3 cheese fem sprouts 17 days old. Drooping in small plastic cups

So after germination and composing a soil of perlite, Pro mix peat moss/mychorrizae, some pro mix moisture mix, and a bit of miracle grow soil leftover, the plants began growing well.

I had them sitting on top of one bigger plant which I received as a gift, in order to capture and share light so early on. Could that gifted plant have spread something harmful ? I noticed some chewed leaf on the big one about a week ago and so I thought to separate the plants.

They were in a space bucket in my bedroom, perhaps collecting dust in the corner, through the intake/exhaust fans. Perhaps some form of pest or dust affected it?
Anyways I plan to put them into a larger grow room being constructed, and the bigger plant outdoors soon as it warms up.
I hope this won’t be for nothing

Do you have drains on those cups? I would get them into at least peat pots if you want something small, those cups are bad for making root soup if your not careful. They could prob use a transplant ph flush and some light nutes, your sure there’s no bugs? Can’t tell but those look like clear cups, The plant won’t like light on its roots if so. I would add more perlite to the mix yet myself, it will help you control watering and the plants like airy medium.

J232 said:

Do you have drains on those cups? I would get them into at least peat pots if you want something small, those cups are bad for making root soup if your not careful. They could prob use a transplant ph flush and some light nutes, your sure there’s no bugs? Can’t tell but those look like clear cups, The plant won’t like light on its roots if so. I would add more perlite to the mix yet myself, it will help you control watering and the plants like airy medium.

Click to expand...

thanks for the reply, there’s duct tape around the clear cups to prevent light entering. It’s got drainage Pans too And I make sure they’re done dripping before I return them To such after watering. Ok I have some worm casting buckets+ ready for transplant but the conditions right now prevent me from transplanting yet...hopefully they bounce back soon, a transplant would probably help. Even if just slightly bigger cups
it shouldn’t be rootbound, I see a few roots reaching out the drainage holes of the 3 total plants. Doesn’t look heavily rooted. Pests would be frightening. I hear epson salts can help with ph?
Edit: decided to transplant after brief consideration, the cups were tiny compared to solo cups. Had some old Pizza Hut cups available, slightly taller. Took them out of their cups and saw this. Tons of roots. Maybe rootbound? Suffocating because it? Anyways I wet the base of about an inch more soil-I know it’s probably insignificant-but maybe it will last for A couple of days til I transplant to buckets, once I build my grow room.
As long as they recover and look better this will be a success

Dankmusk said:

View attachment 4561784

Click to expand...

Yeah time for bigger pots, a ph water flush and some light nutes, let them dry out in the end and they will bounce back. Keep the roots away from light and the pots need some good drainage. They are forgiving plants and patience is essential.