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Spindly seedlings

frances240frances240 Posts: 3
in Problem solving
First time growing from seed indoors.  These are sunflower seedlings - is it normal for these to be so spindly and droopy? They have one pair of leaves so presume not ready for planting on just yet?

Posts

  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    They are searching for light, do you have a brighter window? If not wait for a second proper leaf and then repot burying the stem up to the first leaves. Hope this helps. 😁
  • frances240frances240 Posts: 3
    It’s a pretty bright window!  I’ll take your advice and repot burying the stems - thanks!
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    You could make a reflector to go behind which will help to maximise light, like these:

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Nick74Nick74 Posts: 44
    purplerallim said:
    They are searching for light, do you have a brighter window? If not wait for a second proper leaf and then repot burying the stem up to the first leaves. Hope this helps. 😁
    Does burying the stems actually work? I always assumed it would cause the stems to rot, so end up planting very spindly plants! 
  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 2,190
    It is the root, not the stem, below the seed leaves, so these need to be buried when the seedlings are eventually repotted, but there is no rush.

    Some seedlings naturally come a long way out of the soil, it does not mean that they are short of light. 
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    The trick is at that point to water from below so the compost is never wet @Nick74 I have done this with many different plants and most work, the only other option is to start again and I'm a bit of a miser to do that.😁
  • frances240frances240 Posts: 3
    Thank you everyone, I will try what you suggest.  Fingers crossed! 
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