The seeds have been purchased. The seedling trays or pots are in place. The bag of potting soil is awaiting. Once the seeds have been planted and germinate and start growing, things look great and first move along at a fairly slow and manageable pace. Then, suddenly, seedlings look too tall and skinny, start to fall over, and become tough to transplant. How do we avoid the problem of spindly, leggy seedlings?
The key is even lighting. Plants, of course, will always grow in the direction of a light source, whether it’s natural or artificial. If light is insufficient or too far away, a tall, skinny stem will develop at the expense of the width and strength of the stem. Adequate and even lighting will definitely help prevent scrappy seedlings. Plants placed near a south facing window will fare much better than those near a north facing window. That seems pretty basic, but depending on where you live and how your residence is situated, this can be key. On the Cape, however, a south facing window will probably not provide enough light for fledgling plants. Seedlings need about 12 to 18 hours of light per day to get a strong start.
If there isn’t adequate natural light, a grow light or fluorescent light will be necessary. With a grow light, be sure that it is close enough to the seedlings to prevent the reach and stretch that would occur if placed too far away. The lights should optimally be placed just a few inches above the seedlings as they emerge from the soil, and should optimally be raised above the plants to maintain a consistent distance as they grow taller.
Crowded seedlings will also result in spindly seedlings. So, even if you seed heavily and start out with a thick set of youngsters, don’t be afraid to thin them out to ensure healthy and strong plants. Another tip – keep your soil evenly moist and don’t let it dry out. An oscillating fan near the seedlings can provide “strength training” and prep them for the move to the great outdoors.
Growing strong seedlings will help them survive and thrive when transplanted. They’ll withstand wind and rain much better than leggy plants. It can be pretty frustrating to transplant seedlings and then find them knocked over once they’re outdoors. Better to start out strong!
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