Give Your Seedlings a Head Start

Plants are similar to children in that you have to give them lots of attention early on so they achieve optimum health and maturity later.

How do you start off seedlings?
When should I start fertilizing my seedlings?
How do you fix floppy seedlings?
Can you start seedlings outside?
How long can seedlings stay in trays?
Do seedlings need direct sunlight?
Should you water seedlings every day?
Is Miracle Grow good for seedlings?
How do you keep seedlings alive?
Why are my seedlings tall and skinny?
Why are my seedlings growing so slow?
How close should grow lights be to seedlings?

How do you start off seedlings?

10 Steps to Starting Seedlings Indoors

Step 1: Set up a lighted seed starting area: ...
Step 2: Gather growing containers to start your seedling: ...
Step 3: Prepare your seed starting soil: ...
Step 4: Sow your seeds: ...
Step 5: Keep soil moist but not soggy: ...
Step 6: Begin fertilizing the seedlings once true leaves sprout:

When should I start fertilizing my seedlings?

The first application should be at the time of potting up the seedlings. Two weeks after potting up, start the liquid fertilizer applications. You should continue the liquid fertilizer applications every week until the seedlings are ready to be transferred to the garden.

How do you fix floppy seedlings?

If you have leggy tomato seedlings, the best way to correct them is to repot the seedlings (or transplant them) and bury the stems up to the lowest set of leaves. Not only will this fix any problems with legginess, it's a recommended practice to strengthen tomato stems and help their roots develop more mass.

Can you start seedlings outside?

Growing seeds indoors is one way of starting your garden. Another option is to tuck seeds directly into soil outdoors. Planting seeds this way is called direct sowing, and it's an easy process that yields great results.

How long can seedlings stay in trays?

Seedlings otherwise can become root-bound if not given adequate space for the roots. Typically, after sowing the seeds, the cell trays are used for around 3-4 weeks before transplanting occurs - whether it be to an outdoor plot or into a larger container.

Do seedlings need direct sunlight?

Most seeds will not germinate without sunlight and will perform best with 12 to 16 hours each day. Indoors, place seed containers in a sunny, south-facing window and give the container a quarter turn each day to prevent the seedlings from overreaching toward the light and developing weak, elongated stems.

Should you water seedlings every day?

You want seedlings to be kept moist but not wet and never allowed to dry out completely. This most often translates to watering the soil for your seedlings at least once per day, if not more often. A spray bottle is a good way to water your seedlings and keep the soil moist without letting it get too wet.

Is Miracle Grow good for seedlings?

Liquid fertilizer is easy to mix, and so is dry fertilizer formulated for dissolving in water, such as the popular Miracle-Gro or brands like Peters or Jack's. Your granular 10-10-10 has filler that won't dissolve. The nitrogen in it will, but it's really not intended or formulated for seedlings.

How do you keep seedlings alive?

They should be protected from sun, wind and heavy rain. Gradually expose them to the sun over several days. Keep in mind that the soil will dry out much faster outside, and the seedlings may need to be watered more than once a day, so check on them regularly.

Why are my seedlings tall and skinny?

The most common cause of legginess is an insufficient or uneven access to light. When the light source is too dim or distant, seedlings grow quickly in height to get closer to that light. As the seedling gains height, it sacrifices in girth and strength, resulting in thin, pale, fragile, stretched-out stems.

Why are my seedlings growing so slow?

Cause: Even a few hours without water can slow a seedlings' growth and after a day the plant may begin to curl its leaves to conserve moisture. Hot grow lights and the dry air inside heated homes can rapidly dehydrate plants, too. ... Keep the mix consistently damp but not soggy so the plants don't dry out or drown.

How close should grow lights be to seedlings?

For seedlings, LED grow lights should generally be mounted between 24-36 inches above the plant canopy – however, this depends on the power (wattage) of the light source.