Seeds Popped, Grew Leggy, then Shriveled and Died

[Swamp Thang]

Hello, fellow grow-meisters. I recently acquired some Ace Golden Tiger and Zamaldelica seeds which I intended to grow into mother plants from which I planned to take clones when next year's growing season rolls around.

The seeds all popped, but then grew very long stems soon after germination. Recognizing that they needed to be closer to the LED grow lights, I placed the planters on a raised platform, then buried the stems with a light sprinkling of soil to give them strength and prevent them from toppling over due to those long thin stems. They were all planted in plastic cups with holes drilled in the bottoms of the cups so that I could water them by adding water to the tray in which the cups stood, as I've usually done.

To my dismay, however, the seedlings all just withered and died one by one, until my entire crop was no more. I've successfully germinated and grown out seeds under LED lights in the past, so I am baffled as to why these all died while they were still tiny seedlings. I've got some Ace Malawi seeds on order, and I don't want to repeat the same mistake and lose them as well, so I thought I'd better ask here from the pros to find out where I went wrong.

Each seed was pre-soaked overnight in water, and they germinated within the usual 4 days, yet something went wrong pretty much right away, and I am still none the wiser as to what exactly caused this seedling die-off. Any pointers that can be offered would be greatly appreciated. Much thanks in advance.

 

[VenerableHippie]

Hmm. Would have to suspect building-up soil was not the right thing to do. Sounds like classic 'damping off'. (Read up yr gardening books.) Maybe use Vermiculite next time which won't hold excess moisture.

I had this prob with a Haze variety. I germed them in small square pots (or tubes 50 mm X 50 mm X 150 deep). Had to prop up the seedling by cutting the bottom off another pot 'til 50 mm remained and then inverted it over the seedling until the stem gained strength.

Good luck next time ...

 

[Creeperpark]

Very long stems mean you needed more light. I use fluorescent lights for sprouting seeds and put the lights very close to the plants. Just use quality soil and plant the seed in the soil. Use plastic dixie cups for the first 2 or 3 weeks then up-pot to a gallon. If you weigh the cups dry and then wet you can keep from overwatering the cups.

 

[bushed]

Dampening off, it's happened to the best of us, genetics come into play, I was fine for years germinating under a cfl then like yourself lost a pack of 5. Since I've religiously germinated under a 250hps and never lost another.

 

[FletchF.Fletch]

When you added soil to the tops, did you water it in?

 

[44:86N]

Get some brand new soil. Professional grade. Why mess around?

I very much like this stuff:

 

[44:86N]

And be sure to watch your temps, they also can promote damp off. Stay above 68F/20C --- 72F/22C is good.

 

[Swamp Thang]

Fellas I am very grateful for these educative responses. I am pretty sure now, based on the above responses that "damping off" is the culprit, along with too great of a distance between the seedlings and the lights above them. After filling up with soil to support the long stems, I did water them in, so the likelihood is high that in doing so I inadvertently sealed the fate of those precious seedlings. I "loved those seeds to death" sadly.

When my Malawi seeds show up, I will ensure they are much closer to the lights, so this calamity doesn't repeat itself. Of all the online cannabis information forums that exist online, IC Mag is the one frequented by the most knowledgeable growers and also the most generous when it comes to sharing that accumulated wisdom with others. I wish everyone here a Happy New Year in advance, with many more productive growing seasons to come as the years roll by.

 

[Creeperpark]

Fellas I am very grateful for these educative responses. I am pretty sure now, based on the above responses that "damping off" is the culprit, along with too great of a distance between the seedlings and the lights above them. After filling up with soil to support the long stems, I did water them in, so the likelihood is high that in doing so I inadvertently sealed the fate of those precious seedlings. I "loved those seeds to death" sadly.

When my Malawi seeds show up, I will ensure they are much closer to the lights, so this calamity doesn't repeat itself. Of all the online cannabis information forums that exist online, IC Mag is the one frequented by the most knowledgeable growers and also the most generous when it comes to sharing that accumulated wisdom with others. I wish everyone here a Happy New Year in advance, with many more productive growing seasons to come as the years roll by.

If you have time go to the propagation forum and follow my "sure-fire" seed sprouting method. It's so easy using that propagation method with no seed loss.

 

[Swamp Thang]

Heading over there right now with a tip of the hat. Much thanks for the guidance along this path of learning.

 

[BobChronic6505]

Fuck damping disease!!!!!