Young seedlings stretched out? I tell you how to fix and get healthy seedlings in 2 (+1) steps

Fiery fireworks, fellow vegetable growers, flower growers and all, all, all who grow seedlings with their own hands!

Sprouted seedlings - hopes for a rich harvest or lush flowering. Sometimes it happens that instead of plants, as in the picture, we see green strings almost lying on the ground:

Elongated seedlings are not encouraging. Is it really necessary to sow again? Not at all, my friends. I, being a resident of the cold North-West of Russia, more than once came across long stalks from seedlings of vegetables and decorative flowers.

Responsibly I declare: do not rush to put a gardening cross on seedlings of a dubious type on a "thin leg", and even more so to sow again. The seedlings want to live and live normally, more than you can imagine))) Inaction will destroy it, and care from the owner will transform and give a chance for a full-fledged garden life.

A little theory about seedlings on a thin leg

To correct an unpleasant situation and prevent its recurrence in further practice, I will briefly write about the reasons for pulling out seedlings from the first days of life:

• In 99% of cases, the fault of a long and weak stem, similar to a fragile thread, is a lack of light. This is what makes the seedlings stretch closer to the light source. Even if the container with seedlings is on the sunniest window in the apartment, do not forget about another important parameter - the length of daylight hours.

From the author: I noticed that seedlings develop best when they receive light 15-17 hours a day. It is also impossible to constantly shine, because the plant must rest. By all the laws of nature.

• Deep seeding. For example, when the soil is poured only half of the glass in order to save. The walls shade the plant and it, again, stretches towards the light.

• The temperature is too high. It has been noted that temperatures of 25 ° C and above are useful only before the appearance of true leaves. Then - exactly the opposite: the strongest seedlings will grow in a cool temperature of 15-17 ° C.

I hope that the information will be useful to you in the future. And now - about the essentials. What to do now?

1. Of course, you need to get rid of long stems

The situation is easiest with the youngest seedlings. If they only released cotyledons or the first true leaves, just sprinkle the stem to the desired level with soil. It is important to act with jewelry, because thin stems are very fragile.

If the plants have already grown, then it is time to pick. Do everything as always. Only on the condition that the stem must be deepened to the level of the cotyledons. When it is too long, they make a "ring".

From the author: Despite the fragility, the stems of the elongated seedlings willingly turn from tops into roots. With one condition - no excess moisture, otherwise it will rot! Therefore, take loose soil (with perlite, vermiculite, sand or, at worst, an ordinary universal peat-based one from a store), but not garden soil, and be careful with watering.

2.3: Effective follow-up

It remains to carefully look after the seedlings. And remember: if she still does not have enough light, then the problem will return. Fortunately, daylight hours have already significantly increased, and lamps for supplemental lighting are quite inexpensive.

If you set out to grow exemplary seedlings, then you can use a special preparation - "Athlete". Thanks to its use, the plants are strong and stocky.

It was interesting? Please put "Thumbs up" in response, my dears! Thank you! I also advise you to read: The annoying mistakes that ruin the tomato seedlings on the vine