I’m having a heck of a time this year with my tomatoes and these guys could use all the encouragement you might give them. These are a month and a half old and look like they are barely out of their seeds.
by This_isnt_important
13 Comments
mymindisfreeatlast
It happens, don’t beat yourself up. Next time start adjusting variables sooner though! Slow growth usually indicates temps are too low, and/or the light is not intense enough. The yellowing is likely too much water. Hopefully you are top watering the cups only when the top is dry. Avoid soaking from the bottom until the roots are fully filling out the container it is in. Good luck with a hopeful turnround!
Davekinney0u812
If I were to guess, they look too wet and tomatoes hate wet feet.
ohheyd
Like another said, that soil looked soaked. I’d suggest getting a moisture meter for $10 and watering only when it dips down more than halfway on its scale. Are you also lightly fertilizing?
How’s the lighting situation and temps? It looks like lighting might be OK given how low the leaves are but can’t hurt to ask.
Old_Barnacle7777
I have way fewer seedlings and some are probably waterlogged. I bet yours will look very happy in a week or 2.
Davekinney0u812
If I were to guess….your seedlings have wet feet….and they hate wet feet. Let the soil dry out a bit maybe?!
KelDanelle
Are they too cold or too warm? The soil looks kinda messy (not in a judgmental way, I love messy when it comes to hobbies), but it looks like maybe they are too wet and the soils is being sloshed around or something. Are you watering gently? These are my notes, you don’t have to answer 🙂
Ajiconfusion
I only sowed mine yesterday so you’re ahead of me! I recommend adding a fan to help with airflow. It’s been a total game changer this year for me
mrfilthynasty4141
Tomatoes are vigorous and tough they can bounce back. It just looks overwatered. Let them dry between waterings. They like a dryback period. Water so you get some runoff out the bottom ensuring your soil is evenly saturated and then let them be for however long it takes to dry out pretty good but not like bone dry. I usually water solo cups like that every 2-3 days and maybe less at the stage you are currently at. You can lift the cup after watering and compare this to the weight when you lift it when it is dry. That’s the main way I tell.
Rough-Brick-7137
What soil/mix do you have them in? Did you fertilize them? Do you just pour water on them/bottom water or mist with spray bottle? How far away is light source? What is temp they like WARM TEMPS.
Icy-Fall496
There are drainage holes drilled into the cups I hope?
Visual_Comfort5664
Is it cold there?
vendrediSamedi
I would begin fertilizing once a week with reduced dilation (1/2 of what’s recommended on bottle) with a fish fertilizer. Also make sure you have good holes in the bottom. You have stacked cups, remove the bottom cup to prevent wet feet and when you water they need to be in trays where you can bottom water so the roots develop by reaching down for the water. Since there is so much soil in the solo cups you might have to do that in a very full tray of water and fertilizer just until you feel moisture reach the top. Then let them dry out until they wilt a bit and repeat weekly. Just what I would do.
SeasonalDisagreement
Depending on your climate, I’ve had success putting seedlings in the ground that look worse than this.. People obsess over seedlings a bit too much
13 Comments
It happens, don’t beat yourself up. Next time start adjusting variables sooner though! Slow growth usually indicates temps are too low, and/or the light is not intense enough. The yellowing is likely too much water. Hopefully you are top watering the cups only when the top is dry. Avoid soaking from the bottom until the roots are fully filling out the container it is in. Good luck with a hopeful turnround!
If I were to guess, they look too wet and tomatoes hate wet feet.
Like another said, that soil looked soaked. I’d suggest getting a moisture meter for $10 and watering only when it dips down more than halfway on its scale. Are you also lightly fertilizing?
How’s the lighting situation and temps? It looks like lighting might be OK given how low the leaves are but can’t hurt to ask.
I have way fewer seedlings and some are probably waterlogged. I bet yours will look very happy in a week or 2.
If I were to guess….your seedlings have wet feet….and they hate wet feet. Let the soil dry out a bit maybe?!
Are they too cold or too warm? The soil looks kinda messy (not in a judgmental way, I love messy when it comes to hobbies), but it looks like maybe they are too wet and the soils is being sloshed around or something. Are you watering gently? These are my notes, you don’t have to answer 🙂
I only sowed mine yesterday so you’re ahead of me! I recommend adding a fan to help with airflow. It’s been a total game changer this year for me
Tomatoes are vigorous and tough they can bounce back. It just looks overwatered. Let them dry between waterings. They like a dryback period. Water so you get some runoff out the bottom ensuring your soil is evenly saturated and then let them be for however long it takes to dry out pretty good but not like bone dry. I usually water solo cups like that every 2-3 days and maybe less at the stage you are currently at. You can lift the cup after watering and compare this to the weight when you lift it when it is dry. That’s the main way I tell.
What soil/mix do you have them in? Did you fertilize them? Do you just pour water on them/bottom water or mist with spray bottle? How far away is light source? What is temp they like WARM TEMPS.
There are drainage holes drilled into the cups I hope?
Is it cold there?
I would begin fertilizing once a week with reduced dilation (1/2 of what’s recommended on bottle) with a fish fertilizer. Also make sure you have good holes in the bottom. You have stacked cups, remove the bottom cup to prevent wet feet and when you water they need to be in trays where you can bottom water so the roots develop by reaching down for the water. Since there is so much soil in the solo cups you might have to do that in a very full tray of water and fertilizer just until you feel moisture reach the top. Then let them dry out until they wilt a bit and repeat weekly. Just what I would do.
Depending on your climate, I’ve had success putting seedlings in the ground that look worse than this.. People obsess over seedlings a bit too much