I don't know, then. If you have has no trouble with the compost it's hard to see what has gone wrong. There's no question that they are dying so I'd have them out and look at the roots to see if there is any clue there.
The way the leaves are discolouring before they crisp up suggests a problem in the compost to me but if it's not too wet/too dry/overfed or poor compost, I'm stumped.
@Posy that’s what really stumped me, I’ve used the same brand of compost for many years in the same way, only difference this year was I used a different seed soil (which I hated) I’ve tipped out the three surviving ones and repotted into a different compost which is a bit lighter and has more grit in it, the roots looked fine to me, I tipped out one of the basically dead ones and it looks like the roots couldn’t get past the seed compost, which had solidified! I’ve repotted that one too as the roots that were there looked fine, we’ll see if it regrows as the leaf bud was still there. Popped them on a north facing windowsill and I’ll move the grow light later so they’ll be in a cooler room.
I was just about to say that perhaps the compost was too rich in nutrients for them.
I have discovered that they prefer the rough life.
If that compost you’re using is solidifying then perhaps it’s starving the roots of water and it’s just bypassing the roots completely.
I’m yet to find a compost that is consistently good. I’m wondering if lockdowns and an uptick in people gardening has caused companies to rush release new stocks to keep up with demand?
Why have you got them under grow lights though? The light levels are good now. A north, or NW facing sill would be better. Plenty of light but not hot. Timing is as important as anything. Seedlings shouldn't get moved until they have at least one pair of true leaves, 2 pairs is better. It's completely different sowing in autumn too, as opposed to spring. The light is a big factor. It's why the majority of seeds aren't sown in the depths of winter. Most seeds also need more light than heat, for germinating, as long as they aren't sitting in cold wet compost. Obviously, not all are the same, but most failures occur when sowing is too early, and seeds are sitting in wet conditions, with not enough light.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I was just about to say that perhaps the compost was too rich in nutrients for them.
I have discovered that they prefer the rough life.
If that compost you’re using is solidifying then perhaps it’s starving the roots of water and it’s just bypassing the roots completely.
I’m yet to find a compost that is consistently good. I’m wondering if lockdowns and an uptick in people gardening has caused companies to rush release new stocks to keep up with demand?
It was the seed compost that solidified, it was bone dry even though the surrounding compost was nicely moist. Only on those two was it that bad, the rest managed to spread their roots out fine so who knows what was up with it, I didn't like the seed compost at all it was horrible
Did you soak the rootballs before potting on or planting? It's a good idea to soak by holding the pot/tray underwater until bubbles stop rising and it stops trying to float on the top before planting or potting on, particularly with compost that is difficult to re-wet. I've read somewhere that a tiny drop of washing-up liquid in the water he;s with re-wetting but I haven't tried that. If you did the soaking and the seed compost rootball still dried out afterwards then it is truly rubbish seed/cutting compost.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Why have you got them under grow lights though? The light levels are good now. A north, or NW facing sill would be better. Plenty of light but not hot. Timing is as important as anything. Seedlings shouldn't get moved until they have at least one pair of true leaves, 2 pairs is better. It's completely different sowing in autumn too, as opposed to spring. The light is a big factor. It's why the majority of seeds aren't sown in the depths of winter. Most seeds also need more light than heat, for germinating, as long as they aren't sitting in cold wet compost. Obviously, not all are the same, but most failures occur when sowing is too early, and seeds are sitting in wet conditions, with not enough light.
I had them already for houseplant cuttings, and I’ve never managed to grow seedlings on a north facing windowsill without them getting leggy, and south facing doesn’t work other than for chillies! So I used the grow lights instead
Yes they had 4-5 true leaves and the roots were nicely filling the pot but not root bound when I potted them on
Perhaps the compost is the problem then. I'm assuming you sowed around end of Feb/early March. At that point, a north facing sill wouldn't be great for light levels, but at this time of year, it's fine. If you sow early, there's always a danger that the seedlings become weak and etiolated due to the light levels being too low.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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The way the leaves are discolouring before they crisp up suggests a problem in the compost to me but if it's not too wet/too dry/overfed or poor compost, I'm stumped.
I can only think the compost was too rich?
The light levels are good now. A north, or NW facing sill would be better. Plenty of light but not hot.
Timing is as important as anything. Seedlings shouldn't get moved until they have at least one pair of true leaves, 2 pairs is better.
It's completely different sowing in autumn too, as opposed to spring. The light is a big factor. It's why the majority of seeds aren't sown in the depths of winter.
Most seeds also need more light than heat, for germinating, as long as they aren't sitting in cold wet compost.
Obviously, not all are the same, but most failures occur when sowing is too early, and seeds are sitting in wet conditions, with not enough light.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes they had 4-5 true leaves and the roots were nicely filling the pot but not root bound when I potted them on
I'm assuming you sowed around end of Feb/early March. At that point, a north facing sill wouldn't be great for light levels, but at this time of year, it's fine.
If you sow early, there's always a danger that the seedlings become weak and etiolated due to the light levels being too low.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...