Overwater or Underwater? Drooping Seedlings need help!

[FunkyCheddar]

So I've finally been able to start growing, but unfortunately I'm about to lose 5 out of my 10 seedlings because I don't know whether I should water them or not.

Here's what I'm working with:
Soil: only FFOF with no added perlite (wish I did)
The seedlings are about two and a half weeks old.
They were planted directly into these small square pots immediately after germination.
I have not been using any added nutrients, I have only been using reverse osmosis water.
I have been watering them every day... but I have only been spraying the top of the soil about 30 times--- that is about 10ml of water per day

I am using a 400w MH aircooled light, and my temps in the room stay between 70 and 80... OCCASIONALLY getting to maybe 83.

The strange thing is my other five plants look fine to me and are showing no sign of droopage. I haven't watered them in a little over a day, and they seem to be getting worse.

The only yellowing I am seeing is a slight yellowing of the very first leaves that grew, and thats not even on all of the leaves. The leaves seem to be pointing towards the plant and not away from the plant which makes me think its maybe underwatering. But I'm new to this... so I really don't know for sure what it is. The stems are starting to bend down towards the soil so I'm pretty sure time is running out very soon.

Edit: Here are the pictures from the 1st day of droopiness

 

[Sammet]

I've just had a look in your gallery, the second photo definately looks under watered, the leaves look like they've lost their turgidity. The first looks alright to me. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish between under and over watering, maybe you should change how you water them?

10 ml sounds like not a lot to me, what size pots are they in and what drainage do you have? I think it's best to water less frequently with a slightly larger amount than you're using now. You can feel when the pots need watering by lifting them and feeling how much they weight(A wet pot feels quite a bit heavier than a dry one), or you can (carefully ) use a little finger to feel an inch or two in the soil for moisture.

And welcome



Edit: whoa whoa whoa. Just seen more photos from your gallery, definately underwatered! give those babies a drink!

 

[MynameStitch]

Which pictures are you talking about in your gallery?

 

[FunkyCheddar]

well all of them are from the current grow.... and I guess I posted the healthy ones to show that not all of them are sick. So i guess I should say--- the droopy ones in my gallery are the ones I'm talking about.

Edit:--- I deleted a few pictures that got uploaded twice by mistake. It should be more obvious now which ones are the sick ones.

 

[MynameStitch]

Ya, I agree with Sammet... badly in need of water!

 

[FunkyCheddar]

Thanks a lot guys. I fed them some more water just now, hopefully they'll be showing signs of improvement soon. Do you guys think I have a decent chance of recovery?

 

[MynameStitch]

Oh ya, but if you would of waited another day they may not have recovered.... some of them the worst ones that is.... the other ones that did not look as bad coulda survived for another 2 days at the most though.
THey should perk up in a few hours 10 hours max

 

[Johnny Rotten]

Hmm....seedlings in strait Fox Farms Ocean Forest....seen nothing but problems....seedlings always go in a 2/3 peat 1/3 perlite, plain, free of anything related to nutrients. The plants just don't need it and it really takes the guesswork out of the whole over/underfed start problem. Then when the cotyledons yellow, give em a light dose of nutes.....

Always take away the variables or at least try and control them. That the whole secret to learning your plants.

 

[FrankRizzo]

I have gone through some of the same problems with my little ones. Mysta177 gave me a good description on the whole under/over watering deal. If you pull the curled leaves up and they spring back then you probably over watered. If they are limp then they are underwatered. This is just a basic description. If you want check out my journal I've got my hands full with problems (I'm a rookie too) and maybe some of the advise people have given me will help you. Good luck

FRizzo

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=70832&page=2&pp=15

 

[sativalicious]

Always take away the variables or at least try and control them. That the whole secret to learning your plants.

This is fantastic advice! It's succinct, specific, and simple. In fact, that may be good advice to excel at any task!

I read that other thread about feeling the leaf and the limp "member", etc. LOL! That might work. Though I think the best way to determine the difference between over-watering and under-watering is by paying attention and being observant to what is happening.

I realize the net is an irony-deficient medium, but here I go anyway.
If watered 1-2 days ago or medium feels moist: See Over-watering.
If not watered for many days (e.g. out of town): See under-watering.


I may be pointing out the obvious, but there are ways the local gardener can help the remote gardener diagnose their problem. I was reading this thread and realized the gardener who is in the best position to "make the call" regarding over/under watering is the local gardener.

Once a remote gardener says, "Hey! That looks like under-/over-watering but it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference..." Enter local gardener with the final call. If neither, evaluate the nutes issue.

PS: this IC mag forum (and the people here) are the Kind.
-

 

[MynameStitch]

Lifting the pot method is the better one, because just because the top part of ther soil is dry does not mean the middle to bottom of the soil is dry...... learning to lift your pots when soil is dry ( in need of watering) and after a good water is the best to learn..... then you will know when the plant needs water if you can't read your plants yet.


10k's thread on learning how to water is a good read.

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=47761

The "lift the pot" method is a widely practiced, and very accurate method of knowing when to water your container plants.

The best way imho, to know when soil grown potted plants need more watering is by checking how heavy the pots feel. This method is very simple to learn once you get the feel for how light a ready for watering pot of soil feels.

Get an equal size pot and fill it with your soil. The medium should be about as moist as a new bag of potting soil (not dry). Use this planter as a learning tool to get a rough idea of how much the pots should weigh before watering again. The pots with your plants will feel only just slightly heavier when the soil is ready for more water. Pick up one of your planted pots, if its noticably heavy, do not water it until it feels "light". Next time you water a planter, pick it up and feel how much heavier it feels compared to the sample pot of soil.

It only takes a few times picking up the pots until this skill is like a "second nature" to you. You wont even need the sample pot after you get accustomed to the lifting method.

Sure your plants are always putting on more weight as they grow larger, but once you're proficient at lifting the pots, you'll also know how to compensate for the weight of the plants with ease.

I dont know how to better explain this method of knowing when to water, but believe me, anyone who learns this method, will always know when its time to water.

10k

ps... Sticking your finger into your soil is horrible dryness test and should NOT be practiced. There is no way your finger can tell just how moist or wet the soil is deeper down in the planter where the majority of the roots may be suffering from overwatering. Not to mention stressing the plants from you jamming your digit into the medium every day. Arrrgh...Stop doing that !

I may be pointing out the obvious, but there are ways the local gardener can help the remote gardener diagnose their problem. I was reading this thread and realized the gardener who is in the best position to "make the call" regarding over/under watering is the local gardener.

If that was the case there would be no need for diagnosing plants..... so technically the gardener who is in need of help and has no idea would not be able to make the "best call"

 

[sativalicious]

Could you, MyNameStitch, possibly be any more annoying or any more clueless about the spirit of my post?

Perhaps you are unaware of how your words are read/interpreted by others... but I, for one, do not understand why you must post as if you are topping the last poster or otherwise condescending to others with your words. It is annoying.

Peace.

 

[MynameStitch]

I don't try to top other posters wth; sorry not being like that never will. I am NOTQueen grower of all who knows all like you try to point me out to be. There are other growers. I was just pointing out the few words you said...... grower knows the call...... thats all I was talking about.... nothing else.

 

[FunkyCheddar]

Ok so last night a few more of my plants started to wilt (the ones that weren't originally wilted)... so I watered them accordingly and by this morning, they were all fine. Unfortunately the five original wilted plants have not shown any sign of improvement. They haven't gotten any worse--- but I honestly don't know if it could possibly get any worse. So I'm hoping by tomorrow they'll be looking better but as of now they're all still down for the count.

 

[Sammet]

Any more photos Funky?

 

[FunkyCheddar]

Yea Sammet I just uploaded some more into my gallery. The ones I just added are called Still_Sick-1 , Still_Sick-2, etc... I also added the picture of my biggest one, and thats called "standin_strong"

Edit: Here are the pictures










This is my strongest plant:

 

[false]

uhh , doesnt anybody use a moisture meter ? 10 $ at the home depot , works great for me , much more accurate than the lifting method . one of the best dollar values ive ever spent on growing before . I used to kill alot of plants before i got it .

 

[FunkyCheddar]

Thanks for the tip, false... I'll get one of those tomorrow

 

[FunkyCheddar]

Ok so two days later and there is still no sign of recovery. I guess the plants are dead... this really sucks big time as I am going to need to build a veg box now and take cuttings because I doubt all five of my plants are going to turn out female.

Thanks for all the help everyone... wish I asked for it sooner.

 

[FrankRizzo]

It may take them a while to recover. The old growth on the underwaters plants I have has stayed about the same but there is new growth starting to show. It took a week for me to get even that.

FRizzo