Seedling toppled over

Stone Age

Member
My Girl Scout Cookies Auto seedling started out growing at an angle to the light, and seemed to me to have a spindly stem. Sometime in the last couple of hours, it toppled over, and the top has already turned upward toward the light.

Should I try to prop it up, or leave it alone?

The light is a Mars TS 600, about 28 inches from the plant. Do I need to adjust it?

The other seedling (different strain) has a thicker stem, and is upright.

Toppled.JPG
 

insomnia65

Well-Known Member
I would bury it deeper, but please wait till some one more experienced comes along, at least support it for now.
 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
Might be toast, could be damping off. If it survives, you can do like the other guy said and replant it deeper to support the stem. It's stretching to get enough light.
 

Mr_X

Well-Known Member
that happened to me before. i used one of my plant soil tags as a temporary prop until it could stand by itself.
 

Wizzlebiz

Well-Known Member
Bury the stem with it layed down. You have space in the grow bag to fill without ripping it out of there. Lower your light.

I see you watered that whole big pot. Don't do that. Only water around the stem until it gets established.

2 issues causing your problem. Light to high. And too much water.

Next time start in solo cup with seedling mix and then transplant. Yes I know autos... doing what I am tell you will absolutely get you further along than what your doing.
 

nflguy

Well-Known Member
I think she'll be fine. Shes green and shows growth upwards toward the light. Just needs more intense light and stem support (in my opinion). Dont forget a fan. Thats vital for a nice strong stem.
 

nflguy

Well-Known Member
OK thanks everybody, I buried about the lower 1/3 of the stem, and lowered the light to 22".

I bought a fan yesterday but haven't hooked it up yet. I'll get that going sometime today.
you may need to go even lower than 22 with the light....just keep an eye on it
 

quirk

Well-Known Member
A hormone is activated in the seedlings under low light conditions, causing cells in the stem to rapidly elongate, searching for light. As @nflguy
recommends, support stem, provide more light to stop hormone production, add air circulation to strengthen stem and your seedling will redirect its energy to root development.
 

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Jumpin Jimmy

Well-Known Member
She’s stretching for light and you didn’t plant the seed deep enough. Drop light down a bit and maybe add just a little soil to help support it..no more than a quarter inch of soil and don’t keep it too wet too long. Youngins that age are primed for damping off when buried deeper.
 

Stone Age

Member
Well crap, it toppled over again this morning. I reburied it even deeper and lowered the light another couple of inches.

I'm starting to wonder if the stem on this plant is just too frail.
 

insomnia65

Well-Known Member
For it to topple over you didn't bury it deep enough, I would just leave about 10-20mm above soil, that support looked a good idea to, the light is to high.
 

nflguy

Well-Known Member
The stem is too frail. That's why you need some air circulation in there. Prop it up really well then get some air moving. You should see it moving slightly from the breeze. The stem will strengthen. Is it still bending toward the light? If so, you know it's still alive.
 

Stone Age

Member
The stem is too frail. That's why you need some air circulation in there. Prop it up really well then get some air moving. You should see it moving slightly from the breeze. The stem will strengthen. Is it still bending toward the light? If so, you know it's still alive.
It's still bending toward the light, and looks healthy, aside from that spindly stem. My fan is now in place. I'm hoping that will strengthen the stem enough that I'm not going to have to be constantly propping it up.
 
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