Moon's Graden

   Most probably, your seedlings are not getting enough light -- they're
stretching their necks, so to speak, to try and find the sun.  If you grow
your seedlings under flouresent lights, remember that the light should be
only a couple of inches from the seedling.  If you're trying to start them
in a window, try to make it a south-facing one, and maybe even add a white
backing (or reflective backing) to try and reflect more light back onto
the plants.

   Other factors could be at work here too, such as too early or too
frequent fertilization, or the use of an overly fertile starting medium.
Generally I use a soil-less starting mix, and don't fertilize until after
setting out.

:jon

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"The value and validity of an experience exists independently from the
 validity of the process that gave rise to it."  -- Mark Kampe

--
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"The value and validity of an experience exists independently from the

| Everytime I plant seeds indoors, the seedlings tend to get "rangy" and tall
| when they still only have the initial 2 leaves on them.  Could anyone help
| me solve this or suggest some solutions for the seedings I already have?
| I have thought of putting most of the seedling stem underground when I
| replant them.  Any idea if this would work?  Thanks:)
|  
| Mary
The first reason they get tall is that they get insufficient lighting, and think
they have to stretch to get up from the undergrowth, into the light.

The second reason is that it is too hot where your seedlings reside
combined with the low light level.

These two things are not easily changed when you do not have a greenhouse,
but there is another trick you might try:  try shaking or brushing your
seedlings once or twice daily.  If you don't think it'll work; leave some
undisturbed and watch the difference.

( still, while brushing your plants does work, try to keep the temp down,
and the light-level up to get top quality seedlings.)

Good luck.
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ME         :   Erling Floistad, Dr. student
My nest    :   Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Science,
               Agricultural University of Norway,  NLH
Snail Mail :   Po.Box 5022, N-1432 AAS,  NORWAY

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My saying  :   "Impossible??  The impossible takes but a little more time!"
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Almost certainly its low light levels - seedlings seem to need a LOT of
light. One thing that worked well for me is fluorescent work lights
available at any good hardware store. Many of these fixtures are available
with chains for*** them from overhead surfaces. Thus you can initially
hang the lights very close to the seedlings, and gradually move them up as
the seedlings get taller. I did this in a closet and had good success, but
you do have to be careful to ensure good ventilation too.

: >Everytime I plant seeds indoors, the seedlings tend to get "rangy" and tall
: >when they still only have the initial 2 leaves on them.  Could anyone help
: >me solve this or suggest some solutions for the seedings I already have?
: >I have thought of putting most of the seedling stem underground when I
: >replant them.  Any idea if this would work?  Thanks:)

:    Most probably, your seedlings are not getting enough light -- they're
: stretching their necks, so to speak, to try and find the sun.  If you grow
: your seedlings under flouresent lights, remember that the light should be
: only a couple of inches from the seedling.  If you're trying to start them

Wrong!!! it just depends on the light source.  Last year after reading
here that the light at two inches prevented legginess, I tried one
 light two inches over my seedlings and burnt every seedling to a
crisp.  This time I'm trying two bulbs at a 6 inch height and it seems to
work much better.  You'll just have to experiment on this.

over
: in a window, try to make it a south-facing one, and maybe even add a white
: backing (or reflective backing) to try and reflect more light back onto
: the plants.

:    Other factors could be at work here too, such as too early or too
: frequent fertilization, or the use of an overly fertile starting medium.
: Generally I use a soil-less starting mix, and don't fertilize until after
: setting out.

: :jon

: --
: -----

: "The value and validity of an experience exists independently from the
:  validity of the process that gave rise to it."  -- Mark Kampe

: --
: -----

: "The value and validity of an experience exists independently from the

   I appreciate your experience, but I still don't think I'm misleading
Mary.  I start a wide variety of seeds under cool-white, flouresent lights
and I've never had a problem with 'burnt' seedlings with the bulbs a couple
of inches from the leaves.

   Mind you, this is *flouresent* light.  Incandesents put out a lot more
heat, and I can quite imagine that they would fry your seedlings at that
distance.

Bright blessings,
:jon

--
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   "God was their name for the hypothetical Biggest-Alpha-
    Male-of-All. Being primates, they could not conceive of
    anything as complicated as the universe running without
    an Alpha Male in charge of it."  -- Robert Anton Wilson

--
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   "God was their name for the hypothetical Biggest-Alpha-

: >

: >: >Everytime I plant seeds indoors, the seedlings tend to get "rangy" and tall
: >: >when they still only have the initial 2 leaves on them.  Could anyone help
: >: >me solve this or suggest some solutions for the seedings I already have?
: >: >I have thought of putting most of the seedling stem underground when I
: >: >replant them.  Any idea if this would work?  Thanks:)
: >
: >:    Most probably, your seedlings are not getting enough light -- they're
: >: stretching their necks, so to speak, to try and find the sun.  If you grow
: >: your seedlings under flouresent lights, remember that the light should be
: >: only a couple of inches from the seedling.  If you're trying to start them
: >
: >Wrong!!! it just depends on the light source.  Last year after reading
: >here that the light at two inches prevented legginess, I tried one
: > light two inches over my seedlings and burnt every seedling to a
: >crisp.  This time I'm trying two bulbs at a 6 inch height and it seems to
: >work much better.  You'll just have to experiment on this.
: >

:    I appreciate your experience, but I still don't think I'm misleading
: Mary.  I start a wide variety of seeds under cool-white, flouresent lights
: and I've never had a problem with 'burnt' seedlings with the bulbs a couple
: of inches from the leaves.

:    Mind you, this is *flouresent* light.  Incandesents put out a lot more
: heat, and I can quite imagine that they would fry your seedlings at that
: distance.

: Bright blessings,
: :jon

My mistake.  I am using gro-lights.  Last year's posters were not clear
on which types of lights they were using.

Chad

Mary --

Sounds like they are not getting enough light.  Try putting them
in the sunniest spot in your house.

Regards,
~ Mike