Help I've been having a string of terrible luck and need help with these seedlings. Can't tell if overwatered or underwatered.

Planted these directly in some seed starter soil on the 18th. Sprouted the 21st. I lightly watered the soil before planting with water ph’d to 7. Since they have came up I’ve only sprayed them with 5 sprays to keep top soil wet. The soil looks a little dry now but just topped it off although before it did appear a little damp. My light is a hlg 260 W at 36” dimmed to 170 W, 12K Lux, 185 ppfd, 12 DLI VPD .9 kPa and Temps between 78-72 & RH 70%. Just had a similar run that turned yellow about the same time and I let them dry out but they never recovered or developed a root system.

They look super dry. I think they need more water.

You'll get the hang of it. For me personally, I prefer starting seeds in cups of coco coir. It prevents overwatering, and I've got it down to where honestly I only have to water the cup twice for the first 7 days or so. When my plants get to about your size, I'm watering them every other day to runoff.

PopAndSonGrows said:

They look super dry. I think they need more water.

You'll get the hang of it. For me personally, I prefer starting seeds in cups of coco coir. It prevents overwatering, and I've got it down to where honestly I only have to water the cup twice for the first 7 days or so. When my plants get to about your size, I'm watering them every other day to runoff.

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Well I’ve had success in the past and I had been using a humidity dome with rapid rooters. When the last grow didn’t go well I decided to try this route. I’m just afraid to water due to the leaves curling down but kinda at my wits end with what to do.

they need more water, less of a spray and more of a occasional even watering.
are you using just straight coco without any amendments?
are you using any form of mycorrhizal fungi or trichoderma bacteria in the medium?

in my experience at that size in solo cups you should be giving an evening watering about every 3-4 days based on heat levels in the room.
have you fed them any nutes or just water so far?

jasonryan00 said:

in my experience at that size in solo cups you should be giving an evening watering about every 3-4 days based on heat levels in the room.
have you fed them any nutes or just water so far?

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This is just seed starter soil so not coco and no nutes just added a little soil to the top because it was low so that’s why it looks dry. I haven’t given them a real watering yet because I thought they looked overwatered

I’d eliminate the water spray and focus on the soil. If cups feel really light, water with like 1/2 cup to a cup of water. Or Til some come out bottom. Then wait two days.

Water it around the edges of the cup with like 2/3 cup water, leave for 5 days to dry and water again.