Am I starving my seedlings?

Hi, I'm beginning to notice a pattern whereby some of my seedlings are just dying. I have so many to plant, that I'm just keeping them under lights till it comes their time to go!! But it ocurred to me this evening that some are still in the seed starting medium.....with no fertilizer. Could it be that they're just starving?
Thanks for any help....
anna ruth

Could be, but it could also be damping off or something else. Can you post a picture?

ecrane, wish i could, but my son has "borrowed" my camera to take to his house in VA Beach. I've sent a few text messages asking if it could come home now, but so far..nada.
The seedlings are still under lights and I don't water till they are dry, usually every other day. Do you think that is too much. Maybe the soil is only dry on top, but there really isn't room for finger poking in the little yougurt cups when there are 2,3,or 4 or more seedlings in the cup. I've noticed that the ones I have put outside to harden off appear to be in much better condition. My beds aren't finished so I can only plant so much outside right now. Any advice?

Can you describe (in as much detail as possible) exactly the symptoms that they show leading up to their death? Also if you have some that are on the way downhill right now, take a look and see if the stem looks pinched in near the base where it emerges from the soil, that's a telltale sign of damping off. Unfortunately without being there to look at it in person it's hard to say whether watering every other day is too much, it might be OK or it might be too much depending on the size of the container, how big the seedlings are, etc. I highly doubt if it's too little water though, so you could try backing off to every 3rd day or every 4th day and see what happens while keeping a close eye on the seedlings, if they start to wilt then just water right away and go back to watering more frequently. Are they totally outgrowing the containers they're in? If so then if you just pot them up that may help them. Also, assuming they've got their true leaves, it won't hurt them to give them some diluted fertilizer the next time you water. And if the plants you've got outside hardening off are looking better than these, is there any reason why you can't harden these off too? I know you can't plant them out yet, but if you've got room for them outside they may be happier outdoors rather than indoors.

Not knowing what kind of plants you are growing from seed, it is hard to know the real cause, but Ecrane has covered the the usual type of problems for seed growing, I would say that the ones growing outside are benefiting from the more natural light now that they are large enough to cope, so in your zone, I would pop them all outside during the day and bring them under cover at night before cold comes, also have you got drainage holes at the bottom of your pots, if you cant stick your finger in anywhere to tell if the soil is too dry or wet, then I would suggest your seedlings are suffering from over crowding and need separated into other pots, this will also allow a freer flow of air around the seedlings and room for roots to form, a half strength of liquid feed at once each week wont harm the growing seedlings but avoid the ones that have still to emerge. good luck. WeeNel.

Thanks for the advice guys...I know most of them are overcrowded...a mistake I will not make next year. I have noticed my verbena look as though they are burning on the tips. They are 2" under the lights and dry out very quickly. They also seem to have ceased growing, just kind of sitting there. I just need to hurry it up on the beds, because the difference is so great between inside and out. Will be raining all day tomorrow, so I can't work on the beds. Maybe I'll take the babies from under the lights, put them on the moist and let them take in the 100% humidity. I know one size doesn't fit all, but I do think that will help. This has certainly been a learning experience, and I know I haven't even scratched the surface....so to speak:-))
thanx
anna ruth
ps...i may have to go on ebay and find a used camera, as it appears my son is never gonna return mine. I know it's hard to access a situation when you can't see pics....thanks for trying....

Do you, by any chance, see an abundance (or just a few) little "fruit flies" flying around and resting on your soil? If so, you may have an issue with fungus gnats -- especially if you are watering too frequently. Fungus gnats lay eggs on moist soil -- and their larvae eat the roots -- until suddenly your seedlings just seem to fall over. If you try to transplant these -- you will actually notice a little brown tip on the end of the roots - or you may even see the minute little "worms" in the soil near the roots.

I'd get those plants transplanted into separate containers asap. I agree with the thought of getting them outside. You can harden plants off even while they are still in the seedling containers.

blessings
T
Theresa

Theresa,
Yes, I have seen a few buggies around them. I thought they were just little moths from outside that had found their way inside. I try to be careful watering, and usually do it every other day. The soil is always dry because of the lights. I've stopped using the timer and leave them on 24/7. I planted quite a few yesterday, but still have a lot to do. I'll try to get the rest of them outside tomorrow, as I'm working 13 hrs. today:-((
Thanks for your input, T.
anna ruth

Research "fungus gnats". They look like little fruit flies around your plants -- will be seen landing on the soil, and that is where they lay their eggs. You can reduce their populations greatly by hanging those disgusting-looking flypaper strips nearby. The larvae of the fruit flies feed on your roots. Lots of times, I think people mistake "damping off" with fungus gnat damage.

Forget about watering "every other day" -- and let them go completely dry -- almost to the point of wilting -- to try to dry up and kill the larvae. Other than that --research some of the organic (BT) type products that can be used -- and good luck. They are sometimes difficult to get rid of.

If you really want to investigate and see the answer -- start looking in the soil - down by the roots, of ones that are looking poorly. If you look closely, you may see the little larvae, even down and inch or so in the soil. If you see them there - then you can be SURE that is the problem.

T
Theresa

Thanks Theresa, I'll lay off the watering and will take your advice and look in the soil of one that seems kinda sickly....
ar

Hi Anna Ruth-
Is there some reason that you are leaving the lights on 24/7? Plants actually NEED darkness each day in order to metabolize/grow. Photosynthesis happens in two stages: during the first stage, energy from the sun is "collected" but not used; darkness then becomes the signal for the second stage to initiate, during which the plant converts the stored energy into useful energy. If you're leaving the lights on all day then I'm not surprised at all that they have stopped growing, not to mention their inability to naturally fight off any pests (which of course requires energy ;) ). Hope this helps.
Allison

Hey Allison- Thanks for responding! When I started my seedlings, I put them under lights as soon as they germinated. 16 hours on/8 off...Then I read somewhere on DG that some folks kept theirs on 24/7. I didn't start this until a couple of weeks ago, so they had grown quite a bit...You know, the one I'm having the most trouble with is my verbena. They germinated well, and I thought they were going to grow well, but they just stymied. I put their little cups outside to harden off, and they are just flat dying.......I don't know what the problem is. I watered as needed, they were getting some sun, some shade and I may as well throw them out...but I'm not lol
I'm going to give them one more chance before resowing....Do you have any thoughts on the verbena...I will put my lights back on the timer when I get home from work.. Thanks for your input...it is much appreciated...
Anna Ruth

Hi Anna Ruth-
My suggestion for the verbena is this: forget the seed-starting at this point and just root some cuttings! If you can afford it, go buy some plants that are nice and full. When you get them home, give them a serious hair-cut and put the trimmings in some water. About 24 hours later, you should begin to see some roots! This way, you can get many plants from a single, healthy plant. My husband and I did this recently, and decided that verbenas must be the easiest rooting plant on earth. Let me know what you decide to do!
Allison