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Why seedlings stretch: 6 reasons
23.01.2023 06:50
Updated: 13.04.2023 14:10
Those who grow seedlings on their own most often encounter two problems: seedling stretching and “black leg”.
Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at the reasons why seedlings begin to stretch.
Lack of light
The seedlings do everything to develop. Due to the lack of light, they may begin to stretch out to get more light.
Result: the stem becomes too long and fragile. During the growing process, it is important to do everything to ensure that the plants receive the required amount of light.
It is worth considering that excessive lighting can lead to premature flowering.
Unnecessary feeding
When applying fertilizers, most summer residents have good goals. Everything is important in moderation and correct application. Particular attention should be paid to nitrogen fertilizers, which accelerate growth. There is a simple rule: initially, it is necessary to apply potassium and phosphorus, and only then proceed to nitrogen fertilizers.
Excess moisture
This kind of trouble does not manifest itself very often, but it is also worth considering. As a rule, this happens if the conditions for growing seedlings are ideal, and the gardener adds too much moisture.
Watering seedlings should always be done responsibly. In the first period after the shoots of the crop, it is better not to water at all.
High temperature
Growing seedlings in warmth can lead to ambiguous consequences. Each crop has a specific temperature regime.
And if it is not possible to create ideal conditions for each crop individually, you can adhere to the following scheme: +18 during the day, and +15 degrees at night.
Early sowing
Rushing to sow seeds always leads to ambiguous consequences. If the seedlings have little space in the pot, they will start growing upwards.
This kind of trouble often occurs, and it is not so easy to fix the situation, since it is not always possible to transplant the seedlings into a larger container.
Thickened plantings
As already mentioned, seedlings always fight for survival. If they do not have enough space in the hill, they will start growing upwards.
All plants begin to compete with each other for nutrients, light and space. Thickened plantings in most cases only cause harm.
The seedlings have stretched out: what to do
Here are a few basic tips to remember.
1. Perform picking. Of course, this is a labor-intensive process. It is also necessary to have suitable containers. And the main problem is that some of the crops can be damaged during picking.
2. Reduce the amount of watering. At the same time, it is worth monitoring the condition of the soil. A complete refusal to add moisture can lead to the complete death of plants.
3. Reduce the temperature. This will help slow down the growth of the seedlings a little.
Some also advise to provide additional lighting for plants, but here it is necessary to clearly determine why such a problem appeared. For example, if an excessive amount of fertilizers was applied, additional lighting will help to strengthen the seedlings.
