Hello everyone,
This is my second year growing peppers and the first year I'm doing it from seed. My seeds are germinating fine but now that some have sprouted I'm encountering some problems. The cotyledon leaves of some are starting to curl up and the plant is sagging. They don't have any true leaves yet as the oldest sprouted less than a week ago.
My first thought was underwatering. I was using a spray bottle because last year I tended to over water but I think the water didn't penetrate the soil this time and dried under the lights. I watered enough to make sure the water soaked through and noticed the water sat on the top before soaking in because it was especially dry. I also thought maybe the light was too close but then I see people recommend no further than 2 inches which mine were at.
My final question is about the container they're in. I used small Dixie cups to germinate and they worked quite well, but I'm thinking regular size solo cups might be good to hold more water and have more space. Mostly wondering if it's too early to transplant since they have no true leaves. I'm not home at the moment to add pictures but I will get some later tonight so just general suggestions at the moment. Thanks for any help you can give.
This is my second year growing peppers and the first year I'm doing it from seed. My seeds are germinating fine but now that some have sprouted I'm encountering some problems. The cotyledon leaves of some are starting to curl up and the plant is sagging. They don't have any true leaves yet as the oldest sprouted less than a week ago.
My first thought was underwatering. I was using a spray bottle because last year I tended to over water but I think the water didn't penetrate the soil this time and dried under the lights. I watered enough to make sure the water soaked through and noticed the water sat on the top before soaking in because it was especially dry. I also thought maybe the light was too close but then I see people recommend no further than 2 inches which mine were at.
My final question is about the container they're in. I used small Dixie cups to germinate and they worked quite well, but I'm thinking regular size solo cups might be good to hold more water and have more space. Mostly wondering if it's too early to transplant since they have no true leaves. I'm not home at the moment to add pictures but I will get some later tonight so just general suggestions at the moment. Thanks for any help you can give.
for germination I filled Dixie cups with Miracle Gro seed starting mix, watered them thoroughly and let the dirt dry a little. I soaked the seeds in regular tap water overnight then planted in the moist but not muddy soil, covered the group of ~39 cups in plastic wrap on a metal baking pan. I then put the pan on a heating pad and covered the whole thing in a blanket. Unfortunately my heating pad shuts off every half hour so I turn it on every time I remember and it goes cold overnight but it's been working so far.
