototropic movement.
Turning them round all the time means this process is happening all the time and all that elongation, acidification, swelling may have an effect on growth at a vital stage.
I prefer the tin foil approach which negates the need to turn at all.
:happy7: My dad would be chuckling at this thread, he always says 'why don't you just sow direct and stop all this bloomin messing around and fussing' The thought of any of us turning our seedlings very day would set him off, doesn't stop me though, sorry dad!
I have had great success with module plants. They take off like a rocket no root disturbance. Also if you could see the thousands of slug eggs on my lottie you would know that direct sown seedlings will be a challenge again next year. I cannot tell you how many disappeared last year. Expensive slug food. :BangHead: I sowed three batched of psb and still had to go out and buy plants.
Also it will be another month plus before the soil outside is warm enough. My first batch seedlings will be six weeks old by then. I hope to be eating it in May. The space and the bottle cloches will then be free for beans or courgettes.
I had never heard of calabrese a few years ago. Now I am looking at ways of getting a more or less year round supply.
I have never noticed before but they seem to right themselves during the night.
Like Hi Hoe, I also use tin foil. Reflects the light. It works for me.
I have a new piece of experience. They do better if you do not drop the modules on the floor. :BangHead:
Quote from: Digeroo on February 23, 2013, 21:52:25
I have a new piece of experience. They do better if you do not drop the modules on the floor. :BangHead:
Thank you for sharing :violent1:
read somewhere if you gently stroke the young seedlings they get strong stems it mimics the wind I will try this out and hopfully I don't drop them on the floor it's a bummer Digeroo :tongue3:
One whole tray was splatted upside down. I could not bare even to look at them but just shoved them back onto the windowsill. They had had so much TLC, including a go with my SAD lamp every day when there has been no sunshine.
Well to my amazingment they have all survived. Even those with bent stems are alive and well and thriving.